Commentary on Daniel, Preface
❧ Iohn Caluine to all the true worſhippers of God, which deſire the kyngdome of Chriſt to be rightly reſtored in Fraunce, Saluation.
ALthough theſe ſixe and twēty yeares wholly I hauehave not vnwillyngly wāted that our natiue countrey, whoſe beauty doth entice ſo many ſtraūgers from farre to come vntounto it, becauſe I had no delite nor deſire to dwell in that land whence Gods truth, pure Religion, and the doctrine of eternall ſaluatiō was baniſhed, forth of the which Chriſts kyngdome was violently driuen, neither yet at this day do I greatly deſyre the ſame: yet to forget the people and nation of whom I was borne, it were neither any poynt of humanity, neither lawful ſo to do. And I do ſuppoſe that I hauehave with playne proofes declared how carefully and earneſtly I hauehave deſired to profit our countreymen: vntounto whom it may be that myne abſence hath bene profitable whiles that by my ſtudy and trauayle they hauehave receiued more fruite. The cōſideration of the which commodity hath not onelyonly wyped away all grief, but hath made myne exile ſwete and comfortable. Wherefore ſeyng all this long tyme I hauehave laboured publikely to profite my coū treymē of Fraunce, and hauehave not ceaſſed priuatly alſo to ſtyrre vp the ſlouthful, to pricke forward the ſluggiſh, to encourage the fearefull, to exhorte the doubtfull weakelynges vntounto perſeueraunce: I thought it now my duety in this daungerous tyme, not to ſlake my diligence towardes thē, eſpecially God geuing me ſo good occaſion to do it. For when my Lectures wherin I dyd interpretate Daniels Prophecies ſhould come abroad, nothyng could hauehave come to hand more aptly, then hereby to ſhew vntounto you deare brethren in this glaſſe, how yt God willing to proue ye fayth of his at this time with diuerſe exerciſes, hath prouided by his maruelous wiſedome, to confirme and eſtabliſh their myndes with old examples, leſt they ſhould at any tyme faynt, beyng ſhaken with moſt greuous ſtormes and tempeſtes, or at leaſt if they ſhould at ſometyme come into any doubtfull diſtreſſe, that they ſhould not fall away in the ende. For though there be appoynted to the ſeruauntes of God a courſe or race beſet with many daungers and impedimentes: yet who ſoeuer ſhall diligently read and conſider this booke, he ſhall finde therin conteyned, what ſo euer is apte and meete to direct and guyde hym that is not ſlouthfull but forward, from the begynnyng to the end of hys race: and the good and ſtoute champions ſhall know by experience that they are ſufficiently armed to the combate.
Firſt of all an hiſtory, though lamentable, yet very profitable doth offer it ſelfe, that Daniel and hys companiōs were caryed into captiuity whiles the Kyngdome and Prieſthode continued: as though God had giuen vp to extreme calamity and miſery the chief floure of the choſen people. And what at the firſt vew can be thought more vnmete, then that children endued as it were with Angelical vertues, ſhould be taken as a ſpoyle, and made ſlaues to a proude Conquerer, whē as the moſt wicked men and proude contemners of God dyd remaine at home ſafe and ſound? Is this the reward of Godlynes and of an innocent lyfe, whiles that the wicked flatter them ſelues becauſe they eſcape vnpuniſhed, that the Saintes & Godly ſhould ſuffer the puniſhment which they had deſerued? Howbeit here do we ſee as in a lyuely image, that God when hee ſpareth and pardoneth the moſt wicked for a ſpace, doth try hys ſeruauntes lyke gold and ſiluer, leſt it ſhould greue vsus to be caſt into the fornace of triall or fynyng fyre, whiles that prophane perſons do lyue in reſt at pleaſure.
