Epistle to Prince Edward, Text
The Epiſtle of John Caluine
MY lord, although god hath geuen vntounto you ſynguler prudēce, magnanimitye, and other vertues requiſite to the place wherein he hath ordeyned you, and in thaffayres that he hath put in your hādes: Yet neuertheles, foraſmuche as ye dooe eſteme me for a ſeruante of his ſonne (whome aboue al ye deſyre to obeye,) I am certen that for the louelove of him, you wil gently receyue that, which I write vntounto you in hys name: as in dede I pretende no other end, but yt in folowyng that, that you hauehave begonne, you might more and more aduaunce his honoure, vntounto the tyme that you ſhal hauehave eſtabliſhed his reigne in ſuche perfeccion, as it may be knowen in ye world. And alſo you ſhal know, that withoute aduauncyng anye thing of myne owne fantaſy, al that I write ſhalbe drawen oute of hys pure doctryne. If I conſidered not other cauſes then the dignitie and greatenes where ye be: there wer no meane for a man of my qualitye to wryte vntounto you. But foraſmuche as you refuſe not to be taught of the maſter, the whiche I ſerue: but that rather you preferre to al the reſt the grace that he hath geuen vntounto you, to be one of his diſciples: I thynke that I hauehave no nede to make vntounto you any long excuſe or preface, becauſe I fynd you ſufficiently dyſpoſed to receyue all that ſhall proceede of hym. We hauehave all to render thankes vntounto our Lorde GOD and father, in that he will be ſerued of you in ſo excellente a woorke, as in ſettyng foorthe agayne (by youre meanes,) the pure and true rule of hys ſeruyce in Englande: and in cauſing the doctrine of health to hauehave place, and to be there faythefullye publyſſhed, for all them that will heare the ſame. And for that as he hath geuen vntounto you ſuche vertue and conſtancye to purſue it vntounto this time againſt ſo many temptacions and difficulties: And for that alſo that he hathe ſtrēghtned you in bleſſynge all youre deuyſes and laboures, for the proſperyng of them, they be thynges that ſtyrreth all true faythefull menne to magnify his name. But in the meane tyme, beecauſe that Sathan ceaſſeth not to rayſe vp by all wayes, newe combates,There is nothynge more hard then to cauſe the woorde of god peaceablye to rewle emong the people. and that it is a thynge of it ſelfe ſo hard as there canne bee nothynge more harde then to cauſe the woorde of GOD peaceablye to rewle emonges the people (the whiche of theyr nature are geuen to lyes:) And foraſmuche as there be ſo many cyrcumſtances which in theſe dayes empeache the courſe of the ſame, and aboue all, that the ſuperſticions of the antechriſte hauyng taken roote of ſo long tyme, may not eaſely bee taken awaye from theyr heartes: Me thynketh you hauehave great nede to be confyrmed by holye exhortacyons. And I doubt not, but that experience teacheth you to feele the ſame, whiche ſhall bee the cauſe to make me to procede the more frankelye, beecauſe yt my purpoſe (as I belieue) ſhalbe conformable to youre deſyre. And albeit that my exhortacions ſhall bee ſuperfluous: yet I am ſure that you wil beare with the good zeale and affeccion, that ſtirreth me to doe it. Wherfore according to reaſon, I belieue that the neceſſitie which ye feele, ſhall cauſe that the ſame ſhalbee a greate deale the better receyued: Howeſoeuer it ſhalbee, I beſeche you my lorde, that it may pleaſe you to geue me the hearynge in ſome aduertiſementes which I entend brieflye to declare vntounto you, hopyng that when ye ſhall hauehave hearde it, at the leaſt you ſhal fynde ſome ſauor for to bee reconforted, and to take a great deale the better courage to continue the holye and noble enterpriſe, in the whiche god hath appointed you to be employed vntounto this preſent.
