Commentary on Isaiah, Authors letter 2
TO THE MOST NOBLE AND RENOWMED, EDVVARD THE ſixth, King of England, &c. A true Chriſtian Prince.
IOHN CALVIN.
ALbeit I acknowledge (moſt noble Prince) this Commentarie to be faithfully and aptly gathered from my ordinarie readings: yet in regard it was poliſhed by another hand; at the firſt I feared, leſt being publiſhed vnderunder the title of your name, it might ſeeme I had not furniſhed my ſelfe with a preſent worthie of your Maieſtie. But one ſpeciall reaſon among others, in the end freed mee from this feare; namely, that as this Princely Prophet deſcended of the blood Royall; and a moſt honourable Ambaſſador of Chriſt the Soueraigne King, ſuted well with your perſon: ſo I hoped that my labours which I hauehave taken in expounding his prophecies, would bee accepted and eſteemed of you.
Moreouer, ſeeing he had good experience of the diſpoſition of fiue Kings, far vnlike each other, to whom he continually preached: yet I need not aduertiſe you, which of theſe you ought to follow, neither yet to exhort you to the performance of ſuch duties, vntounto which you ſhew your ſelfe alreadie moſt willing.
Vzziah and Iotham fauoured him; and yet they wanted ſufficient courage in erecting Gods pure worſhip: the greateſt conflicts he ſuſtained was with Ahaz: not that he was an open enemie; but a falſe hypocrite, full of diſſimulation, and treacherie. And what enemies (I pray you) gaule Gods ſeruants more then ſuch? His ſucceſſor Hezechiah not only reuerenced this holy perſonage, but alſo modeſtly, as one of the cōmon ſort, ſubmitted himſelfe to his doctrine; obeyed his counſels, and ſuffered himſelf to be gouerned by his admonitions. Nay which is more, he willingly yeelded to be ſharply reprooued by the Prophet when need required. The laſt, which was Manaſſes, who, as all the Iewes with one conſent affirme, was his father in law, wickedly ſlew him by cruell torments. Yea, euen during the time that good Kings aided him, and alſo vnderunder Hezechias; who ſhewed himſelfe ſo godly a protector of pietie and godlineſſe, yet then, was he continually vexed with ſharpe and tedious trauels, and made to vndergoe very grieuous conflicts: ſo difficult and rare a thing is it to ſee men conſent to wholſome doctrine. I ſay more; ſuch as will faithfullie and vprightly diſcharge their duties in this propheticall function, muſt needes make account to be at continuall oddes with the world. So much the more therefore ought faithfull Kings, by their defence, to ſuccour the Miniſters of Chriſt, that they be not moleſted nor preſſed aboue meaſure, by the inſolencie of the wicked.
But by how much the more as this vertue is excellent, and truely heroicall; ſo if wee ſhall call to mind what hath paſt in all the ages from the firſt (till now;) how rarely hath it been found; or how few hauehave giuen themſelues to the practiſe of it? Many being remiſſe and fainthearted, hauehave through meere negligence ſuffered Gods truth to be ſuppreſſed, as if the matter had not at all concerned them. The greater part ſhewing themſelues aduerſaries, hauehave with furie and violence ruſhed againſt it. And would to God all thoſe who at this day profeſſe themſelues Chriſtians, had but ſo much heart to aduance the doctrine of ſaluation, as they are proude in glorying of this name.
But to be ſilent touching others, we may yet at the laſt worthilie eſteeme this comfort not as a common fauour, in the miſeries wherein the Church now is, that you, moſt noble King, hauehave been raiſed vp of God, with this ſpirit, and excellent magnanimitie of mind, to maintaine the pure religion; and as effectually to offer vntounto God your ſeruice in this behalfe, as you know he receiues and approoues the ſame at your Maieſties hands. For howſoeuer the affaires of the Kingdome be yet managed by your honourable Counſell: and that as wel the moſt noble Duke of Sommerſet, your Maieſties Vncle, as alſo many others, hauehave taken the cauſe of religion ſo to heart, that they labour diligently (as it is very fit they ſhould) to eſtabliſh the ſame: yet doe you in ſuch ſort outgoe them all; that it well appeares, the zeale which they ſee in you prouokes them not a little to follow you. For you hauehave the ſame, not only to be of ſuch a princely diſpoſition as promiſeth much, and to hauehave ſome ſeeds of vertues alſo, (which yet neuertheleſſe ſeemes great in ſo young yeeres) but more then that, ſuch a ripeneſſe of theſe vertues alreadie growne beyond your age; which to the moſt aged, gets not only rare praiſe, but alſo ma…es them much to be admired. And aboue al, ſo greatly is your pietie commended, that I am very wel aſſured our Prophet ſhal hauehave one, that wil with like reſpect reuerence him being dead, as Hezekias did whileſt he was liuing.