Secondly there foloweth an example of more then mans wiſedome, and of a ſingular continency, with an heroicall ſtoutnes of mynde, whiles that thoſe godly young mē beyng tempted in that tēder age with courtly delicates, do not onelyonly paſſe ouer without regarde, the daynties that were offered them, through their temperancy: but becauſe they perceiued them ſelues to be craftely aſſaulted that they might fal by litle and litle from the pure worſhip of God: to the entēt that they might rid them ſelues from theſe ſnares of Sathan, they do boldly and conſtantly deſpiſe, not without great daunger of death, the honor embrued with poyſon.
There doth folow a cruell and more fearefull cōbate, with a notable example of an incredible and meruelous conſtancy, whiles that the companions of Daniell are not moued with cruell threatnynges to pollute them ſelues with the worſhyp of the image, & at the length are ready to defēd the pure worſhyp of GOD, not onelyonly by their owne bloud, but alſo by the ſufferyng of moſt horrible tormentes. As for the goodnes of God that ſhyneth forth in the end of this tragedy, it is very profitable to arme vsus with an inuincible fayth and conſtancy.
After this there doth folow the lyke battaile and victory of Daniel hym ſelfe, whiles that he had rather to be caſt to the ragyng Lyons, then to abſteine but three dayes from an open profeſſion of hys fayth, leſt by deceitfull diſſimulation he might proſtitute the holy name of God, to the deriſion of the wicked: and he beyng deliuered forth of the denne, as it were drawen forth of the graue moſt miraculouſly, triūpheth ouer Sathan and his cōfederates. Heare come not forth any Philoſophers, which can diſpute ſubtily and cunnyngly of vertues in their ſtudyes when they are quyet: but here hauehave we the infatigable conſtācy of holy men in the exerciſe of true holynes, to ſtyrre vsus vp with open cry to folow them. Wherfore vnles we be altogether vncapable of doctrine, we muſt learne of thoſe Scholemaſters, diligently to take hede, whether that Sathan lay hys baytes of flattery, that we be not ſnared therewith: or if that he aſſayle vsus with violence, that we may repulſe and breake hys aſſaultes with a bold contempt of death and all daungers. If any man will make excuſe, that the exāples of both theſe deliueraūces that we hauehave named, are rare: I do graunt that God doth not alwayes ſtretch forth his hand from the heauens, to ſaue hys in lyke ſort, but (which is ſufficient for vsus) he hath hereby teſtified that he will be the faithfull guerdon and keper of our lyfe ſo oft as it ſhall be in any daunger, and that we are not expoſed to the luſtes of the wicked, but that God can aſſuage their fury and outragious enterpriſes when he ſeeth it good. But we may not onelyonly looke vponupon the end and ſucceſſe, but we muſt behold how boldly & courageouſly theſe holy men hauehave offered them ſelues to death for the defence of Gods glory, neither doth their prompt and ready myndes in offeryng them ſelues as ſacrifices, deſerue leſſe prayſe becauſe they were deliuered.
Now, amongeſt how many ſtyrres and ſtormes was the Prophet toſſed thoſe 70. yeares that he lyued in Captiuity, it will be good to conſider. He was ſo well treated of no kyng as he was of Nebuchadnezar, whom he yet found a ragyng beaſt. The other were more cruell, whiles by ye ſodaine death of Balſazar and the wynnyng of the Citie, he was brought vnderunder new Lordes, the Perſians and the Medes. Who fiercely breakyng in like cruell enemyes, as they made all afrayde, ſo is there no doubt but that they wounded his heart. And though he were wel vſed of Darius, ſo that that ſeruitude was tolerable: yet through the enuy and curſed conſpiracy of the noble mē, he was then in moſt daunger. Howbeit as he was more carefull for the commune ſafety of the Church then for his owne quietnes, in what ſorow was it like that he remained, and with how great grief was he troubled, when that preſent ſtate dyd ſhew none end of the cruell oppreſſion of that miſerable people? He did depend aſſuredly vpō the Prophecy of Ieremy. But this was an incomparable paciēce and conſtancy, that his hope dyd not languiſh nor decay beyng ſo long differed, yea that it was not vtterly drowned beyng drawen through ſo many ragyng floudes and tempeſtes after ſuch ſondry ſortes.
