Four Sermons Entreating of Matters Very Profitable, To the reader
¶ Iohn Caluin to all true Chriſtians, who deſire the aduancement of the kingdome of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte.
WHen you ſhall vnderſtande wherfore and to what ende, I was deſirous too publiſhe theſe Sermons, and ſhall bee aduertiſed of the Argument which they conteine, you ſhall know the better howe too make your profite of them, and to apply them to ſuche vſe as I hauehave appointed them. Although that I hauehave written heeretofore two Treatiſes large enough, to ſhew that it is not lawful for a Chriſtian, knowing the pure doctrine of the Goſpell, when he liueth in the Papacie, too diſſemble howſoeuer it be, to conſent or to cleaue vntounto the abuſes, ſuperſtitions and Idolatries, which raigne there: Notwithſtāding there are eueryevery day ſome people that demaund my coūſel therof a freeſh, as if I had neuer ſpoken therof. I vnderſtand alſo that there are others which neuer ceaſe to alleage their replies, & hauehave new ſtartīg holes agaīſt that which I hauehave written thereof. Therefore to cut of al occaſiōs, aſwel frō thoſe which iniquire of that which ought to be ſufficiently knowen & vnderſtoode of them, as alſo from them which thinke to couer themſelues vnderunder this wet ſacke from the vengeance of God: I thought that it ſhoulde be very expedient to reuiew ouer againe and to bring into order a Sermon that I had made as touching this matter, the ſūme whereof had beene gathered. Wherefore this firſt Sermon conteineth an admonition, what a ſlouthfulnes it is in them too whom God hath geuen to know the trueth of his Goſpel, too defile themſelues with the abhominations of the Papiſtes, the which are altogeather contrary too Chriſtian religion, foraſmuche as in ſo doyng, they deny as muche as lyeth in them, the ſonne of GOD who hath redeemed them.
Nowe becauſe that it is impoſſible for a Chriſtian man dwelling vnderunder the tyranny of Antichriſte, too make a right and pure confeſſion of his faith, but that incontinent hee muſt bee in daunger to be perſecuted, I hauehave adioyned another ſecond Sermon, for to exhort all the faithfull, more too eſteeme the honor and ſeruice of God then theyr owne life, and to fortifie themſelues againſt all temptations. And in deede whereas many thinke it ſtrange that they be not ſuffered to diſguiſe thēſelues & to play the coūterfaites, it is not, for that they are not conuinced, that the duetie of the children of God is too worſhip him onelyonly in all plaineſſe and ſimplicitie, withdrawing themſelues from all pollutions and Idolatry: but it is, becauſe they ſee they cannot doe the dutie of Chriſtians, but they muſt kindle the rage of the wicked againſt them. Nowe they woulde flye the croſſe as muche as they coulde, I therefore ſeeing that the doctrine of the pure worſhipping God ſhoulde be altogeather vnprofitable, vnleſſe that men be ſetled to deſpiſe this brickle & trāſitory life, too ſeeke the kingdome of God and to follow Ieſus Chriſte to the Croſſe, to come vntounto the glory of his reſurrection: I hauehave added the ſecond ſermon to exhort them which at this day are ouer weake to courage and conſtancie.
The thirde Sermon is too declare what a treaſure it is to hauehave libertie not onelyonly to ſerue God purely and too make publique confeſſion of his faith: but alſo to be in a well ordered and gouerned Churche, where the woorde of God is preached and the Sacramēts are adminiſtred as they ought: ſeeing that theſe are the meanes by which the childrē of god may ſtrengthen themſelues in the faith, and bee ſtirred vp too liue and to die in his obedience. Now it ſeemed vntoo me that this Argument was very neceſſary at this day, becauſe there are many Chriſtians in immagination, whiche flout at them which take paine to goe into a ſtraunge countrey and farre of to enioy ſuch libertie,
Now becauſe there are many withholden and hindred from following of this benefite which God ſo muche eſteemeth, for the too great regard that they hauehave to their eaſe & commodities: or rather for the feare and doubt which they hauehave, that any thing ſhoulde be wanting vntounto them: and others are ſo delicate that if all fall not out to their deſire, they whine and murmure, or rather fall to playne wickedneſſe: I hauehave added the fourth Sermon too ſhew vntounto Chriſtians how they ought to be armed againſt al offences, patiētly too beare al the troubles that may happen vntounto thē, ſo that God geue them this grace to mainteine them in his houſe. So the ſumme of the fourth Sermon is, that when we hauehave this priuiledge to heare the worde of God purely preached, to call vppon his name and too vſe the Sacramentes, that this is a benefit recompenſing all the vexations, troubles and griefes, that Satan ſhalbe able to ſtirre vp againſt vsus.
I hauehave ſet downe in the end a briefe expoſition of the 87. Pſalme, the which ſeemeth vntounto me to ſerue fitly for the purpoſe: for there is handled the reſtoring of the Churche of God. Now we ſee many at this day that ſeeing the Churche ſo deſolate as it is, they diſcourage themſelues, as if ſhortly it ſhould altogeather periſhe. Suche kinde of people, and generally all the faithfull ſhall finde here wherwith too comfort themſelues, ſeeing the hope that God giueth of ſetting vp his Church againe after that for a time it hath beene caſt downe: and of making it to proſper and flooriſh againe, after that it ſhall hauehave beene miſerable in reſpect of the world. I beſeech our good God that my labour be not in vaine, but that you may be edified through my trauaile according as I deſire,
From Geneua, this 20. of September 1552.