A17726:72
A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…
A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors of the common sect of Anabaptists. Compiled by master John CalvinA short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours of the common secte of Anabaptistes. Compiled by mayster Iohn Caluine
London: printed by John Daye, 1549London: printed by Ihon Daye, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Of the Anabaptists. › Article 2 › ☞ ConfutationOf the Anabaptistes. › Article 2 › ☞ Confutacion
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.
But by such manner of speeches they do signify none other thing,1 but that all war and enmity, shall cease and be taken from the faithful. And would God that the Gospel might so take place in the world, that this thing might be well practised of all men.
But by suche maner of speaches they do signifye none other thynge,1 but that al warre and enmitye, shal cease and be taken from the fayethfull. And woulde God that the Gospell myghte so take place in the worlde, that thys thynge myght be well practised of all menne.
- 1Esa. ii.
But seeing that faith and the love of God have not such rule in the most part of men, but that ambition and covetousness ⟨image 27⟩have often times the upper hand: when one unjustly invadeth an others country, and by wars doeth molest it: so far is it of, that the prince which is ordained of God, for the protection and defence of the same, doeth evil in resisting the iniuste violence, that he is bound by the duty of his office to do the same. It is true that a christian prince ought to search all means for peace, and to bye it dear with losses of his own: and so to do that it come not to the sword, until he have assayed all remedies to avoid this necessity But when he hath done all that it him lieth, and hath recoiled as much as he might, if he can not otherwise maintain the country which is committed unto him: the last refuge is to use the sword which God hath put into his hand. For it is all one reason, to pull out the sword to punish evil doers which trouble the public order, & to thrust back those which unjustly come into a country and break peace. In this case, if a christen man, after the order of the country, be called to serve his prince, doeth not only not offend God in going to the wars, but is in a holy vocation, which cannot be reproved without blaspheming of God. And in deed we see that when the soldiers came to John Baptiste to be instructed of him, he did not command them to cast away their armour and renounce their estate: but only did admonish them to be content with their wages, and not to pole or vex any man, but to abstain from all