I doubte not but the greate troubles whyche happened vntounto you not long agoe, hauehave beene vntounto you verye harde and annoyouſe: and moſte of all for that manye myghte hauehave taken occaſion of ſlaundre, for aſmuche as they were moued (in ſome parte) vnderunder the ſhadowe of chaungyng the Religyon. Wherefore it cannot bee but that it hathe beene vntounto you a verye harde aſſaulte, aſwell for the cares, whiche myghte come vntounto you, as alſo for ye mutenies of the malygners and Ignorauntes, and alſo for the feare and trouble of the good. Truelye the brute that I hauehave heard a farre of, hath cauſed me to hauehave great grief in my hearte, vntounto ſuche time that I dyd knowe that God had begonne to put ſome remedy. Neuertheles, for that, that they be not yet al pacifyed, and that the deuill may renewe them agayne: you ſhall call to remembraunce that, that the holy ſtory recyteth of the good king Ezechias: that is to ſaye, at ſuche tyme as he hadde abolyſhed the Superſticyons in Iewerye,Ezechias at his fir… reforinyng of the church was fore oppreſſed of enemies and reformed the ſtate of the church according to the law of god, yt thē he was ſo oppreſſed of his enemies, yt he was very lykelye to be a loſte and deſperate manne. It is not withoute cauſe that the holye Spiryte notablye expreſſeth that ſuche afflyccyons happened vntounto hym immediatelye after he had eſtabliſhed the true religion in hys perſit ordre. For it was verye lykelye,Whoſo goeth aboute to ſet furth the glorye of GOD, ſhall hauehave perſecuciō that as ſoone as he went about to ſet foorthe the glorye of God, he ſhoulde not hauehave hys realme peaceable. So all faythefull Princes and Gouernours of Countreyes be aduertiſed by thys exaumple, that the more they ſhall employe theyr labour to put out all Idolatrye and procure that god be truely wurſhypped (as he ought) the more theyr fayth ſhall bee proued,Why God ſuffereth godly Princes to bee tempted. by dyuers temptacions. God ſuffereth it, and ſo will hauehave it, to declare the conſtancie of hys, and to exercyſe them, that they ſhoulde hauehave regarde to an hygher thyng, then thys worlde.The deuil laboureth priuely to deſtroy al godly doctrine. In the meane tyme the deuil alſo doth hys offyce, entending by al couert and hidden meanes to deſtroye the good doctrine, becauſe he cannot openlye attayne to hys deſyre. But folowing the admonicion of ſaint Iames (who ſayeth vntounto vsus: that in conſideryng the pacience of Iob, we muſte take hede to thende,) we muſt alſo caſte oure eyes vponupon the end, whiche was geuen to the ſayde good kynge.The good ende that GOD geueth to the godly. As god ſuccoured hym in all hys aduerſities, ſo in thende he remayned victorious. Conſideryng that, and for aſmuch as hys hād is not now any ſhorter than it was than, and that he hath at this day in ſo gret recommendacion the defence of his people, truth and veritie, as euer he had: Doubte ye not, but that he wil helpe you, and not onelye for one tyme, but in as many temptacions as he ſhall ſend vntounto you. If the moſte parte of the worlde reſiſte the Goſpell, and lykewyſe enforceth themſelues, with all rage and violence, to empeache and hyndre the ſettyng furth therof:The ingratytude of men doeth euer more reſiſt God approchīg vntounto them We ought not to thynke it ſtraunge. For it is the vnthankefulneſſe of menne, which euer hauehave bene and ſhalbe, to recoyle when GOD approcheth to them, and alſo to ſtumble agaynſte hym, when he will charge them with hys yoke. Moreouer, for that of theyr nature they bee geuen to hipocriſie, they maye not endure to bee brought to ye light of ye woord of GOD, whiche diſcouereth their infamye and ſhame, nor to be drawen out of the ſuperſticiōs which ſerueth vntounto thē as hyding places, for to geue them ſhadowe. It is then no new thing, if there bee greate contradiccion, whē one goeth aboute to brynge them to the pure obedyence of GOD.Ieſus brigeth the ſwerd with the goſpel And alſo we hauehave aduertiſemente of oure Lorde Ieſus, the whiche ſayeth to vsus, that he hathe brought the ſweorde with his euangelye. But this muſte not aſtonyſhe vsus, nor make vsus wurſe willynge or fearefull: for in thende when men ſhall hauehave well mutined and put furth all theyr malices, they ſhalbe confounded in a momente, and ſhal ouerthrow themſelues, with theyr owne violences. It is true (as it is ſayde in the ſeconde pſalme) that god ſhall not but laughe at theyr ſtyrrynges,Howe god laugheth at the malicious ſtirring of perſecutours. that is to ſay, that in diſſimulyng he ſhall leaue them tormented, as the thyng touched hym not. But for all that, in thende they ſhalbe alwayes drieuen backe by hys power, of the whiche if we be armed, we hauehave a good perfite and inuincible municion againſte all conſpiracies, whatſoeuer the Deuilles maye procure agaynſt vsus. And in thende we ſhall knowe by experyence,The Goſpell that maketh a reconciliacion betwene god and vsus, can alſo a peaſe men yt as the goſpel is the meſſenger of peace, & of ye reconciliacyon betwene God and vsus: So can he aſwel for vsus pacifye men. And by thys meane, we ſhall feele that Eſai hath not ſayd in vayne, that when Ieſu Chriſte ſhall reygne emonges vsus by hys doctrine, the ſweordes ſhall be conuerted into plough ſhares, and the ſpeares into Sythes. In the meane tyme, albeit that the malice and Rebellion of men are the occaſion of ſedicion and mewtenies, which ryſeth agaynſte the Goſpell: Yet neuertheleſſe it behoueth vsus to take hede to our ſelues,God ſome time chaſteneth vsus by the euil perſoues. and to knowe that god chaſteneth oure faultes by them, which otherwiſe cannot ſerue but to Sathan. It hath bene an auncient complaynte, that the Ghoſpell was the cauſe of all euilles and calamities,Some lay the faulte of ſedicion to the goſpell. whiche happened vntounto men. In deede we ſee by the hiſtories that not longe after the chriſtianitie was ſpredde in all places, there was not almoſt a corner in the worlde whiche was not horriblye afflycted. The mocyon of the warres was as an vniuerſal fyer lyghtened in all countreyes. The floudes in thone ſyde, the Peſtilence and famyne in the other, an horrible confuſyon of ordre and pollicye, in manner that it was lykelye that the worlde ſhoulde bee clearelye ouerturned. We hauehave alſo ſeene in oure tyme, ſythe the goſpel hathe begonne to be abroade, manye myſeryes: So that euerye manne complayneth that we bee in an vnhappye worlde, and there is verye fewe that feeleth not the wayghte of the burden.
