Sermon on Suffering Persecution, Part
An anſwere to the ſlaunders of the papiſtes againſt Chriſts ſyllie flock, appointed to the ſlaughter through fire.
HOW deſperatly, how deſperately
can thus the papiſtes grone,
To ſee Gods worde ſo faythfully,
through fire to be borne.
2
Therfore their teeth & toung they wher
like a raſer ſo fine,
Againſt Chriſtes martyrs for to ſpet,
their poiſon and repine.
3
And whereof trueth they cannot lay,
to them that louelove the worde,
With curſſe and lies they doe aſſay,
to ſhew their learned ſworde.
4
And when they hauehave with force falſely,
condemned that is right.
Then ſtuddy they full craftely,
to waſh their handes of ſpight.
5
It is not we then can they vpholde,
that any man do kill,
Leaſt our cold charity be outtolde,
our ranckor and our yll.
6
Therefore wee muſt deuiſe ſtraighte lawes
Our iudgements to be kept.
And make the nobility like Dawes,
ſo be caught in our net.
7
Thus we in faire places reigne,
and make good cheere and game,
To ſee noble men put to payne,
to execute their ſhame.
8
To them it is a matter ſtaunge,
to ſee golde fire byde,
And ſayth to be without exchange,
when paynes of death betyde.
9
If turne as wether cocks men woulde,
that goſpell doe profeſſe,
Then for Catholique men they ſhould
be counted as they geſſe
10
But fayth is a Subſtance playne,
of thinges that be not ſeene,
And will in ſtedfaſtneſſe remayne,
though chaungelings turne & weene.
11
What though liuely hope they call,
falſely deſperation,
Who knoweth not the trueth at all,
blinded by ſedition.
12
Was not Chriſte Belzebub named,
becauſe that trueth he ſayd,
And yet was not to be blamed,
as euil tongues betrayde.
13
Now Ione of Kent and heretike,
for helpe they in doe call,
Who in her hereſy did ſticke,
and died therewithall,
14
Who knoweth not the prince of Hell
to hauehave his ſeruantes ſtout,
As wel as the ſincere goſpell,
profeſſors rounde about.
15
But in this we differ playn,
for vsus we hauehave the worde,
And they for them hauehave naught certain,
but onelyonly ſelfe accorde.
16
Alſo vaynglory they obiect,
to ſuch as for trueth dye,
By all meanes they would them reiect,
whoſe glory is on hie.
17
That glory is not counted vayne,
which gloryeth in the Lorde.
And for the ſame to abide great payn.
it is after the word.
18
Iudge therefore with equity,
and call not trueth amiſſe,
Leaſt for your great impiety,
ye leeſe the endleſſe bliſſe.
19
O noble men of famous England,
looke well to your doings,
Let not partakers be your handes,
of guiltleſſe bloodſheddings,
20
No drop of Faythfull bloodſhed is,
through rage of cruelneſſe,
Which God will not require as his,
repent therefore and ceaſe.
FINIS quod I. P.
End of the text · John Calvin, Sermon on Suffering Persecution (1581)