As concerning the fruite which may happily redound vntounto you thereby, it is beſt your ſelfe ſhould learne it by your owne experience in reading of him: and yet I hauehave touched that alſo a little in the preface. There is only one thing which I hauehave determined to ſay vntounto your Maieſtie, (and this it is:) After the Prophet hath laid foorth Gods iuſt complaints againſt this ſo vnthankfull a people, and hath threatned the Iewes with ſuch chaſtiſements as their diſloyall reuolt, and deſperate obſtinacie deſerued; namely, that the time approched, wherein they ſhould be brought to an horrible ruine: foorthwith comming to ſet foorth the new and incredible reſtauration of the Church, hee promiſeth that God will ſo reſpect the ſame, that in deſpite of all her enemies, ſhee ſhall alwaies flouriſh in beauty, and happineſſe. Thoſe which returned from the captiuitie of Babylon felt this ioyous and bleſſed eſtate, when the ſacrifices being againe newly erected, they might conceiue ſome good hope of greater benefits, then thoſe which they then enioyed: as when we behold the breake of day, wee expect the Sunne-riſing ſoone after. But when Chriſt the ſunne of righteouſneſſe appeared with his glorie in his Goſpell, the thing it ſelfe greatly ſurpaſſed all that which had been highlie praiſed by the Prophets reuelations.
Within ſhort ſpace the knowledge of the true God was diſperſed almoſt throughout the whole world. The pure religion which before was deſpiſed and ſhut vp within the bounds of Iudeah (as in a narrow corner) now bega… …o bee ſpread into al nations and prouinces, yea, ſo honoured, that God was called vponupon with one conſent of faith by infinit multitudes. The ſonne of God hauing here and there gathered the Churches, ſet vp his royall throne, and aduanced the ſame into the higheſt degree to be ſeene of all from the Eaſt vntounto the Weſt. The Churches adorned with admirable graces of the holy Ghoſt, not onelyonly taſted of the incomparable fruite of the diuine goodneſſe, but were alſo faire and ſhining theaters to manifeſt the wonderfull power of God, euen to ſuch as were blind. And albeit, Chriſt raigned vnderunder the croſſe, yet amiddeſt the fierie conflicts and perſecutions, his glorie ſhined more gloriouſlie, and his triumphs more ſtately, then if the Church had alwaies enioyed tranquillitie.
In the end it came to paſſe, that that hautie pride of the Romane Empire ſubmitting it ſelf alſo vntounto Chriſt, was a ſingular ornament to the houſe of God. But the malice & ingratitude of men was the cauſe why this happineſſe laſted not ſucceſſiuely. And ſo the ſpouſe of Chriſt as one ſtripped of ſo pretious a robe, ſpoiled of her dignitie, and depriued of her honourable attire, was brought backe againe to a miſerable deformitie: yet God alwaies preſerued ſome remainders, as it were in ſecret corners; but as touching the outward face of the Church, for the ſpace of many yeeres, nothing appeared any where, but ſcatterings and confuſed waſts. And we at this day behold how the Roman Antichriſt, vſurping farre and neere ouer the ſanctuarie of the Lord, by a ſacrilegious tyrannie holds it vnderunder his feet rent and oppreſſed. For ſeeing the puritie of doctrine is there corrupted by monſtrous errors, and that Gods ſeruice being ouerturned, idolatries raigne there without number; that in ſtead of a gouernement rightly inſtituted, a cruell torture hath been brought in, that the Sacraments be in part by groſſe and abſurd abuſes corrupted, and partly ſhamefully ſet to ſale: what remaine there (I pray you) but wofull ruines of that naturall beautie of the ſpirituall building?
Notwithſtanding the Lord in our times hath begun againe to ſet vp that which was fallen downe, that at leaſt there might be ſome image of the true Temple where he was purely ſerued according as he hath ordained in the Goſpel. To which end he hath ſelected out as it were from among the leaſt of the common people, his chiefe builders, to aduance this worke by ſincere doctrine. I grant, it is of it ſelfe a difficult worke, and of great waight, though Satan ſhould let vsus alone in quiet. But if euen now whileſt ſome part of this building is raiſed vp, he doth his vtmoſt to break it downe, is it any maruell if we labour much, and with great care, & yet ſee little or no fruit for the preſent to come of our labors? Therfore theſe mightie Giants proudly ſcorne vsus: as if whileſt we ſtudying how to practiſe the ruine of the tyrannous Romane ſea; wee ſhould ſtriue to ouerthrow the mount Olympus.