Nowe in feelynge ſuche blowes, wee oughte to regarde the hande of hym that ſtryketh vsus, and we oughte alſo to thinke wherfore.The cauſe why we fele gods ſcourge. The cauſe whiche moueth hym to make vsus ſo to feele hys ſcourge, is not very darke or hard to vnderſtande. We know that his woorde, by the which he will kepe vsus in health, is an ineſtimable treaſure, and in what maner of recompence is it receaued of vsus. Wherfore then, ſeeyng we eſteme not muche that, whiche is ſo precious to ſpeake of: it is reaſon that he take vengeance of our ingratitude. We alſo heare that Ieſus Chriſte ſayde, that the ſeruaunte knowyng the will of hys maiſter and dooyng it not, is worthy of double chaſtiſemente, for becauſe that we bee ſo ſlothfull to obey the wil of oure God, whiche hath bene declared vntounto vsus, more than an hundred tymes heretofore, we ought not to think it ſtraūge, if he be more ſharply angrye with vsus, ſeing that we be more inexcuſable. Whē we cauſe not the good ſeede to increaſe and profite: it is reaſon that the thyſtles and thornes of Sathan groweth to prycke and tormēt vsus. Becauſe that we geue not to our creatour the obedience that is due vntounto hym: it is no meruayle that men aryſe agaynſt vsus. As I vnderſtād (my lord) you hauehave had two kyndes of mutenies, whiche bee riſen againſt the king & the ſtate of ye Realme.Two kindes of mutenies at once. Thone be fantaſticall men, which vnderunder the colour of the goſpell, would put all to confuſyon. The other bee obſtynate people in the Superſticyons of the Antichriſte of Rome. Altogether deſerueth wel to be punyſhed by the ſweorde, that is commytted vntounto you. Seeynge that they quarell, not onelye agaynſte the kynge, but alſo agaynſte God, whiche hathe placed hym in the ſeate Royall, and hath committed vntounto you, the proteccion, aſwell of hys perſon, as of hys maieſtie, and regall eſtate.How gods word muſt be receued But the principal meane is, to doe as much as is poſſible, to cauſe that they which ſauor the doctrine of the goſpel (to thintent to ſtycke and cleaue vntounto it) ſhoulde receyue it with ſuche humbleneſſe and feare, that they may forſake themſelues for the ſeruice of god. For they ought to thinke that god wil reuele all, to thentente yt they ſhall profit more (without fe… ning in his woorde) then they hauehave done before. Theſe mad folkes that would the worlde ſhould returne into a confuſe & diſordinate libertie, be ſuborned by Sathan for to ſlaū dre the goſpel: As yt it ſhould not engendre, but rebellion a gaynſte prynces, and all dyſordre emonges the people. Wherfore al faythfull ought to be ſorowful. The Papiſtes willīg to maintain ye filthy abhominaciōs of their Romain Idole, ſhew themſelues open enemyes of the grace of Ieſus Chriſte and of all hys ordynaunces, the ſame alſo ought to greeue the heartes of al them, whiche hauehave good zeale, wherfore they ought to thynke altogether that theſe be ſcourges of god, which he ſendeth to them: And wherefore? But onelyonly becauſe that they make none accoumpte of the doctrine of healthe as they ought to doe.The principall remedie to appeace ſedicion. Wherfore the principall remedye for to appeace ſuch ſediciōs is, that they which profeſſeth the goſpell, doe truely repayre to the Image of God, for to ſhewe that our chriſtianitie cauſeth not diſſipacion in the humain lyfe, and geue good proofe & tryall by theyr ſobrenes, and temperaunce, that we gouerned by the woord of God, bee not mē vnruled and without a brydle. And by theyr good & holy lyfe, ſtop the mouthes of all euyll ſpeakers. For by thys meanes god (beeing appeaced) ſhal retiere hys hand, and in the place that thys day he puniſheth the ſlaunderers, for ye contemning of his word, he ſhall bleſſe theyr obedience in all proſperitie.Lawe es & Iuſtices oughte to bee vncorrupt. Lykewyſe that al the nobilitie and lawiers gouerne them ſelues ryghtlye, and in all humilitie to thobediēce of this great kyng Ieſus Chriſt: Makyng holy homage vntounto him (without feining) of ſoule and body and all that they hauehave. To thintente, that he correct and abate that to gancie and folly of them, that woulde tyſe agaynſt them. Loe, thys is the meane howe Princes of the earth ought to reygne in ſeruing Ieſus Chriſt, to thende that he may hauehave Soueraine auctoritie emonges all, bothe great and ſmall. Wherefore my Lorde, in aſmuche as you hauehave the regall eſtate of the king your Nephieu deare vntounto you, and in greate recommendacion (as you ſhewe very wel) I pray you in ye name of god, to employe your principall care & vigilancye, that the doctrine of God may bee preached with ſtrengthe, and vertue, for to brynge furthe hys fruite, and not to leaue for any reſpecte to purſue a ful and an entiere reformacion of the Churche. And the better to declare vntounto