Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially…Commentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially…

Now it is your parts good brethren, as far as every mans power and office shall lead him, to be careful with all his heart, that true Religion may recover his pure and perfect state. I need not to rehearse how diligently hitherto I have endeavoured my self to cut of all occasions of tumults: so that I have the angels and you all my witnesses before the high judge, that the fault was not in me that the kingdom of Christ hath not had a peaceable proceeding without any hinderance: and I suppose that my diligence hath something profited, that private men should not pass their bounds. Now, although God by his marvellous power hath spread the restoring of the Church farther then I durst hope for it,¹ yet is it mete to remember what Christ commandeth his scholars, even to possess their souls in patience. Unto the which purpose also the vision of Daniel appertaineth: that the stone whereby all the kingdoms which fought against God were broken, was not formed nor fashioned by mans hand: and though it were rude and unpolished, yet did it grow into a great mountain. Of the which thing I thought good to admonish you, that amongest the thundering threatenings, you should quietly wait that these empty clouds may be driven away by the heavenly power, and so vanish. Yet am I not ignorant (to pass over the fires of thirty years) what unworthy troubles ye have suffer these last six months: how oft in sundry places the tumultuous people have broken into your assemblies: how oft you have been assaulted with stones and with swords: how your enemies have lain in wait for you, that they might oppress your peaceable congregations with sudden force at unawares: how some have been slain in their own houses, some in the high ways: how the bodies of the dead have been trailed in derision, the women ravished, many men wounded, one woman great with child and her child also thrust through, the houses broken and pulled down.

Now it is your partes good brethren, as farre as euery mans power and office shall lead hym, to be carefull with all his harte, that true Religion may recouer hys pure and perfect state. I nede not to rehearse how diligently hetherto I haue endeuored my selfe to cut of all occasions of tumultes: so that I haue the aungels and you all my witnesses before the hye iudge, that the faulte was not in me that the kyngdome of Christ hath not had a peaceable procedyng without any hinderance: and I suppose that my diligence hath somethyng profited, that priuate men should not passe theyr boundes. Now, although God by his merueilous power hath spread the restoryng of the Church farther then I durst hope for it,