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,…

¶ John Calvin to all true Christians, who desire the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¶ Iohn Caluin to all true Christians, who desire the aduancement of the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christe.

When you shall understand wherefore and to what end, I was desirous too publish these Sermons, and shall be advertised of the Argument which they contain, you shall know the better how too make your profit of them, and to apply them to such use as I have appointed them. Although that I have written heretofore two Treatises large enough, to show that it is not lawful for a Christian, knowing the pure doctrine of the Gospel, when he liveth in the Papacy, too dissemble howsoever it be, to consent or to cleave unto the abuses, superstitions and Idolatries, which reign there: Notwithstanding there are every day some people that demand my counsel thereof a fresh, as if I had never spoken thereof. I understand also that there are others which never cease to allege their replies, & have new starting holes against that which I have written thereof. Therefore to cut of all occasions, aswell from those which inquire of that which ought to be sufficiently known & understood of them, as also from them which think to cover themselves under this wet sack from the vengeance of God: I thought that it should be very expedient to review over again and to bring into order a Sermon that I had made as touching this matter, the sum whereof had been gathered. Wherefore this first Sermon containeth an admonition, what a slothfulness it is in them too whom God hath given to know the trueth of his Gospel, too defile themselves with the abominations of the Papists, the which are altogether contrary too Christian religion, forasmuch as in so doing, they deny as much as lieth in them, the Son of GOD who hath redeemed them.

WHen you shall vnderstande wherfore and to what ende, I was desirous too publishe these Sermons, and shall bee aduertised of the Argument which they conteine, you shall know the better howe too make your profite of them, and to apply them to suche vse as I haue appointed them. Although that I haue written heeretofore two Treatises large enough, to shew that it is not lawful for a Christian, knowing the pure doctrine of the Gospell, when he liueth in the Papacie, too dissemble howsoeuer it be, to consent or to cleaue vnto the abuses, superstitions and Idolatries, which raigne there: Notwithstāding there are euery day some people that demaund my coūsel therof a freesh, as if I had neuer spoken therof. I vnderstand also that there are others which neuer cease to alleage their replies, & haue new startīg holes agaīst that which I haue written thereof. Therefore to cut of al occasiōs, aswel frō those which iniquire of that which ought to be sufficiently knowen & vnderstoode of them, as also from them which thinke to couer themselues vnder this wet sacke from the vengeance of God: I thought that it shoulde be very expedient to reuiew ouer againe and to bring into order a Sermon that I had made as touching this matter, the sūme whereof had beene gathered. Wherefore this first Sermon conteineth an admonition, what a slouthfulnes it is in them too whom God hath geuen to know the trueth of his Gospel, too defile themselues with the abhominations of the Papistes, the which are altogeather contrary too Christian religion, forasmuche as in so doyng, they deny as muche as lyeth in them, the sonne of GOD who hath redeemed them.