you my mynde and intencion, I will deuyde the whole into three poyntes. The fyrſt ſhalbe the meane to inſtructe the people well.The remedies againſte all ſedicion in a common weale. The ſeconde ſhalbe the taking away of the abuſe that hath bene of longe tyme. The third with diligēce to correct vyces, and to kepe ſo good ordre that the ſlaundres & diſordres may not hauehave ſuch place as ye the name of God ſhoulde bee blaſphemed. As to the fyrſte I mynde not to declare vntounto you what doctrine ought to hauehave place. But rather I geue thankes to almighty god, that beſides that he hathe geuen vntounto you the light of his pure knowledge, he hath alſo geuen vntounto you, good counſell and diſcrecion, to cauſe hys pure veritie to be preached. So that God be thanked, you be not to teache what is the true faith of chriſten mē, and the doctrine that they ought to receiue. Seing that by youre meane, the true puretie of the faythe is reſtored. That is, that we belieue and take God for the onelye gouerner of oure ſoules: that we kepe hys lawe for the onelyonly rule, and ſpiritual gouernmente of oure conſcience, and not to ſerue him after ye fooliſh inuencyon of man. Alſo, that accordyng to hys nature, he wilbe ſerued in ſpirite, and in puritie of heart. Of the other parte, knowyng that there is not but al euil in vsus, and that we bee corrupted in all oure knowledge and affeccyons, on that ſorte, that our ſoules being deſpayred in our ſelfes be lyke a bottomles pytte, or worlde of iniquitie. And hauing taken away al preſumpcion of our wiſedome, dygnitie, or power to dooe well: we may hauehave recourſe to the foū tayne of al goodnes, which is Ieſus Chriſt, receiuyng that which he geueth vsus: that is to ſaye, the merite of hys deathe and paſſion. To thintout that by that meane we may bee reconciled to God, that beeyng waſhed with hys bloude, we ſhoulde not feare that oure faultes ſhoulde empeache or hyndre vsus, to fynde grace before hys celeſtiall throne. That beyng certain that ou… ſynnes be frely pardoned vsus, by vertue of hys ſacrifice, we ſhal put therin our truſt & aſſurance, for to be aſſerteyned of our healthe, and that we bee ſanctifyed by his ſprite, in geuinge our ſelues to the obedience of the iuſtice of GOD, that beeynge fortifyed by hys grace, we ſhalbe vanquiſhers of Sathan, the worlde, and the fleſhe. Finally, that being membres of hys bodye, we feare it not, but GOD will take vsus for hys children, and that wee maye hauehave confydence to call vntounto hym as oure father. That we be aduertyſed to brynge to thys ende, al that is ſayd and done in the church, it is, that beyng retiered from the worlde, wee maye bee lyfte vp to heauen, with our head and Sauior. Wherefore ſeeyng than that god hath geuē you the grace to reſtore the knowledge of hys doctrine, whiche hathe beene ſo longe buryed by the Antichriſte, I leaue to kepe you with longer purpoſe.
And that whiche I hauehave towched of the manner of teaching, is onelyonly for that the people maye bee ryghtlye inſtructed, and for to feele that which thapoſtle ſayd:The word of God is a two edged ſword that is, that the woorde of God is a ſweorde, cutting with two edges, pearſyng the thoughtes and affeccions vntounto the mary of the bone.Few godlye preachinges in the realm I ſaye thys (my Lord) for that I thynke there is veraye fewe lyuelye preachynges within the realme. But that the moſt parte recyteth, as by lecture, I well perceyue the neceſſytye that conſtrayneth you thereunto. For fyrſte you hauehave not (as I think) your paſtours ſo good and apt, as you deſire & wiſhe, wherfore it is nedeful for you to ſupply that lack. Secondly there myght chaunce to bee manye lighte ſpirites, whiche woulde peraduenture leape beyond theyr bondes, ſowing ſome foolyſhe fantaſyes, as many tymes they doe in newe thynges. But all theſe conſideracyons empeacheth not,The ordinaunce of Ieſus Chriſto oughte in al cauſes to hauehave courſe. but that thordinaunce of Ieſus Chriſte ought to hauehave his courſe as in preachynge the goſpel. Nowe ths preachyng oughte not to bee dead but alyue,Prechyng oughte to be liuely. for to teache exhorte and reprehende (as Saint Paule ſayth to Timoth:) yea in ſuch ſorte as if an infidele entre, he may bee wounded ouercome, and taken (as the ſame Paul ſayeth in another place,) for to geue glory vntounto god. You knowe alſo, my Lorde, howe as he ſpeaketh of the lyuelines that oughte to bee in the mouthes of them, which will approue them ſelues good and faythfull miniſters of the goſpell, that they ought not to hauehave or vſe woordes of rethorike, entending thereby to be in greater eſtimacyon: but that the ſpirite of God ought to ſounde in theyr voyces, for to woorke in dertue. All the daungers that are to bee feared, ought not to impeache the ſpirite of God to