Now come I to the Prophecies, wherof the former were ſent vntounto ye Babilonians, partly becauſe God would adourne his ſeruaūt with certaine ſpeciall markes which ſhould compell that moſt proude nation, though now in conqueſt, to reuerence and honour hym, partly becauſe it was conuenient that his name ſhould be had in reuerēce amongeſt thoſe prophane perſons, that beyng in authoritie he might exerciſe the office of a Prophet more freely towardes hys owne nation. And after that his name was famous amongſt the Chaldees, God committed vntounto hym Prophecies of great importance, which ſhould peculiarly belong to the elect people: but God dyd ſo apply them to the vſe and commoditie of the auncient people, that they ſhould both mitigate the ſorowes with cō fortable remedyes, and comfirme the waueryng myndes vntill the commyng of Chriſt, and alſo he had no leſſe regarde of our tymes. For that which he dyd ſpeake before of the tranſitory and vaniſhyng ſhew of the Monarchies and of the euerlaſtyng ſtability of Chriſtes kyngdome, is no leſſe profitable to be knowne of vsus this day then of old. For God declareth that earthly power which is not founded in Chriſt, is tranſitory, and he threatneth a ſodeine ruine to all kyngdomes which ſet them ſelues vp in pride, to obſcure or hynder the glory of Chriſt.
The Kynges that now reigne in ſo great kyngdomes (vnles they willyngly come vnderunder Chriſtes dominion) ſhall feele in the end by dolefull experiēce, that this horrible iudgement doth alſo apperteine vntounto them. For what is more intolerable then to robbe hym of his right and authoritie, by whoſe protection their dignitie is preſerued? yet do we ſee how few of that number do receiue ye Sonne of God offering hym ſelfe vntounto them, yea how they buſie them ſelues, how they ſeeke all ſhiftes and try all extremities, rather then they will ſuffer hym to enter into their borders: and many of their Counſellours diligently apply their whole induſtry, endeuour, and ſtudy to ſhut vp all paſſages. And yet in the meane ſeaſon, that they pretende the name of Chriſtianity, and do boaſt them ſelues the chief defenders of the Catholicke faith, it may eaſely bee confuted as a vayne bablyng, if it be once knowne what the kyngdome of Chriſt is by a true and right definition. For the ſcepter of his kyngdome or hys throne is nothyng els but the doctrine of the Goſpell, neither doth hys Maieſty ſhyne any where els, neither doth he otherwayes atteine his empire, then where all, both high and low, with quyte myndes to learne lyke ſhepe, do heare his voyce and folow whether ſo euer he calleth. But they do not onelyonly euerywhere reiect this doctrine, wherin true Religion and the lawfull worſhip of God is conteined, wherin the euerlaſtyng ſaluation of man and the true felicitie conſiſteth, but they baniſhe it and driue it farre from them with manaces and terrors, with fire and with ſword, and leaue no force vnattempted to driue it forth of their borders. And what a blindnes is this and how monſtruous, that they whom the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God doth call moſt louyngly vntounto him ſelfe, cā not abide to receaue him and to imbrace him? But many (ſuch is their pride) thinke their authoritie nothyng if they ſubmit their ſcepters to the hye Kyng. Others will not ſuffer theyr luſtes to be brideled: and as hypocriſy doth blinde the wittes of them all, they deſire darknes and are afrayd to be drawen forth into the light. Yet is there no more wicked peſtilēce thē the feare which Herode had: as though he would take away earthly dominions from the Monarches, which offereth the heauenly kyngdome to eueryevery one of the leaſt and pooreſt of the people. The next is, that whiles one doth looke at the doynges of an other, their mutuall league doth reteine them all faſt bound vnderunder the yoke of impiety with a deadly knot. For if they would earneſtly apply their mynde to enquire what is truth and right, yea though they would but onelyonly open their eyes, the knowledge therof were euident. But becauſe this is perceiued vſually for the moſt part, when Chriſt ſpringeth forth with his Goſpell, that alſo great ſtyrres do aryſe: vnderunder an honeſt pretence they caſt away the heauenly doctrine, to prouide for publike tranquillity.
