A17693:14
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.
But because persecutions do not cease, to be grievous, and bitter unto us, mark how this cometh to pass, & by what means Christians might strengthen them selves to patience, even to yield constantly their life for Gods verity the text which we have recited,1 when it shall be under stood, is sufficient enough for to induce us to the same, Let us go out of the country (saith the apostle) after the Lord Jesus, bearing his reproach, In the first part, he exhorteth us, although the swords be not ready drawn ⟨p. 6⟩upon us, nether the fires kindled to burn us, that we can not truly be joined to the son of God, whilst that we be engrafted in this world,2 wherefore it is requisite that a christian person being him self at rest, hath always one foot lift up to go to battle, and not only that, but that he hath his affection withdrawn from the world, albeit the body dwelleth here. Although this seemeth to us a rude thing, at the first looking, yet we should be well contented with this saying of S. Paul, 3which is that we are called and appointed to suffer, as who would say, that the condition of our Christianity, is in such sort, that we must pass by this way, if we will follow Jesus Christ, In the mean while for to comfort our infirmity, and to make sweet the tediousness and sorrowfulness,4 which persecutions might bring us, behold a good recompense, which is, that we in suffering for the Gospel do follow as it were, step after step, the son of God, and we have him for our guide, if it had been said simply of us, that for to be Christians, we must pass through the shames of the world, and must come courageously ⟨image 8⟩unto death, as many times, & as often as it shall please God, we might have (as it seemeth) some collars to reply, that this is a thing very strange to make on stray away.5 But where it is commanded us to follow the Lord Jesus, his conduct is too good and honourable for us to refuse. Now to the end that we might be the better moved, it is not only said, that Jesus goeth before us as our captain, but also that we be made like to his image, as S.