hauehave hys libertie, and his courſe, in them in the which he hath diſtributed of hys grace, for to edifye the churche. It is true that in the meane time it is good and expedient to ſtop the lightnes of fantaſtical ſpirites, that taketh to muche lycence. Alſo to ſhut the gate of al curioſities and newe fangled doctrines. But the beſt and moſt conuenient meanes, ſuche as God hath ſhewed vntounto vsus, is,There ought to be a reſolute ſūme of doctrin that ſhould bee preached. that firſt there bee a ſūme reſolute of ye doctrine that al ought to preache, the which al prelates and curates ſhould ſweare to folowe: And that none bee receyued to anye eccleſiaſticall charge,All preachers oughte to preache vniformly. but he promyſe to obſerue the ſame concorde and vnpon.cathechiſmes for the youth oughte to be had in a chriſten realme. After that to hauehave a formall and commen inſtruccyon for to enſtructe the younge chyldren and ignoraunte people, whyche ſhould make them acquaynted with the true doctrine, in ſuch wyſe that they may diſcerne it from lyes and corrupcions, whiche elles myght be broughte in. To the contrarye, belieue my lorde, that the churche of god ſhal neuer be conſerued without Cathechiſme: for it is as the ſeede, to bee kept, that the good grayne peryſhe not, but that it may encreaſe from age to age. Wherfore if you deſire to builde a worke of continuaunce to endure long, & which ſhoulde not ſhortly fall in decay, cauſe that the children in theyr yong age, be enſtructed with a good Cathechiſme, that may learne them briefly, and according to theyr ſmall capacities, to knowe wherein conſyſteth the true chriſtianitie. The profitableneſſe of a good cathechiſme.Thys▪ Cathechiſme ſhall ſerue for two purpoſes, that is to ſay, for an introduccyon to al the people, for to profite wel in that which ſhalbe preached vntounto them, and alſo to diſcerne in caſe any preſumptuouſly would attempt to ſet furth ſtraunge doctrines. In the meane time I ſay not,It is neceſſarye to bynde the Paſtour… to a certain forme of doctrine written. and alſo neceſſary to bynde and reſtrayn the paſtoures and Curates to a certain forme written, for to ſupplye the ignorauncies and ſymplenes of ſome of thē, and alſo the better to ſhewe the conformitie and concorde of all churches. Thyrdelye, for to brydle all curioſityes and newe inuencions, ſuche as deſyres nothynge, but to runne ryot, the ſayde Cathechiſme, (as I hauehave before rehearſed) ſhall ſerue and bees good brydle for ſuche folkes: And alſo in ſuch ſorte ordre is to be geuen, in the miniſtring of the Sacramentes, and in the publike prayers. But in ye meane tyme,The vertue of prechinge the Ghoſpell may not be deſtroyed you muſt take heede that ſuche pollicie deſtroy not the ſtrength and vertue that oughte to be in preaching of the goſpel. And that you employe youre labour… aſmuche as ye poſſiblye can, that there bee good trumpets whiche maye enter into the depenes of ye hertes, for ther… is daunger that ye ſhall not ſee greate profite of ſuche reform…cion,Good prechīg muſt be ioyned with a reformacion how good and holye ſoeuer it bee, vnleſſe that euen at once with it, the power and vertue of good preaching, bee deſplayed and ſette foorthe togethers. It is not without… cauſe that it is ſayd that Ieſus Chriſt ſhall ſtrike the year…he by the Sceptre of hys mouthe, and ſhall deſtroye the euyll by the Spirite of hys lyppes. It is the meane by the whiche he will ouercome vsus, in deſtroyinge all that, whiche is agaynſte hym.The goſpel is in ſcripture called the kingdome of God▪ And for that cauſe the goſpel is alſo called the kingdome of GOD. Alſo, albeit that thordinances & ſtatutes of princes bee good helpes to aduaunce and mayntaine the ſtate of chriſtianitie: So likewyſe god will declare hys ſouereygne vertue in the ſpirituall ſweorde of hys woorde with it, ſetting furth theſame by his paſtours. And to thintent I woulde not long trouble you (my Lord) I wil come to the ſeconde poynt which I hauehave purpoſed to ſhewe vntounto you.Abuſes muſte bee cleane taken away It is to abolyſhe, and clearely to take away, the abuſes & corrupcions that Sathan hath mingled heretofore with the ordinaunces of god. We knowe yt vnderunder the pope there is a baſtard chriſtianitie whiche god ſhall dyſalowe in the laſte daye:VnderUnder … papacie is a baſtarde chriſtianitie. foraſmuche as at thys daye, he hath condemned the ſame, by hys woorde. If wee deſyre to retiere the worlde from ſuche perdicion, there is nothyng better, then to folow the exaumple of. S. Paule, who willynge to correcte the euyll that the Corinthians had ioyned to the ſupper of our Lorde, ſayde vntounto them: I hauehave receyued of the Lord, that whiche I hauehave geuen vntounto you.We mu… returne to the ryght commaundement of GOD. Of that we muſt gather