A17693:20
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 having so many examples which ought to serve for the greater approbation, so much the more are we to be condemned. But here we have two points to be considered.1 The first is, that all the body of the Church generally, was and shall be always subject till the end, to be afflicted by the wicked: as it is said in the Psalm. They have vexed me from my youth up, they have drawn the Plough upon me from one end to an other. The holy Ghost bringeth in the old Church speaking, to the end that we, after we have known the afflictions thereof, we should not find it strange or troublesome if the like at this day be done unto us. S. Paul also drawing this place from another Psalm where it is said,2 We have been as Sheep that are led to the slaughter, showeth that this was not for one age alone: but that it is and shall be ordinarily and usual in the Church. Seeing the Church of God to be at this day trodden under, by the ⟨p. 12⟩pride of worldlings, that one barketh,3 another byteth, that men torment it, and always mischievously devise against it, that without ceasing it is assailed of mad dogs and savage beasts: let us remember that this was done unto it of old time. It is true that God may well give it sometimes certain truces and releasements. And this is it that is said in the Psalm before alleged,4 be cutteth asunder the Cords of the wicked. And in another place, that he will break their stuff, for fear that the good doth not overmuch vex themselves, being too much oppressed. But God would always that his Church should be tossed in this world, and be as it were in a continual conflict, reserving rest for it above in the heavens, Notwithstanding that yet the issue of these afflictions was always blessed, and at the least God brought to pass, that being oppressed with many evils, it was never utterly oppressed, as it is said that the wicked with all their forces never attained to that which they imagined:5 S. Paul also rejoiceth himself of the like to show, that this is a continual grace of God: We (saith he) endure tribulations,