Theſe great wits alſo, w…o (as they thinke) know ſomewhat, deride our diligence; in regard we are ſo earneſtly buſied in reſtoring the Church to her firſt eſtate: as if in the ſame any certaine or ſetled eſtate were to be expected. For theſe (forſooth) imagine that they are ſo well founded, and on all ſides ſo furniſhed, that it is no leſſe eaſie to aboliſh poperie, then to mingle heauen and earth together. But the conceit of theſe wiſe men differs ſomewhat. For in regard the peruerſitie of the world is ſo great, that it cannot be held in awe, they thinke we trauel in vaine, and againſt the ſtreame to ſeeke in correcting vices, to hauehave a pure and ſincere adminiſtration of a Church. The flout of Eraſmus is well enough knowne; What hopes Capito of the tenth which ſhall come after him? It cannot be denied but Wolfangus Capito was an holy man, who with a moſt ſincere affection endeuoured to purge the Church. But becauſe he was perſwaded that the Miniſters of Chriſt ſhould no leſſe loſe their labour in correcting the ſtubborneneſſe of the world, then if they ſhould hauehave taken vponupon them to hauehave forced the ſtreame the contrarie way (for thus they are wont to thinke who talke of things in the ſhade) he taxeth vsus all of inconſiderate zeale in the perſon of one. But both the one and the other are much deceiued, in that they conſider not, that wee ſo imploy our ſelues in the Lords ſeruice, as he hath commanded, that in the meane while the reſtauration of the Church is meerely the worke of his owne hands. Neither is it without cauſe that the whole Scripture commonly teſtifies, and that our Prophet againe and againe ſo carefully repeates it. Wherefore being mindfull of this doctrine, let vsus no way be diſcouraged from vndertaking vnderunder Go… guidance, a buſineſſe which farre ſurmounts our owne abilities; that ſo no encumbrances may either breake off our purpoſe, or ſo weaken vsus, that we ſhould d…ſt from our enterpriſe.
And here I doe expreſly ſummon you, moſt excellent King, or rather God by the mouth of his Prophet Iſaiah calles you, namely, to goe on in imploying whatſoeuer power and force God hath endued you withall; and with new encreaſes to ſet forward the reſtauration of the Church, which is now ſo happily begun in your kingdome. Firſt, you daily heare and reade that this charge is committed vntounto you in that Kingdom ouer which God hath placed you. Yea, and Iſaiah, as I hauehave ſaid, calling Kings nurcing fathers of the Church, permits not that the helpe which ſhee in this behalfe requires of you in her affliction, ſhould now be wanting vntounto her. Neither ought your heart to bee lightly touched with that, where the Prophet denounceth an heauie curſe to fall vponupon all Kings and nations, which ſhall defraud her of their aide.
Againe, your Maieſtie alſo euidently knowes, that euen the neceſſitie of theſe times requires it. And albeit by your endeuours, it may be you ſhall gaine little; yet knowing how acceptable a ſeruice this is vntounto God, and that it is a ſweete ſmelling ſauour in his noſtrils, no dangers whatſoeuer ought to turne you from this enterpriſe.
Seeing then that God thus exhorts you to behaue your ſelfe valiantly, and therewithall promiſeth you an happy iſſue: why ſhuld you not cheerfully follow him whē he cals you? In another place our Prophet cries; Prepare, prepare the way for my people. It is wel enough knowne, how there was no hope that the poore captiues could bee reſtored home to their countrie againe, neither was this preſently performed. But in regard the Prophet by the ſpirit of propheſie, then foreſaw what the poſteritie ſhould effectually feele, leſt by ſo lamentable a ſpectacle, the faithfull might be diſcouraged, he preuents them betimes; telling them that there are no obſtacles or impediments, whatſoeuer (be they as firme and as cloſe as they may be) thorow which God wil not make a way to deliuer his Church. Neither do we ſtand in leſſe need of conſolation to quicken vsus vp at this day. And as for you, moſt noble King, it is very requiſit that you be readie and watchfull, in reſpect of the charge which is committed vntounto you, ſeeing Iſaiah exhorts all Kings and Magiſtrates, in the perſon of Cyrus, to reach foorth their hand to the Church in her trauel, to the end ſhee may be reſtored to her former eſtate. Although in this regard your condition differs much from that of Cyrus, in that he being but a ſtranger ouer the Lords flock was neuer taught expreſlie, willingly, and with a franke courage to offer himſelf to reſtore & maintaine the Church: but you, whom the Lord hath not only vouchſafed to receiue by adoption, but hath alſo placed you in higheſt ranke among his children; the Prophet calles you to this office, as if he reached you out his hand. So much the more confidently therefore, and with the more ardent affection ought you to proceede on in this race. The matter (as I hauehave ſaid) is in it ſelfe full of great difficulties, intangled with much tediouſneſſe, and mingled with dangers; becauſe Satan ceaſeth not to broch his cunning ſhifts and deuices (if by any meane he might) either to ouerthrow, or deſtroy the holie temple of God; ſometimes alſo God by ſuch trials will prooue our conſtancie. But if you be reſolued, that hitherto you hauehave enterpriſed nothing by your moſt graue Counſell but by diuine authoritie from Gods word, and that for the preſent you ſo continue in reſtoring the eſtate of ye Church, no doubt but you ſhall find by experience how wonderfully God will effect that which he hath giuen his Miniſters in charge: England ſhall receiue an incomparable fruit from this ſo happie a going forward: and we ſhall hauehave cauſe too, with you and your whole kingdome to reioyce. In the meane while I will not ceaſe to further your holy endeuours, as there is good cauſe, by my poore prayers, in regard they are the beſt meanes I am able to afford you. Farewell moſt noble King. The Lord long preſerue your flouriſhing eſtate, aſſiſt and guide you by his holy ſpirit, and in all things bleſſe and proſper you. So be it. From Geneua this fiue and twentieth of December. 1551.