A17726:87
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.
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.
☞ David following this, in exhorting them to do there duty,1 doeth not command them to caste away there diadems or sceptres: but only to kiss the Son: that is to say to do him homage, and to be subject unto him, having governance of other. He speaketh there of the kingdom of our saviour Jesus Christ: and he doeth monish all kings and superiors to be wise, & to take good heed unto them selves. What is this wisdom? What lesson doeth he give them? To give over all? No: but to fear god and to give honour unto his Son. Moreover: Isaiah prophesieth that the kings shall be as fathers, nurses unto the christen church, & that the queens shall nurse them with there breasts. I pray you how agreeth this, that the kings shall be protectors of the christen church, and yet there estate cannot stand with christianity? If the lord give unto them so much place among his people: as he giveth unto the prophets: we have sufficient to prove our intention. Seeing that he doth appoint unto them, so honourable a place in the fellowship of his people, that he giveth them this honour, I say, as to ordain them protectors of his church: what impudency is it to exclude them out of all? We conclude therefore, that princes serving God, may well be Christen men: for as much as the Lord giveth them such a preeminence in the Christen religion.
☞ Dauid folowynge this, in exhortynge them to do there deutie,1 doeth not commaūd them to caste awaye there diademes or septers: but onelye to kysse the sonne: that is to saye to do hym hommage, and to be subiecte vnto hym, hauynge gouernaunce of other. He speketh there of the kyngdome of oure sauioure Iesus Christe: and he doeth monyshe al kynges and superiours to be wyse, & to take good hede vnto them selues. What is thys wisdom? What lesson doeth he geue them? To geue ouer al? No: but to feare god and to geue honoure vnto his sonne. Moreouer: Esaias prophesteth yt the kynges shalbe as fathers, nurces vnto the christē church, & that the quenes shal nursse them with there brestes. I praye you howe agreth thys, that the kinges shalbe protectours of the christen churche, and yet there estate cannot stande with christianitie? If the lord geue vnto thē so muche place amonge hys people: as he geueth vnto the prophetes: we haue sufficiente to proue oure intencion. Seyng that he doth apoynte vnto them, so honorable a place in the feloweshyppe of hys people, that he geueth them thys honoure, I saye, as to ordeyne them protectours of hys churche: what impudencie is it to exclude them out of all? We conclude therefore, that princes seruynge God, maye well be Christen men: for as muche as the Lorde gyueth them suche a preheminence in the Christen relygion.