I muſt graunt in deede, that ſuch alterations & chaunges as do engender publicke diſturbance may be iudged odious: but God hath great iniury offered vnles we attribute thus much to his power, that he can eſtabliſh the kyngdome of his ſonne, and aſſuage all tumultes that boyle forth agaynſt him. Although heauen and earth ſhould rolle together, the worſhyp of God is farre more precious, then that the leaſt diminiſhing therof can be recompenſed with any ranſome. How be it they do burden the Goſpell with a falſe ſclander, which do imagine that it is the matter & cauſe of tumultes and vproares. It is true in dede that God doth therein thunder with the vehemency of his word, wherby he ſhaketh the heauen and the earth: but whiles the Prophet bryngeth in this ſentence to commend the word and to bryng credit therunto, that ſhakyng is bleſſed and much to be wiſhed. And aſſuredly vnles Gods glory be ſet aloft in his due place, whiles all fleſh be humbled and brought downe, the pride of men which doth lift vp it ſelfe agaynſt it, will neuer giuegive place but forced and throwne downe by the ſtrong and mighty hand of God. And if ſo be that the earth trembled at the publiſhyng of the law,Exo. 19.18 it is no maruaile if the power and office of the Goſpell appeare more gliſteryng and glorious. Wherfore we ought more louyngly to embrace the Goſpell, which whiles it rayſeth the dead from the helles, and openeth the heauēs to them that were vnworthy to lyue vponupon the earth, it ſheweth a ſtraunge power and vertue, as though all the elementes dyd agree to our ſaluation.
But loe, the tumultes and tempeſtes do ſpryng forth of an other fountaine: becauſe that ſome tymes the nobility and ſuch as are in hygh honor in the world, do not willyngly ſuffer the yoke of Chriſt: ſometymes the fooliſh multitude ſpitteth forth what ſoeuer is for ſaluation, before they hauehave any taſte what it is: and part like porkes delite them ſelues in their filthynes. And others, as though they were enraged with infernal furies, are outragious in ſlaughters. And ye deuil doth pricke forth thoſe that he hath, wholly to be his ſlaues with moſt exceſſiue fury and outrage, to bryng all to hurly burly. Hereof commeth the ſoundyng of the trumpets, hereof come battailes and warres, whiles that Heliogabalus that Prelate of Rome, with hys red and bloudy route and horned beaſtes, rageth ſo fiercely agaynſt Chriſt and ſeketh for helpe on eueryevery ſide of his filthy Clergy, the which altogether although it be not fedde in like daynty ſort, yet doth it eate browys and collaps out of the ſame pot, and many hungry companiōs flye vntounto thē to offer their ſeruice. A great number of the iudges which were wōt to ſtuffe their bellyes with Idolatrous feaſtes, do fight for their kitchyns & bellycheare: but chiefly the deuill ſendeth raylers out of the cloyſters of Monkes and Friers and forth of the dennes of dimſicall Doctours, who are like bellowes to kindle the fire.