one generall inſtruccion to returne to ye right and natural commaundemēt of God: if we wil hauehave a good and an approued reformacion of hym. For ſo manye mynglynges as men hauehave ſet vp of theyr owne inuencions, there be ſo many infecctons, which turne vsus from the holy vſage of that, that God hath geuen vsus, for our healthe. So to … of halfe the braunches of ſuch abuſes,It is not enough to cut of ſum of the brā ches of abuſes. it cannot bring again the thynges in perfecte and pure ſtate, beecauſe that wee then ſhall hauehave alwayes a Chriſtianitie counterfette. I ſay thys for that, that ſome vnderunder the coulour of moderacion, bee of opinion to ſuffre many abuſes, without taking them awaye, and they thynke that it is inough to hauehave takē out the roote of the principal. But contrary wiſe, we ſe how muche the ſeede of lyes is fertile,The ſeede of lyes is fertile. and that one grayne of that is ſufficiente, for to fyll all the worlde within three dayes, as menne bee enclined and geuen vntounto. Our Lorde teacheth vsus otherwyſe, for whē Dauid ſpeaketh of idols he ſayeth that their name ſhal not paſſe by hys mouthe: to thentente to declare vntounto vsus what horror and deteſtacion wee oughte to hauehave them in. And if we conſidre well how much we hauehave offended God in the time of our ignoraunce, we ought to be dowbly remē bred for to eſchew the inuencions of Sathan,The craft of Sathā. who hathe prouoked vsus to doe ſuch euil thinges, vſing thē as allurementes whiche ſerueth not, but to ſeduce ye poore & ſimple folkes. On the other ſyde we ſee that albeit menne be ſufficiētly warned of their faultes, and errours, and be aduertiſed of them aſmuch as is poſſible: Yet neuertheles, they be ſo hardened, that no man can attayne to the perfecte ende. Thā if there ſhalbe left vntounto thē ſome dregges to remaine, it ſhalbe a nouryſhemente of muche more and greater obſtinacye, and a couerture to hyde all doctrine that may be propouned vntounto them. I confeſſe that it is conueniente to obſerue ſome moderacyon,Moderacion is neceſſarye, and ſome ceremonies may be vſed. and that to great extremitie is neither good ne profitable. Lykewyſe it is conuenient to vſe the ceremonies according to the groſenes of the people: but it maye not bee that that whiche is of Sathan, and of the Antichriſte, ſhoulde paſſe vnderunder that coloure. It is for that cauſe that holye ſcripture praiſing the kinges which did deſtroy the idolatries,The kynges that deſtroyed Idolatrie. not hauīg plucked away altogether: neuertheles gaue vntounto them a marke for that they had not deſtroyed the chappelles and places of foolyſhe deuocion. Wherfore my lord, ſeing that god hath brought you ſo farre foorth, I praye you continue without any excepcion, to the intente that he maye approue you the ſetter foorthe of hys temple: in ſuche wyſe as the tyme of the kynge youre Nephieu maye bee compared to the time of Ioſias: and that you maye ſette al thynges in ſuche ſtate as there ſhall reſte nothyng to hym, but to maintayne the good ordre whiche god ſhal hauehave prepared vntounto hym by your meane. I wil allege vntounto you an exaumple of ſuche dregges, whiche peraduenture may reſt to bee a litle leuen: the which in thend, will make the paſte ſowre.Agaynſte prayinge for the dead at receiuing of the cōmunion. They dooe in your countreye ſome kynde of prayer for the dead, when the communion is receyued. I know wel it is not for to aduowe the purgatory of the Pope. I know alſo that it maye be alleged by aunciente cuſtome to dooe ſome remembraunce for the dead, to the intente to ioyne together all the membres of the bodye. But there is a peremptorye argumente to the contrarye, that ye ſupper of Ieſus Chriſt is ſo holye a thynge, that it ought not to bee defyled with no inuencions of men. Moreouer, that in praying vntounto god, we ought not lette ſlippe the brydle of our fantaſticall deuocion, but to kepe the rule that Saincte Paule did geue vntounto vsus: that is, that we take our foundacion of the woord of god. Wherfore ſuch remē braunce of recommendacion is not conuenient to the ordre of the good and due prayer, and it is an euyll addicyon to the holy ſupper of our Lorde. There is other thynges, whiche peraduenture ſhould be leſſe blamed, whiche neuertheles, is not to bee excuſed: As ye ceremony of ye Chreame and vnccion.The ceremonie of chreame & vnccion. The chreame hath bene inuented of a foolyſhe fantaſye by them that contented not thēſelues with the adminiſtracion of Ieſus Chriſte, and that they would counterfet the holy ſpirite by a new doctrine, as though the water were not ſufficiente enough for that. And ye whiche is called the extreme vnccion, hath bene retayned by a foolyſhe affeccyon of them, that hauehave will to folow the Apoſtles, hauing not the ſame gift that