A17693:11
A sermon of the famous and Godly learned man, master John Calvin chief Minister…A sermon of the famous and Godly learned man, master Iohn Caluine chiefe Minister…
A sermon of the famous and Godly learned man, master John Calvin chief Minister and Pastor of Christs church at Geneva, containing an exhortation to suffer persecution for following Jesus Christ and his Gospel, upon this text following. Heb. 13. 13. Go ye out of the tents after Christ, bearing his rebuke. Translated out of French into english,A sermon of the famous and Godly learned man, master Iohn Caluine chiefe Minister and Pastour of Christs church at Geneua, conteining an exhortation to suffer persecution for followinge Iesus Christe and his Gospell, vpon this text following. Heb. 13. 13. Go ye out of the tents after Christe, bearing his rebuke. Translated out of French into english,
London: printed by Robert Waldegrave for Edward White, 1581London: printed by Robert VValdegraue for Edward VVhite, 1581
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And in deed, if we all together considered well, that it is God which speaketh to us, it is most certain that we should ⟨p. 3⟩be more attentive to hearken to the same, and with a great reverence, when we in reading the scripture do think that we are at the school of Angels,1 we shall strait have another care, and desire to exercise us in that doctrine which is set before us, now we seeing that it is the mean to prepare us to suffer for the gospel, that is, that we have so far profited in the school of God, that we being assured of the true religion and doctrine which we ought to hold, we may avoid all the crafts and subtleties of the Devil, and all mans inventions,2 as things not only of no effect, but also accursed, in as much as they corrupt Christian purity: and in this point we as true Martyrs of Jesus Christ do differ from these bedlams that suffer for their foolish opinions. Secondarily, that we being certain of the good cause, be enkindled, as it is convenient to follow God whereto soever he calleth us, that his word hath such authority with us, as it is worthy, and that we being withdrawn from the world, be in manner ravished to seek after the celestial life. But this is a thing very strange, that the brightness of God shineth at this day so plainly, as it did never ⟨image 5⟩more, and yet there be very few that have a zeal thereto which is lamentable, and if we be not ashamed hereof, it is so much the worse for us, for we must come shortly before the great Judge, where that evil which we go about to cover, shall be set before us with such reproach, that there will be found sufficient cause to cast us down altogether to the pit of hell, For if we be bound to render testimony to God, alter the measure of the knowledge which he hath given us, to what tendeth it I pray you, that we are so cold and fearful,3 for to enter to this combat, sithen that God is in such sort revealed to us at this time, that a man may say that he hath disclosed and opened the great treasures, of his secretes, may it not be well said that we will not have any thing to do with God, for if we had any regard of his majesty, we would not be so bold as to turn the doctrine which proceedeth out of his mouth into a certain Philosophy or speculation, I can not tell what.