Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…

And it is a very strange thing that many imagine to stop our mouth, unless we do assign them some means & state whereby they may live in serving god. My condition, (they will say) is thus in my country: if I forsake it, what shall become of me, or how shall I live? As though god had appointed them that preach the Gospel to be stewards & overseers, to appoint every man his state & his ordinary, and to give every one according to his worthiness & dignity his certain pension & wages? If we can help them by counsel or direction we are bound to do it, yea though they do not request it: but if we be not able, shall our liberty therefore be lost to teach every man that which God hath commanded him? But if they had well learned and remembered this doctrine of David, too love better a little corner in the porch of the temple of god then the highest and most honourable places that they might choose amongest the unfaithful, they ⟨image 57⟩would never think so hard, and stand so doubtful what way were best too be taken. But this is the mischief that they would hold all, and sleep in whole skins not suffering their riches or honours too be diminished in any point, nor forgoing their ease and delights, that is too say, they cannot bow their necks nor bend their backs too bear Jesus Christ. Let them plead and contend about the matter, as much as they list, yet must they needs in the end be condemned. Concerning such as have already forsaken their country, that they might come too a place, where they might freely serve God, and where the trueth of the Gospel might be faithfully preached unto them, it is very necessary that they oftentimes call this sentence to their remembrance, to the end they may from day too day exercise them selves in the practice thereof, that they may be heartened in the continual use and custom of it. For many things may come to pass with the time, and daily do, which may discourage them that had a great zeal. They that join themselves to the churches of God, are not always so received as they are worthy. Order many times is so perverted, that the worthiest too be set forward, are set behind.

And it is a very strāge thing that many imagine to stop our mouth, vnlesse we do assigne thē some meanes & state wherby they may liue in seruing god. My conditiō, (they wil say) is thus in my countrie: if I forsake it, what shal become of mee, or how shal I liue? As though god had appointed thē that preach the Gospel to be stewardes & ouerseers, to appoint euery man his state & his ordinarie, and to giue euerie one according to his worthinesse & dignitie his certain penciō & wages? If we can helpe them by coūsel or directiō we are bound to do it, yea thogh they do not request it: but if we be not able, shal our libertie therfore be lost to teache euery man that which God hath commāded him? But if they had wel learned and remembred this doctrine of Dauid, too loue better a little corner in the porch of the temple of god then the highest and moste honourable places that they might choose amongest the vnfaithfull, they