I do paſſe ouer the priuy craftes and wicked conſpiracies, wherof they can be the beſt witneſſes vntounto me, that are the greateſt enemies to Religion. I name no man: it is enough to hauehave pointed them with the finger, who are but ouer well knowne. It is no maruaile though they which depend of the chaungeable ſtate and the diuerſe iſhue of thynges, continue doubtfull in this confuſed inuaſion of ſo many beaſtes. But they reiect the blame of their infidelity iniuſtly and wickedly vponupon the holy Goſpell of Chriſt. Let vsus graunt that all hell with the infernall furies do enter into battayle: will God ſit idle in the heauēs to forſake and betray his owne cauſe? And when he ſhall ſtand vp agaynſt them, can the craftes of men be they neuer ſo ſubtill, or yet their forces be they neuer ſo great, let God to hauehave the victory? The Pope, they ſay, will bryng with hym a long trayne of confederates. It is a iuſt reward of incredulity, to tremble at the ſounde of the fall of the leafe. And what ſay you, vnwiſe and vnprouident counſaylers? let Chriſt go that no new ſtraungenes do trouble vsus. Therfore ſhall you perceaue ſhortly after this, how much better it had bene to hauehave God mercyfull, and deſpiſyng all vayne terrours, to reſt vponupon his protection, then to prouoke hym to open warre, leſt they ſhould offend and diſpleaſe the euill and wicked ſpirites. Surely when all thynges are examined to the vttermoſt by the Popes defenders, the ſuperſtition which hetherto hath reigned, is none other but an euill thyng well and cunnyngly layd vp and placed, which they thinke ought not to be ſtyrred, becauſe it ſemeth that it can not be touched without ſome loſſe and detriment. But vntounto them which deſire Gods glory, and which are ſetled in true Religion, there muſt be a farre contrary purpoſe, that is, that they do ſo offer their labours vntounto God, that they commit all the iſhues therof to his prouidence, who if he had promiſed nothyng vntounto vsus, peraduenture there might be ſome iuſt cauſe to feare and continually to doubt: but ſeing that he hath ſo oft teſtified that hys aſſiſtance ſhall neuer fayle in the ſettyng forth of the kyngdome of his Chriſt, it is the onelyonly way to do well to ſettle our ſelues in this confidence.
Now it is your partes good brethren, as farre as eueryevery mans power and office ſhall lead hym, to be carefull with all his harte, that true Religion may recouer hys pure and perfect ſtate. I nede not to rehearſe how diligently hetherto I hauehave endeuored my ſelfe to cut of all occaſions of tumultes: ſo that I hauehave the aungels and you all my witneſſes before the hye iudge, that the faulte was not in me that the kyngdome of Chriſt hath not had a peaceable procedyng without any hinderance: and I ſuppoſe that my diligence hath ſomethyng profited, that priuate men ſhould not paſſe theyr boundes. Now, although God by his merueilous power hath ſpread the reſtoryng of the Church farther then I durſt hope for it,Luc. 21.19 yet is it mete to remember what Chriſt commaundeth his ſcholers, euen to poſſeſſe their ſoules in patience. VntoUnto the which purpoſe alſo the viſion of Daniel appertayneth: that the ſtone wherby all the kyngdomes which fought agaynſt God were broken, was not formed nor faſhioned by mans hand: and though it were rude and vnpoliſhed, yet dyd it grow into a great mountaine. Of the which thyng I thought good to admoniſh you, that amongeſt the thondryng threatnyngs, you ſhould quietly wayte that theſe empty cloudes may be driuen away by the heauenly power, and ſo vaniſh. Yet am I not ignoraunt (to paſſe ouer the fires of thirty yeares) what vnworthy troubles ye hauehave ſuffer theſe laſt ſixe monethes: how ofte in ſundry places the tumultuous people hauehave broken into your aſſemblyes: how oft you hauehave bene aſſaulted with ſtones and with ſwordes: how your enemyes hauehave layne in wayte for you, that they might oppreſſe your peaceable congregations with ſuddayn force at vnwares: how ſome hauehave bene ſlayne in their owne houſes, ſome in the hye wayes: how the bodyes of the dead hauehave bene trailed in deriſion, the womē rauiſhed, many men wounded, one woman great with child and her child alſo thruſt through, the houſes broken and pulled downe.
