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…

Thus then ye see how our faith ought always too keep on his way, and that although many practices and enterprises be attempted against the faithful, and a man shall every where hear of nothing but confederacies, threatenings, outrages, and such other things: yet we must not cease too fight stoutly under Christs banner,¹ & to possess our souls in patience. And hereunto ought this saying of S. Pauls to serve, that it is our glory: for our faith should be as good as dead, if God tried it not. Nevertheless when we see the faithful so examined, we have always so much the better warrant of the doctrine that is given us of God. True it is, that it ought too be grounded in heaven, that is too say, upon the authority of God alone, without having respect too any creatures. For the very Angels of heaven were not able too authorize the Gospel: Gods majesty must be fain too come forth for us too lean unto, and then shall we never be shaken down. Notwithstanding, when the Martyrs stick not to give their lives in the witnessing of Gods truth: then (as I said afore) we be, or ought too be the more stirred up too receive the doctrine, and it is as it were sealed up in our harts. Forasmuch then as persecutions serve too confirm the doctrine the better: therefore S. Paul sayeth, it is our glory, and that we ought too triumph at it, seeing that God doth so maintain and strengthen them whom he sendeth into that battle.

Thus then yee see how our fayth ought always too keepe on his way, and that although many practizes and enterprizes bee attempted ageinst the faythfull, and a man shal euery where heare of nothing but confederacies, threatenings, outrages, and such other things: yit wee must not ceasse too fight stoutly vnder Christs banner,¹ & to possesse our soules in pacience. And heereunto ought this saying of S. Paules to serue, that it is our glory: for our fayth should bee as good as dead, if God tryed it not. Neuerthelesse when wee see the faythfull so examined, wee haue alwayes so much the better warrant of the doctrine that is giuen vs of God. Trew it is, that it ought too bee grounded in heauen, that is too say, vppon the aucthoritie of God alone, without hauing respect too any creatures. For the very Angels of heauen were not able too authorize the Gospell: Gods maiestie must bee fayne too come foorth for vs too leane vntoo, and then shall wee neuer bee shaken downe. Notwithstanding, when the Martirs sticke not to giue their liues in the witnessing of Gods truth: then (as I sayd afore) wee bee, or ought too bee the more stirred vp too receyue the doctrine, and it is as it were sealed vp in our harts. Forasmuch then as persecutions serue too confirme the doctrine the better: therfore S. Paule sayeth, it is our glory, and that wee ought too triumph at it, seeing that God dooth so mainteyne and strengthen them whom he sendeth intoo that battell.