Herein Calvin maintains the sinfulness of outward conformity to false worship.

Dealing with a major problem of his day, Calvin answers the question, "Is it lawful for a person who has renounced Popery in his heart to conform outwardly to its rites, for the purpose of avoiding persecution, or for any other cause?"

He shows that false worship should never be tolerated or participated in (even by your bodily presence), no matter what the cost -- whether it be persecution, exile, or death. For his faithfulness in this matter, he was greatly scorned.

Obvious parallels to our day abound, not the least of which include the Lordship controversy, false ecumenism, rampant idolatry in the false rites maintained in the public worship of apostate Protestantism, and in the rise of Roman Catholic harlot.

A good related item is Bradford's The Hurt of Hearing Mass.