But although more cruell thynges were yet at hand, that you may declare your ſelues the Diſciples of Chriſt rightly inſtructed in his ſchole, you muſt indeuour your ſelues that no rage of the wicked which deale ſo outragiouſly, do driue you from that moderation whereby hetherto onelyonly they hauehave bene ouercome and diſapoynted. And if ſo be that the length of tyme do make you weary, remember oftentymes that famous Prophecy, in the which the condition of the Church was liuely expreſſed. God declared then vntounto his Prophet what battayles, what troubles, what griefes and perils the Iewes ſhould ſuffer from the end of their captiuity and ioyfull returning into their countrey, vntill the commyng of Chriſt. Now ye likenes of times cauſeth the ſame thyngs to be agreable vntounto vsus, and therfore may be applyed to our vſe. Daniel reioyced for the miſerable Church which had ben long drowned with a depe floude of miſeries, when he collected by the count of the yeares, that the day of deliueraunce ſpoken of by Ieremy the Prophet was at hand.Iere. 25. c. 12. &. 29.10. Howbeit he had an aunſwere that the ſtate of the people ſhould be more greuous after that liberty were reſtored, ſo that they ſhould ſcantly hauehave any breathyng tyme from their continuall miſeries. Daniel continued hys hope ſeuenty yeares not without great and bitter ſorow and many griefes: but now God increaſing the tyme ſeuenfold, doth ſtrike hym to the heart, as it were with a deadly wound. Neither doth he yet onelyonly pronounce that the people ſhould be ſubiect to new troubles, when after long tyme they beyng reſtored had gathered ſtrength, had built their Citie and Temple: but in the firſt begynnyng of their mirth, when they had ſcarce taſted the ſwetenes of the comfort, he doth appointe them vntounto miſery. Now, concernyng the calamities which folowed ſoone after (wherof there is a long rehearſall) ſeyng we tremble at the hearyng onelyonly of them, how dolefull and bitter do we thinke they were to the rude people, how horrible and fearefull a ſpectacle was it to ſee the temple prophaned by the bold malice of a curſed tyrant, the ſacrifices mixed with filthy pollutiōs in deſpite, and all the bookes of the law to be burned to deſtroy all Religiō, and all thoſe to be drawen to the ſame fire, who ſoeuer dyd confeſſe playnly and conſtātly that they would perſeuere and continue in the worſhyp of God? How could the tender and weake behold this without great feare of heart? And this was the purpoſe of the tyraunt, that cruelty ſhould driue the weakelynges to fall from their Religion. VnderUnder the Machabees there ſemed ſome releaſe to be offered, the which yet was ſtraight after deformed with moſt cruel ſlaughters, and neuer wanted ſorrow and grief. For where as their enemy did farre excell them both in multitude and warlike munition, they all thought nothyng better which had taken weapons for the defence of the Church, then to hide them ſelues in the dennes of wild beaſtes, or to wāder in wildernes with great pouerty and ſcarcity of all thynges.
There was alſo an other kynde of temptation, that wicked hipocrites, vnderunder a falſe pretēce of zeale (as Daniel ſayth) did ioyne them ſelues to Iudas and his brethren. By the which ſubtilty Sathā ſpotted the gariſons that Iudas had collected, with great infamy, as though they had ben a bande of theues and robbers. But nothyng was more lamentable vntounto good men, then to ſee the Prieſtes them ſelues, as eueryevery man was caried with hys ambition, to betray the Church and the Religion of God with wicked packyngs and practiſes. Neither was that holy office onelyonly ſold and made a marchandiſe, but it was bought with mutuall ſlaughter and parricides. Hereof came it that all ſtates of men, all though Circumciſion and ſacrifices were in vſe, were polluted in the ende through the manifold corruptions which ſpred eueryevery where without puniſhment: that it was a ſtraunge wonder to wayte for the kyngdome of God when Chriſt came into the world, and very few are therfore named with this commendation. If now in that miſerable deformity of the Church, in the manifold deſolations, amongſt thoſe great terrours, the ſpoylyng of their countreys, the robbyng of houſes, and amongeſt the daūgers of death the Prophecy of Daniel hath ſuſteined godly mindes, when as Religion was yet wrapped in darke ſhadowes, and the doctrine almoſt extinguiſhed, and the Prieſts themſelues beyng degenerate dyd tread all holy thynges vnderunder foote: how ſhamefull ſhall our tender weakenes be, vnles this cleare light of the Goſpell, in the which God hath ſhewed his fatherly face towardes vsus, lift vsus vp aboue all impediments, and ſtabliſh vsus with a conſtancy that can not bee wearied? For as there is no doubt but that the ſeruauntes of God then dyd apply vntounto their age, to mitigate the ſorowes of their preſent miſeryes, all ſuch things as were ſpoken by the Prophetes of the Babilonicall captiuity: ſo is it our part to hauehave our eyes bent vponupon the miſeries of our fathers, that we refuſe not to be gathered vntounto that Church, vntounto whom it is ſpoken:Iſa. 54.11. Pſa. 129.1 2.3.4. O thou poore one, affiicted and toſſed with tempeſtes, that haſt no comfort, behold I will receaue thee: and the which in an other place, after ſhe hath cōplained that the plowers hauehave plowed theyr backe, and the wicked hauehave made long forrowes as it were in a field, yet doth ſhe glory ſtraightwayes that their cordes were cut by the iuſt God, that they could not preuaile. And the Prophet hath not onelyonly encouraged vsus by the examples of thoſe tymes to hope and to patience, but he hath ioyned an exhortation taught by the holy ſpirite, which is extended to the whole kyngdome of Chriſt, and is peculiar vntounto vsus.