they hadde. For when the Apoſtles dyd vſe the oyle vponupon the ſyck,The oile vſed vponupon the ſycke by the Apoſtles. it was for to heale them by miracle: when the miracle ceaſſed, the figure ought no more to be vſed.Superfluous cerem… nies are to be pared of agayne. Wherfore it ſhould be a great deale better that the thynges ſhoulde be ſo pared of agayn, as they may be moſt agreeing to the pure woorde of God, and may ſerue to the edifyinge of the church.Howe wee oughte to beare with the weake. It is true yt we ought to beare with the weake, but that is for to ſtrengthen and bryng them to greater perfeccion, that is not to ſay that in the meane tyme we ought to pleaſe fooles whiche deſyre now this & now that, & know not wherefore. I knowe the conſideracyon wherefore many are troubled: it is that they feare that to much alteracion cannot bee borne with, principallye when one will hauehave regarde of hys neyghboures, with whome he deſyreth to nouriſhe frendſhip and amitie. A man would gladly gratifye them in dyſſymulynge many thynges. Thys oughte to bee borne with, in worldly affayres, where it is lawefull to yelde one to an other, and to geue ſome of our ryghte to bye peace: but it is not al one of the ſpirituall gouernaunce of the Churche,As touchīg gods woord, we maye not yelde to menne for fauout. the whiche oughte to bee ordred accordynge to the woorde of God. In that it is not in oure lybertye to yelde in anye thyng to menne, in reſpecte of theyr fauoure. Lykewyſe there is nothynge that dyſpleaſeth GOD more, then when we will by oure humayne prudence, moderate or temper, or refourme, or ſette foorthe, or drawe backe, anye thynge agaynſte hys wyll. Wherefore if wee will not dyſpleaſe hym, wee muſte cloſe oure eyes in reſpecte of menne. As to the daungers that maye happen, wee oughte to eſchewe them as muche as we maye: but not in declynynge from the trewe and ryghte waye, for wee hauehave hys promyſe,God by his promiſe will aſſiſte vsus in walkinge the right way. that he wyll aſſyſte vsus in walking the right way. So that it reſteth not in vsus, but to doe our office in recommendynge to hym that,Why the wyſe of this world are manye tymes voyd of their hope. that ſhall folowe. And for that occaſion the wyſe of thys world be many tymes voyde of their hope, for that, that god is not with them, when they truſte not in hym, and in hys helpe in ſerching bymeanes, which he condemneth. If then wee wil hauehave the vertue & ſtrēgth of god on oure ſyde, let vsus folowe ſymplye, that he ſayeth vntounto vsus, and aboue all, wee oughte to kepe thys generall rule:The reformacyon of the church is the worke of gods owne hand that the reformacion of hys churche is the woorke of hys hande. Wherfore it is neceſſarye, that in thys matter, men ſuffre themſelues to bee gouerned by hym, the whiche whether it bee in reſtoryng or in kepynge hys churche, will moſt commonly procede by a merueylouſe and ſtraunge meanes and wayes, vnknowen to menne. Wherefore to reſtrayne thys reformacyon that ought to bee diuyne, by the meaſure of our witte, and to make that whiche is celeſtiall ſubiecte to the earth and the world, is agaynſt al good reaſon. By that I exclude not the wiſedome whiche is very requiſite to obſerue all propice and good meanes, and not to excede eyther on thone ſyde or thother, in any extremitie, for the wynnyng of all the worlde to god, if it ſhould be poſſible.It is requiſite that the wiſedome of the ſpirite rule, and not of the fleſhe. But it is nedefull that the wiſedome of the ſpirite ſhoulde rule, and not of the fleſhe. And that hauyng examined the mouthe of the Lorde, wee require of hym, that he will be our guyde and conducter, ſoner thē to folowe oure owne wittes: and when we ſhal require it in that ſort, it ſhalbee eaſye for vsus to exclude many temptacions, that maye ſtaye vsus in the middes of the waye. Wherefore my Lorde, as you hauehave begonne to reduce Chriſtianitie vntounto hys perfect ſtate in England, and not in truſtyng of youre ſelfe, but to bee mayntayned by the hande of GOD: as vntounto thys daye ye hauehave felte hys myghtye hande, doubte ye not, but that he wil helpe you vntounto the ende. For if god mayntayneth kyngedomes and Lordeſhyppes of infydels that bee hys enemyes,If GOD maintaine the kyngdomes of Infidele…, much m… he will of the faythfull, by muche more reaſon, he will take into hys garde, them that bee obedyent vntounto hym, and dooe take hym for theyr Superyoure. I come now to the laſte Article, that is, to punyſhe vyce, and to reproue ſlaunders. I doubte not but there is good lawes, and lawfull ſtatutes, wythin the Realme of Englande,People muſte by good lawes be kept in ā honeſt diſcipline for to keepe the people in honeſte lyfe. But the greate dyſordres and enormytyes that I ſee in the worlde, conſtraineth