A17694:50
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,…
Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time, as may be seen by the preface: with a brief exposition of the LXXXVII. Psalm. Translated out of French into English by John Field.Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time, as may bee seene by the preface: with a briefe exposition of the LXXXVII. Psalme. Translated out of Frenche into Englishe by Iohn Fielde.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man, 1579
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.
❧ The second Sermon, containing an exhortation to suffer persecution too follow Jesus Christ and his Gospel, upon that place which is in the thirteenth Chapter too the Hebrews. Let us therefore g•• […] of […] Christ […] his reproach.
❧ The seconde Sermon, conteining an exhortation to suffer persecution too followe Iesus Christe and his Gospell, vppon that place which is in the thriteenth Chapter too the Hebrewes. Let vs therefore g•• 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 Christ 〈…〉 his reproch•.
ALL the exhortations that can be made unto us to suffer patiently for Christ his name, and for the Gospels cause, shall have no place, if we be not well assured of the cause for which we fight. For when the question is of forsaking our life we must be well resolved and certain, wherefore it is. And such constancy can not be in us, unless it be grounded in the certainty of faith. It is true that certain will foolishly and rashly venture too die, too uphold certain foolish opinions and dreams, that they have conceived in their own brain. But such headiness deserveth rather to be holden for frenzy, then for Christian zeal. As also in very deed there is no staidness not ⟨image 21⟩settled understanding in such people which so cast them selves into peril with such heady rashness. Howsoever it be there is nothing but a good cause, that maketh god to avow us for his Martyrs: for death is common to all. And the children of God shall be condemned with like ignominy and torments as Thieves are: But God maketh a difference betwixt them, in so much as he can not deny his own trueth. Now it is requisite that on our part, we have a certain and undoubted testimony of the doctrine, for which we suffer. Therefore (as I have said) we cannot be moved nor earnestly touched by any exhortations, which may be made unto us to suffer persecution for the Gospel, if there be not a true certainty of faith imprinted in our hearts. For it is not a natural thing too hazard our lives at adventure. And when we shall do it, it shall be nothing but rashness, and not any Christian virtue. Finally, God will allow nothing of all that we shall do, unless we be fully persuaded that it is for him and for his quarrel that we are molested, and that the world is enemy unto us. Now when I speak of such a certainty, I mean not only that we must know to discern between true religion, and the abuses or follies of men: but also that we be well persuaded of everlasting life, and of the crown which is promised unto us from above, after that we shall have fought here beneath in this world. By the way let us note that these two points are requisite, and ought not to be separated the one from the other.