Wherfore let it not be greuous vntounto vsus to be comprehended amongeſt the number of them, who as Daniel ſayth: Muſt be tryed by fyre that they may be made white: ſeyng that the ineſtimable felicity and glory which ſpringeth therof, doth more then ſufficiently recompence all the griefes of the croſſe. And though many can feele no taſte in this doctrine, but thinke it vnſauery, yet may not their dulnes or ſluggiſhnes make vsus the more ſlouthfull: and therfore muſt we print deepely in our hartes that which the Prophet ſtraight way pronounceth: that the wicked ſhall do wickedly, becauſe they will vnderſtand nothyng: but the children of God ſhall be endued with the knowledge of God, that they may kepe the right courſe of their godly vocation. And it is neceſſary to conſider the fountaine of that brutiſh blindnes, that the heauenly doctrine may be ſauery vntounto vsus. For there is none other cauſe why the moſt part doth deſpiſe Chriſt and his Goſpell, but for that they careleſly flatter them ſelues in ſinne, and are neither wakened with any feare, neither with the ſenſe of their miſeries, neither with the terrour of Gods wrath, to deſire earneſtly and feruently the redemption which onelyonly doth deliuer vsus from the bottomles depth of eternall deſtruction: and in the meane tyme beyng ſnared with pleaſures and other allurementes, or rather betwitched thereby, they are all together careles of the bleſſed eternity of the other lyfe. And though there be many and ſondry ſectes of them that contempteouſly deſpiſe the doctrine of the Goſpell, and in ſome of them pride is more euidēt, in ſome others tender weakenes, in others a certaine dronkennes of the mynde, in others a ſleapy dulnes: yet ſhall we finde that this contempt commeth of a prophane careles ſecurity: becauſe that no man doth enter into him ſelfe, to examine his owne miſeries to finde a remedy for them.
This is a monſtrous madnes, when Gods wrath and curſe lyeth vponupon vsus, and his iuſt vengeance doth preſſe vsus, that we ſhould caſt of all care, and ſtand in our owne conceit, as though nothyng were to be feared. How be it this vice is to much commune: that thoſe that are gilty a thouſand tymes and are worthy a thouſand tymes of eternall death, whē they hauehave ſleighty done a few fooliſhe ceremonies vntounto God, they bryng them ſelues into a ſlepe, or rather a deadly and ſenſeles traunce. But ſeyng that Paul doth pronounce that the ſauour of ye Goſpell is deadly vntounto all thoſe whoſe myndes the deuill bewitcheth: it is neceſſary for vsus that will taſte the ſauour therof vntounto lyfe, to ſet our ſelues before Gods iudgement ſeat, and often thether to ſommon our conſciences, the which beyng wounded with an vnfeined feare, the reconciliation which Chriſt hath purchaſed for vsus with his bloud ſo precious, may be eſtemed of vsus accordyng to the price and worthynes. Wherfore the aungell preacheth of the eternall iuſtice which Chriſt hath ſealed with the ſacrifice of his death, to cauſe men to reuerence Chriſtes doctrine, & to wynne authoritie vntounto it: and he expreſſeth alſo the maner and meane to obteine iuſtice: becauſe (ſayth he) iniquity is done away and purged. Therfore whiles the world doth run mad after theyr luſtes and wantonnes let the conſideration of the cōdemnation which we hauehave deſerued make vsus afrayde and hūble vsus before God. And whiles carnall men do glutte them ſelues with earthly pleaſures & delites, let vsus embrace with feruent deſire, this vncomparable treaſure, in the which an aſſured felicity and bleſſednes is layd vp for vsus. Let our enemies prate as they pleaſe, that they alſo care how to hauehave God mercifull vntounto thē: ſeing they are of this opiniō, that men muſt doubtfully call vpō God in prayer, it is plaine that they ouerthrow the chief foundation of our ſaluation. Let them taunt & ſcoffe at our fayth as long as they liſt, ſo that we feele aſſuredly that no man can attaine to this prerogatiue but by the benefite of fayth, with a free and quiet conſcience, truſtyng to the mediation of Chriſt, to call God father.