me to deſyre you to take alſo the care that the people be kepte in good and honeſt diſciplyne: and aboue all that ye hauehave the honour of God in good reputacyon, to the intente to punyſhe ſuche crymes,Crymes muſt be punyſhed. of the whiche menne accuſtomablye make none accoumpte. I ſaye it for that, that ſomtymes, theftes, Robberyes, fyghtynges, and extorcyons ſhall bee ſharpelye puniſhed, for that in thoſe mē be offended: and in the meane time whordomes, adulteries, dronkenes, and blaſphemies of the name of god, be ſuffred almoſte as thynges lawfull and of ſmall importaunce. Contrariwyſe we ſee in what eſtimacyon and deteſtacyon god hathe them in. For he declareth vntounto vsus, howe muche his name is precyouſe, and in what eſtimacion we ought to hauehave it: and yet it is by vsus, as it were torne in pieces, and troden vnderunder our fete. Wherfore out of doubte, he wil not leaue vnpuniſhed ſuche iniuries and dyſhonour. Yea, and moreouer the Scripture ſheweth vsus that by blaſphemies a whole realme is infected.By blaſphemies a whol realme is infected. As touching adultries, it is agreat ſhame vntounto vsus whiche profeſſe the name of Chriſte, that the Pagans hauehave obſerued greater rygour in puniſhyng therof then we dooe: of the whiche we manye tymes make but a laughing game. When the holy mariage that ought to bee a lyuelye ymage of the holye vnyon that wee hauehave with the ſonne of God,Holy mariage. is defyled, and that the allyaunce whiche oughte to bee moſt ſtable and indyſſoluble, is vniuſtlye broken: If wee take not thoſe thynges to hearte, it is a ſygne that wee hauehave no greate care nor louelove of GOD. Touching whoredome, it may well ſuffyce vsus that Sayncte Paule doothe compare it to Sacrilege,S. Paule cōpareth whoredom to ſacrilege. for aſmuche as by the ſame the temples of GOD, which is our bodyes, bee prophaned and defyled. Item that the whoremongers and dronkardes bee banyſhed from the kyngdome of GOD, in ſuch wyſe that it is defended vntounto vsus to keepe companye with them. Wherefore it foloweth that they oughte not to bee ſuffered in the Churche.Whormō gers and drūkardes ought not to be ſuffered in the Churche. And thys is the cauſe that ſo manye tribulacyons bee thys daye vponupon the yearthe. For inſomuche as menne pardoneth ſuche enormities, it muſt folowe that GOD muſt take vengeaunce. Wherefore my lord, to thintēt to preuent his wrath, I pray you to hold the brydle ſhorte, & cauſe that they whiche heareth the doctrine of the Ghoſpell, proue themſelues to bee chriſten menne, by the holyneſſe of theyr lyfe. For as the doctrine is the ſoule of the church, for to geue it lyfe: ſo the diſciplyne and correccion of vices bee as the Senowes for to mayntayne the body in his force & ſtrēgth.Correcciō of vyces. It is the office of Buſſhops and Curates to take good hede to the ſame,The office of biſhops & curates. to the intent that the ſupper of oure Lorde bee not polluted by folkes of ſlaunderous and dyſhoneſt… life. But conſidering the auctoritie whiche God hath committed vntounto you, ye principall charge retourneth vntounto you, for to ſet others in the ryght waye, to thintent that euerye one dyſcharge themſelues of theyr duetie, and cauſe that the ordre which is eſtabliſhed be duely obſerued. Nowe my Lorde folowing the proteſtacyon that I hauehave made here beefore, I will not excuſe my ſelf no lōger, neither of ye prolixitie of my letters, nor of that, that I hauehave liberally declared that I had in my hert. For I truſt that myne affeccion i… knowen vntounto you, according to your wiſdom. And as ye be exerciſed in the holye ſcripture, you ſee of what foū tayne I hauehave drawen all that whiche is herein conteyned. Wherefore I dooe not feare that I hauehave bene tedious and importune in declaryng vntounto you, to the beſt of my power, the good deſyre that I hauehave, that the name of god may be daylye by you more largelye gloryfyed, for the whyche I pray to hym daylye. Praying that it maye pleaſe hym to augment his grace vntounto you, confyrmyng you by hys holye ſpirite in a perfect and inuincible conſtancie, maintaining you againſt your enemies, hauing you with all your houſholde in his holy proteccion, and doing that you adminiſter happelye the charge that is committed to you. So that the kyng may hauehave occaſion to geue thankes to hys Lord God, for that he hathe hadde ſuche a Gouernoure in hys younge age, aſwell of hys perſon as alſo of hys realme. So I make an ende my lord, hauynge me moſte humblye recommended vntounto your good Grace:
The .xxii. of Octobre, in the yeare of oure LORDE. 1549. Your moſt humble ſeruaunt, John Caluine
IMPRINTED AT LONdon by Edward whitchurche, the .v. daye of Aprill. 1550.
Cum priuilegio, ad Jmprimendum ſolum.
End of the text · John Calvin, Epistle to Prince Edward (1550)