The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

And again, in the time that God spareth us and giveth us leisure, let us learn too fence our selves so afore hand with courage and constancy, as we may be his Ambassadors whensoever it shall please him, both in prison, and in the midst of the threatenings of enemies, and in all the rages of death that can be put against us. That is the thing which we have too mark upon this strain. And so let us not be dismayed as a number of unconstant persons are, who when they hear that a great sort are imprisoned in such a place, and such a one was burnt in another place, are by and by out of hart, and the Gospel is no more accounted with them. They that forge too themselves such stumbling blocks, show well that they never had any lively root in faith. But contrariwise, when we see that our Lord Jesus Christ doth so serve himself by those whom he calleth too trial, by putting them into the hands of Tyrants, and of the enemies of his truth, and yet giveth them invincible constancy: it is a goodly strengthening of our faith, and we have cause too be the more inflamed. For unless God wrought in them, it is certain that there should no such strength be seen in any man living. Therefore we must pray God too arm us at our need, and therewithal to show us that the doctrine of his Gospel which is of sufficient authority of it self, must be further authorized by a manner of provision. But yet must the blood of the Martyrs, and of such as God hath sanctified to his glory, serve too that purpose, because they be as it were his Proctors before men.

And agein, in the tyme that God spareth vs and giueth vs leyzure, let vs learne too fence our selues so afore hand with corage and constancie, as wee may bee his Ambassadours whensoeuer it shall please him, both in prizon, and in the middes of the threatenings of enemies, and in all the rages of death that can bee put ageinst vs. That is the thing which wee haue too marke vppon this streyne. And so let vs not bee dismayed as a number of vnconstant persons are, who when they heare that a great sort are imprizoned in such a place, and such a one was burnt in another place, are by and by out of hart, and the Gospell is no more accounted with them. They that forge too themselues such stumbling blockes, shewe well that they neuer had any liuely roote in fayth. But contrariwyse, when wee see that our Lord Iesus Christ dooth so serue himselfe by those whom he calleth too tryall, by putting them intoo the handes of Tyrantes, and of the enemies of his truth, and yit giueth them inuincible constancie: it is a goodly strengthning of our fayth, and wee haue cause too bee the more inflamed. For vnlesse God wrought in them, it is certeyne that there should no such strenght bee seene in any man liuing. Therefore wee must pray God too arme vs at our neede, and therwithal to shewe vs that the doctrine of his Gospell which is of sufficient authoritie of it selfe, must bee further authorized by a manner of prouision. But yit must the blud of the Martirs, and of such as God hath sanctified to his glory, serue too that purpose, bycause they bee as it were his Proctors before men.