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,…

As if God had left too their choice too 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 behooveth 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 himself as much as he can from the rage of the wolves: so that the same be not done through 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, and will have him to be one of the witnesses of his ⟨image 30⟩son, & 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 & to die, and to whom we are & belong, although we had promised nothing unto him. Hereby I do not bind all men of necessity to make a full & entire confession of all that they believe, admit that they were thereto required, Saint Paul in this point hath used a good moderation, who was as ready as any other freely too 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 and wisdom: as if he should say, that the office of the holy Ghost is not only to strengthen us to be bold & valiant: but also to give unto us wisdom and discretion, to know how it becometh us to rule & govern our selves in so great and hard a matter. 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 by paths. 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 dissembled too save his life. Thirdly that he never gave answer so doubtful, that it did not import sufficient witness of that which he had spoken:

As yf God had lefte too theyr choyse too die when they thinke good, and when they shall see a fitte time. But contrariwise we approoue our obedience leauing the profite into his hande that shall come of our death. Wherefore in the first place, it behooueth that a christian man, in what Countrey soeuer hee be, notwithstanding dangers and threatninges, that he fully determine to walke in simplicitie, as God hath commaunded. Let him keepe hymselfe asmuche as he can from the rage of the woolues: so that the same be not done through the crafte of the fleshe. Aboue all let him resigne his life into Gods handes. Hath hee doone this? If it fall out that he fall into the handes of enimies, let him think that God hath brought him into that place, and will haue him to bee one of the witnesses of his