But the ſtudy of Religion and care of godlines will neuer take force in vsus as it ought to do, vntil we do learne to lift vp our myndes (which are alwayes ouer prone to the earth) and exerciſe them in a continuall meditation of the heauenly lyfe. In the which point the meruelous vanity of mankynd bewrayeth it ſelfe, that whereas al men can ſpeake plauſibly, as they were Philoſophers, of the ſhortnes of this life, yet no man aſpireth to that eternall and euerlaſtyng life. Wherfore it was not without cauſe that Paul when he cōmēdeth the faith & charity of ye Colloſſians, Col. 1.2.5.ſayth that they are encouraged by yt hope which was layd vp in the heauēs. And ſpeakyng in an other place of ye end of the grace which is reueled vntounto vsus in Chriſt,Tit. 2.12.13 he ſayth that we are taught therby to deny all vngodlynes and worldly deſires, and to lyue ſoberly and iuſtly and godly in this world, waityng for that bleſſed hope & glorious commyng of the great God euen our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. Let this hope then & waityng for his cōmyng rauiſh vsus vntounto it, and loſe vsus from all worldly impedimentes: and the more that the world is infected and farced with the careles lyfe of the Epicures, it becommeth vsus to labour ſo much the more earneſtly, that this infection creepe not into vsus alſo, vntil we come to the marke appointed. And although it is to be lamē ted that ſuch a multitude doth willyngly periſh, yet leſt the wicked madnes of them which thus caſt them ſelues downe purpoſely to their owne deſtruction ſhould trouble vsus, let an other leſſon of Daniel comforte vsus, that there is a ſure ſaluation layd vp for all them that are found written in the booke. And although our election be hyd in ye ſecrete coūſell of God, which is the firſt cauſe of our ſaluation, yet ſeyng that the adoption of all that are grafted into the body of Chriſt by faith in the Goſpell is nothing doubtfull: be you content with this teſtimony, & go forward courageouſly in this that you hauehave bleſſedly begon. And though you muſt yet fight a longer battaile (as I pronounce vntounto you that there are yet behynd ſorer ſkyrmiſhes then you do looke for) with what rage ſo euer the madnes of the wicked ſhall boyle forth, and though they bryng all the deuils of hell to helpe them, remember you that your full courſe is appointed by the heauenly moderator and ruler of the field, whoſe lawes and orders you muſt obey the more willyngly becauſe that he doth miniſter ſtrength vntounto his ſouldiours vntounto the end. Now becauſe it is not lawfull for me to forſake the ſtate, place, and office wherein God will hauehave me to remaine, this my labour dedicate vntounto you, ſhalbe a pledge of my carefull deſire to helpe you, whiles that my pilgrimage beyng ended, the heauenly father of great mercy ſhall gather me together with you into his euerlaſtyng heritage. The Lord gouerne you with his holy ſpirite, my deare beloued brethren, and defend you with his protection agaynſt all the enterpriſes of the enemyes, and ſtrengthen you with an inuincible power.
At Geneua 14. Calend of September. 1561.