Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Translator to the reader
TO ALL THOSE THAT WISH WEL VNTOUNTO THE LORD IESVS and his poore Church wandring here vponupon earth: the Tranſlator wiſheth the powerful aſſiſtance of Gods Spirit, while they are heere, and the ſpeedy injoying of their ſure though deferred hope.
AS the mercies & goodnes of God (beloued in the Lord) towards his deare Spouſe and Church, hath eſpeciallie manifeſted it ſelfe in this laſt ruinous age of the world: So hath Sathan in theſe very times, brought his whole munition into the field, with full purpoſe & intent, one way or other, to bring, either a ruinous fal, or a confuſed deformitie, where the Lord intendeth to build his ſure grounded and well ordered houſe: And therefore all thoſe, who hauehave giuen their names vntounto the profeſsion of the Goſpell, are to conſider what it is, that thereby they hauehave taken in hand. For as it hath bin true in all ages: ſo ſhal it be verified in theſe our daies, that all ſhal not walk with the lambe for euermore, who for a time ſeemed to bee of his traine. And alaſſe we knowe, that he earneſtly entreateth ouer many to open vntounto him, who yet ſhall not be partakers of the ſupper of the great King.Reuel. 3.20. For ſuch is the deceitfull wiſedome of mans nature, and Sathans powerfull deluſion, that euen profeſſors themſelues, neuer want great and waightie reaſons, why they ſhould denie Gods opreſſed truth heere vponupon earth, that the Lord may deny them in that day, when hee ſhall come, not to ſuffer in his members, but to judge as the moſt magnificent King, and ſhal come in that glorious majeſtie, whereat heauen and earth will be aſtonied.
Now, becauſe his judgement ſhall bee,Luke 9.26. (Go you curſed) vponupon as many as ſhall be found, not onelyonly the defacers of his glory, but euen the deniers of anie point of his trueth and worde, as the holie Ghoſt hath forewarned vsus. Therefore, I thought it my dutie vntounto his majeſtie and his Church, to publiſh this booke in the Engliſhe tongue, that men and Angels may beare teſtimonie againſt the moderation and diſcreet wiſedome of this age in defending the trueth, that the Lord hath made knowne vntounto it, and that by many witneſſes, what that trueth, and what that worde of his is, which he will hauehave at all times, and in this age eſpecially maintayned by all men with out exception, that meane to be partakers of his eternall fauour. The which trueth, as it is largely contayned in Gods moſt ſacred written word, of the olde and newe Teſtament, ſo is it briefely ſet downe in this booke, by the whole conſent of the godly learned in the Churche of Geneua, and eſpecially, by that famous learned man, vniuerſally reuerenced in Gods Church, M. THEODORE BEZA. Out of this booke alſo, ſhall appeare, for what cauſe the Churche of God is at this day perſecuted, whereſoeuer the ſame be hardly intreated. For this I may boldly affirm, that ther is no church or priuate man at this houre, in any affliction for the maintenance of the trueth, but the cauſe of his trouble is contained and defended in this Treatiſe. So that although all the perſecuted Saints of God, now pilgrimes vponupon earth, be not included within the walles and narow dominions of Geneua, yet doth this booke manifeſtly prooue, that as that Church is barbarouſly aſſayled by the Duke of Sauoye within the boundes thereof, ſo is this doctrine therein profeſſed, hardly delt with vnderunder their gouernment (though it may be they are ignorant of it) who woulde be loath to be founde at the ſiege of Geneua, or any wiſe to fauour ſuch godles crueltie. And I would wiſh that this were made knowne vntounto them.
And herby alſo it will be manifeſted, that there is great cauſe why the eſtate of that now diſtreſſed Church ſhuld be reſpected. For ſurely if there be any louelove in men towards Chriſt Ieſus, laboring & faynting as it were in his pore members vnderunder the burden of great croſſes and tryalls, they cannot ſhut vp their compaſſiō towards him, crauing their help in the perſon of that poore Church. I beſeech thee therefore good reader, in the mercies of God, not to ſhut vp thy compaſſion towards the ſame, and be aſſured, that the Lord Ieſus will for that thy kindnes ſay vntounto thee, nay ſay of thee vntounto his Father, his Angells and Church.Mat. 25.33. I was poore, hungrie, thriſtie, naked, ſick, and beſieged in Geneua, and beholde this man enriched me, fed me, clothed me, viſited me, and defended me as farre as lay in him: wherefore come thou bleſſed of my Father, and poſseſſe thy neuer ending rewarde. I know beloued that thou haſt many hinderances to do this in this backſliding age, but knowe yet that Mathew ſaieth,Ver. 33.40. that it is a king, who requireth this at thy hands, and will be exceedinglie angrie with thee to thy woe, if thou denieſt his requeſt as he will reward thee moſt bountifullie to thy comfort if thou graunt the ſame. And in any caſe take heed in this, as in al other points touching thy dutie, of the wiſdome of this age, whoſe warines tendeth to noe other purpoſe, but warelie to ſtarue and forſake the Goſpell. The ſhame, pouertie and diſcontent of the Goſpell, I tell thee is a glorious ignomynie. All the crownes in the world are not worthy to ſtand in the ballance with the ſame. Thou art alſo to knowe, that the Goſpel is, whatſoeuer is according vntounto wholeſome doctrine, as the Apoſtle teacheth,1. Tim. 1.11. and therefore, if thou wilt ſtand vntounto the ſame, thou muſt wholie cleaue vntounto it, otherwiſe, the fierce anger of the God of trueth, will bee againſt thee for ſhrincking from any part of his teſtimonies. And thou muſt knowe, that thou art not to chooſe what to defend, but thou art bound to maintaine according vntounto thy calling, whatſoeuer thou ſeeſt to be oppugned by any, be they frends or be they enemies of the truth. And thou needeſt not regard herein, whatſoeuer power oppoſeth it ſelfe againſt thee, for he whoſe truth thou maintaineſt is no reſpecter of perſons, but is terrible as the Prophet ſaieth,Pſal. 110.5. euen vntounto the kings of the earth, and thou ſhalt find, that in thy defence, defending his truth, he will breake the great men in the daie of his wrath, except they ſubmit themſelues vntounto the ſcepter of his word. In concluſion, (for neceſsitie is laid vponupon me, that I cannot write what I had purpoſed) ſay with the holy man EZRAEz. 8.22. vntounto thine owne heart, and bee aſſured thereof, that the hand of God is vponupon all thoſe that ſeeke him in goodnes, and therefore feare not, but his power and his wrath is againſt all them that forſake him.
Briefelie, that thou maieſt profite by this booke, I craue of thee to take this paines in it, beſtow an hower a day in the reading thereof, and in ſo doing, after the firſt time, thou maieſt well read it ouer once euerye monethmonth. The which courſe if thou ſhalt take, I dout not but in one yeare, thou ſhalt ſo benefite thy ſelfe, as there ſhall be no point of waight in religion; wherof thou ſhalt not be able to reſolue thine owne conſcience; and alſo to edifie others according vntounto thy calling in verye good meaſure. But in anie caſe take heede, that thy knowledge gotten by reading, rather encreaſe, then diminiſh thy care in the hearing of the word preached. And thus thou mayeſt exſpect for the bleſsing of the Lord, vntounto whom I betake thee, my ſelfe and all his, now and euer, Amen.