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,…

Wherefore the faithful ought to hold themselves assured into whose hands soever they shall come, that GOD hath not caste of the safeguard which he hath of their persons. If such a persuasion were well ⟨image 31⟩imprinted in our hearts, we should be delivered from the most part of doubts and perplexities that torment and hinder us from doing our duty. We see that Tyrants are let loose: and hereupon it seemeth to us that God hath no further mean too save us: For this cause we are tempted to provide for our selves, as though there were no more waiting upon him. But contrariwise his providence which he hath declared unto us is such, as ought to be unto us an invincible fortress. Let us therefore labour to learn this short sentence, that our bodies are in his hands who hath created them. For this cause he hath sometimes delivered his own after a miraculous manner, and beyond all hope of men, as Sidrach, Meshach and Abednego, from the fiery furnace, Daniel from the Lions den, Peter from Herodes prison where he was enchained fettered, and kept so straightly. By these examples he would testify unto us, that he holdeth our enemies bridled, though it seem not so: & hath power to draw us out, even from the mouth & middest of death when he will. Not because he always doth it: But by keeping unto himself the authority of disposing of us both in life and death, he would have us fully resolved that he hath us in his keeping: in such sort that whether soever Tyrants look, or with what fury soever they rush upon us, that it is from him only who is the orderer of our life. If he suffer Tyrants to kill us, it is not because our lives are not dear unto him, and in greater recommendation an hundred fold then it is worthy, seeing it is so, that he hath pronounced by the mouth of David,¹ That the death of his Saints is precious before him, & saith also by the mouth Isaiah: That the earth shall disclose the blood which seemed ⟨p. 31⟩to be hidden. Let the enemies therefore of the gospel be as prodigal in shedding the blood of his Martyrs, as they will, yet shall they render a terrible account even too the last and uttermost drop. They do scornfully mock at this day when they burn the faithful & after they have bathed themselves in their blood, they are so drunken therewith, that they care nothing at all what murders they commit.