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…

It rather falleth out to an offence, as if God had left to their choice to die when they think good, and when they shall see a fit time. But contrariwise we approve our obedience, leaving the profit into his hand that shall come of our death. Wherefore in the first place, it behoveth that a christian man, in what country soever he be, notwithstanding dangers and threatenings, that he fully determine to walk in simplicity, as God hath commanded, Let him keep him ⟨p. 15⟩self as much as he can from the rage of the Wolves: so that the same be not done thorough the craft of the flesh. Above all let him resign his life into Gods hands. Hath he done this? If it fall out that he fall into the hands of enemies, let him think that God hath brought him into that place,¹ & will have him to be one of the witnesses of his son, and therefore that there is no way to draw back, unless it be in denying our faith to him, to whom we have promised all duty: both to live and to dye, and to whom we are and belong, although we had promised nothing unto him. Hereby I do not bind all men of necessity to make a full and entire confession of all that they believe, admit that they were thereto required, S. Paul in this point hath used a good moderation, who was as ready as any other freely to maintain the cause of the gospel, as he ought. And also it was not without cause that our Lord Jesus promised that in such a case he will give us a mouth & Wisdom: as if he should say, that the office of the holy ghost is not only to strengthen us to be bold and valiant: but also to give unto us Wisdom and discretion, to ⟨image 17⟩know how it becometh us to rule and govern our selves in so great and hard a matter.² The sum is, that they which are in such distress, should ask and receive such Wisdom from above, not following their carnal counsel to seek a way to escape, (as they say) by any cross or bypaths. There are also which reply that our Saviour Jesus Christ himself, answered not to them that asked of him. But I say first of all, that this serveth not to abolish the rule which he hath given us, to make confession of our faith, when we are thereto required Secondly I say, that he never dissē bled to save his life. Thirdly that he never gave answer so doubtful, that it did not import sufficient witness of that which he had spoken: