IF it had pleased God to haue kept longer among vs hys Faithfull seruaunt Maister Iohn Caluin , or rather if the peruersitie of the world had not caused the Lord to take him so sone to himselfe : thys should not haue bene the last of his labours , wherin he hath so faithfully & so aptly emploied himself for the aduancement of the glory of God , & for the edification of his Church : And also now this Commentarie should not haue gone forth , without being as it were crowned with some excellent Preface , as are the reast . But it fareth with it as it doth with poore Orphanes , which are not so well prouided for as their Brethren , bicause that their father is to timely taken from them . In this meane time I do see this Orphane to be of so good a house , thanks be to God , & so well resembling his father , that without any other Testimonie , he wil of himselfe become not onely agreeable , but also very honorable to all those that shall see him . And therefore also mine intent hath not bene to recommende him by thys Testimonie , ( for what needeth it ? ) but rather to lament more with him of the death of him , which hath bene as a father , both to him & to mee : forsomuch as I neither may , nor ought to esteeme him lesse to be my father in that which God hath taught mee by him , than this Booke , and so many others , which haue bene by him written . I will then bewayle mee , but it shal not be without consolation : for hauing regarde to him of whom I speake , I had rather haue had him lyuing here belowe , if the felicitie wherin he is now placed , did not chaunge the sorowfulnesse of my losse into reioysing of his gaine : and I should smally haue profited by his so holye & maruellous doctrine , & by his lyfe that was so sincere & good , and by his death that was so happy & Christian , if I had not learned by al these meanes to submit my selfe to the prouidence of God , being fully contented and satisfyed therwith . Now as concerning his doctrine , wherof I will first speake , so farre vnable are the multitude which haue spoken against him , to yelde it suspected with all men of good iudgement , that on the contrary , the same might serue for an infallible argument to approue and confirme the same : for so much as none hath at any time stoode against it , but he hath well felt that he hath addressed himselfe not against a man , but against a very true seruant of God . Also he maye lawfully affirme ( and all those who haue knowen him will be good and lawfull witnesses ) that he had neuer enimie , which in assayling of him made not warre against God . For after that God did cause his champion to enter within that lyst or stecade , it may be well sayde , that Satan hath picked him out euen as though he had forgotten al the reast , to assayle him , and to plucke hym thorowly downe , if he had bene able . But on the other syde God hath gyuen him that grace , that he hath adorned him with so many trophees or victorious tokens , as he hath set manifest enimies against him . If then wee shall speake of the combats that hee hath inwardly indured for the doctrine , there may nothing make them to seeme easy & sleight , but onely the diligence which he did alwayes vse , bicause he would not suffer his enimies to take breath , and the constancy which God gaue vnto him , neuer to yelde or bend how little so euer it were , in the quarell of the Lorde . The Anabaptistes can beare witnesse , who shortlye after the beginning of his Ministerie in thys Churche , to wit the yere .1536 . that he could so wel and happily behaue himselfe in open disputation without the helpe of the Magistrate , that immediately the race of them was vtterly destroyed in this Church : which is the more to be wondred at , bicause that the greatest number of the Churches of Almaigne are yet at thys day greatly hindred by them : and if there be any that is free from them , it hath bene rather by rigour of Iustice than otherwyse . He had an other combat to fight against an Apostate named Carol , vpon certain calumnies & false reportes : who beyng also ouerthrowen as well by writing as by worde , and cast out of the Church of God , dyed miserablye at Rome in an hospitall , as an example to those which do reuolte from Iesus Christ , to folow a Maister which doth so wel recompence his seruants , both in this world and in the other . And an other time , to wit the yeare of our Lord .1553 . Michel Seruet a Spaniard of cursed memory , happened to come , who was not a man , but rather , an horrible Monstre , compounded of the auncient and new heresies , and aboue all an execrable blasphemer against the Trinitie , and namely against the Eternitie of the Sonne of God : This same beyng come to thys towne , and apprehended by the Magistrate bicause of hys blasphemies , hee was here so substancially encountred , that he had no defence but a certaine vntamed obstinacie , by reason wherof by the iust iudgement of God and man , hee ended by the punnishment of fyre , his wicked life and blasphemies which he had vomited , both by mouthe & writing by the space of thirty yeares & more . About two yeares before there came a certaine deceitefull fryer a Carmelite , & was sodainly become of a deuine , a Phisitian , named Hierosme Bolseck of Paris , who to get him estimation , thinking himselfe to bee in Cloistre , and not in a Church of God , which he neuer did know but by heare say , and afterward being procured by certaine naughtie and euill disposed persons , of whom it shal be hereafter spoken , began in open Congregation to condempne the doctrine of the eternall prouidence & predestation , as though we made God the auctor of sinne , & culpable in the condemnation of the wicked : Caluin in that very place did stand against this disguised Woolfe , & did so answere him by word both openly & priuatly , & afterward also by writing that the aduersarie had no trouth of his syde remaining , but a certaine Monkish shamelessenes , which made him & doth make him at this day filthy & stincking to euery man that hath any good vnderstanding : yea by his owne iudgement , as shal be declared by testimonie of hys owne hand whensoeuer neede shal require . For this wicked man who had deserued punnishment for a seditious acte , beyng vsed by the Magistrate very gentlye , bicause that they thought that there might hereafter some remedie be founde for hys sophisticall ignoraunce , after that he had done so many offences and wickednesses as he was able in the Churches nere there about , seing himselfe three times driuen out of the dominions of the Lordes of Berne , in the ende being intollerable to anye man , did giue glory to God , acknowledging hys errours : and especially his euill conscience , at Orleance in open general Synode of the Frenche Churches , the yeare .1562 . in such sort that men had some hope in him . But after that being againe possessed by suche a lyke euill spirite , is retourned to his first errours , and is driuen from all men , as hee is well worthy , and doth serue yet at this present daye in all places where he goeth , for a testimonie of the wrath of God against all such as do resist the truth . Shortly after there was a certaine remanaunt of Seruetistes , who declared themselues , as one being a lawyer of those quarters : who afterwarde for the lyke cause was driuen from the vniuersitie of Tubing by the right noble Duke of Wirtemberg , and bicause he did continue in his blasphemies , for which hee had bene chastized by imprisonments and suffred to recant by the iudgement of the sayd Lordes of Berne , with this man there was confederate a certaine man of Calabria named Valentine Gentill , an other of Sardegna , a Piedmontois named Iohn Paul Alciat , a Physition of Saluces named George Blandrata . These men wrought vnder ground as well as they coulde , shewing their blasphemies againste the three persons in one deuine Essence and beyng , vntill the time that this faithful seruant of God withstanding them , some vanished awaye , others of them acknowledging their blasphemies , haue demaunded mercy at the handes of God & of the Seignorie . But shortly after , those wycked ones retourned ( contrarie to theire othe ) to theire blasphemies , & in the ende with their complices conueyed themselues into Polognia , where they haue styrred vp and doe yet at this day , innumerable troubles , yet haue they notwithstanding euen to & in the very place where they are , felt & perceyued what the force was of the faithfull seruant of God , of whom we speake : by whose writings the Churches of Polognia haue bene so fortified , that the Faithfull haue bene greatlye establyshed , & the enimies of the truth so weakened , that with the helpe of God , their ruine is at hande . Behold these are the principall combats that he hath fought within , for the doctrine , which is much more harde to sustaine than to resite , as the Bookes shall testifie to the posteritie . As for the other enimies , they haue alwayes assailed him from a farre of , but not so farre of , but that he hath touched them more nigh than they would willingly : his learned workes against the Anabaptistes and Libertines can make sufficient declaration . And as for the great Goliath Pighius , who was it that did beate downe and ouerthrow him and his Pelagianisme , but only the power of the Lord in the hande of Caluin ? who did shut vp the mouth of the glorious Cardinall Sadolet , but only hee ? who hath more happily fought with & ouerthrowne that hierde of Boares gathered togither to destroy & wroute vp the Vineyard of the Lord ? who hath more greuously or more perilouslye in deede wounded Antichrist to the death ? who hath more boldely & more aptlye made answere to the wicked ( interim ) which hath so troubled Germanie ? This is not all , for who hath bene of a more cleare sight to knowe and to reproue the wickednesse of false Euangelists , who framed themselues to all men meete ? Who hath more constantly defended the puritie of the doctrine against the most daungerous kinde of enimies : to wit , those which vnder the colour of peace and vnion doe endeuor themselues to corrupt the puritie of the same ? And as touching the miserable contencion that was moued about the matter of the Supper , seyng the fire so greatly kindled , his whole desire was to quenche it by a cleare exposition of the matter ; wythout naming of any man : the which he hath so wel and so aptly done , that he that shal wel consider his writings , must confesse the next after God , it is to him , that the honor of the resolution is due , which since hath bene folowed by all men of good iudgement . This notwithstanding , Satan enforced himselfe by all meanes possyble , to haue set deuision betweene hym and the Churche of Zuriche in thys discentyon : which among others hee hath alwaye estemed and honored . But it was in vaine , for on the contrarie when they had in presence conferred togither , they continued thorowlye of one accord : and then was the consent of all the Churches of Guise & of the Guisians , framed & imprinted in many tongues , to the great edification of the people of God . That did much displease certaine obstinate men , among whom there was one named Ioachim Wesphale , an other Tileman Heshusius , which were the moste earnest and feruent enimies of the truth and concorde . He was then enforced to entre into combat , whereby he dyd so maintaine the truth , and ouerthrowe and suppresse the ignoraunce and shamelesnesse of such personages , that he wonne great commendation , and the aboue named great shame : yea euen among those of their sect & nation , and the Church of God hath bene the more confirmed in the true and holesome doctrine . In conclusion , I think that there is no heresie auncient , nor renewed , nor newly forged in our time , which he hath not destroyed to the very foundations . For among al other his excellent Graces there were twoo that did shyne in hym : to wit , a singular sharpnesse of spirite to discouer where the difficultie of matters did lye , and then also a meruellous dexteritie and aptnesse to make his aunswers without the losing of any one worde , as all they wil confesse , yea the very enimies of the Gospell , which would attentiuely reade his workes . I haue also omitted one Monstre which hee lykewise did defeate , albeit that in that behalfe I fought on hys side : it is one named Sebastian Castalion , who bicause hee had some knowledge in the tongues , and had also a certaine aptnesse in the Latin tongue , he was here receiued to gouerne the schoole , But this spirite being so naturally enclined to please himselfe , did so diue hym in his vanitie , that in the ende he drowned himselfe therein , bicause we coulde neuer winne so much of him , as to cause him to take the paines to reade the Commentaries and other workes to resolue him . That was the cause why he did openlye condemne the song called Canticum Canticorum , in Latin , as a filthye and wanton Booke : which when it was layde to hys charge , he vomited out openly a thousande iniuries against the Pastors of this Church : Wherupon being commaunded by the Magistrate to auouch his sayings , and being conuinced of manifest malice and euill speaking , by iustice he was appointed to depart the town after that he had acknowleged his fault : being then in the ende retired to Basil , hee continued there , vntill the time of the trouble that was stirred vp by Hierosme Bolsec , vpon Predestination , the same man which helde alwayes of the perfection of the Anabaptistes , but it was secretelye and among his owne sect , otherwyse making no difficultie at all to shape hymself like to euery man , and beyng also greatlye prouoked by the death of Seruet , he discouered hymself openly , first in a booke which he caused to be imprinted in Latin and in French vnder a false and counterfeyt name of Martin Bellie , to whose errors and blasphemies I haue aunswered . Hee also made an other treatise which he calleth in Latin Theologia Germanica , vnder the name of Theophile , and in Frenche an other treatise of the olde and newe man . In the ende he did turne or rather ouerthrowe and confounde the whole Bible in Latin and Frenche with so vile a shamelesnesse & ignoraunce , that it is maruell that anye man coulde delight therein , were it not that newe things are alwayes agreable to Ambitious spirites , whereof there is at this daye as great plenty as euer there was . He did set before his translation , an Epistle dedicated to the late good king Edwarde of Englande , whereby vnder colour of preaching Charitie , he ouerthroweth the auctoritie of the Scriptures , as darke or vnperfect : to the ende to sende vs to perticuler reuelations , to wit , to the dreames of the first abuser & deceiuer that would declare and shew himselfe . Hee did also make certaine notes vpon the ninth chapiter of the Epistle to the Romaines , wherby he doth openly maintain Pelaglanisme , & doth not acknowledge any decree and ordinaunce of God , but only in those things that are good of their own nature , forging in God a permission contrarye to hys wyll , & falsely laying to our charge , that we make God the Auctor of sinne . All this did not any thing moue the faithfull seruant of God , bicause that such calumnies & errors had bene already aunswered a thousand times , vnto the time that hee himselfe made a certaine collection in Latin of certaine Articles and arguments , which some men saide were taken oute of the Bookes of M. Iohn Caluin , adding thereunto certaine replications : & this booke was sent closely to Paris there to bee imprinted , but God prouided for it and caused the firste copye to come to my hands , in such sort that we our selues did cause them to be put in print here , wyth such aunsweres as it did deserue : hee after that he vnderstoode the whole matter , knew not how to aunswere the Pastors and Ministers of Basil , but sayde that he was not Auctor of those articles , being shortly after called to aunswere vpon the doctrine of free wyll and of the prouidence of God , in open disputacion at Basil , hys doctrine was condemned . And bicause that certaine yeares before he had bene receiued to the profession of the Greeke tongue , by those that did not vnderstande of hys errors , hee was commaunded not to deale neither by worde nor writing but with hys lecture , which thing he promised and did verye euill obserue it , continuing alwaies as he mought , in sowing of hys errors and disceiptes : and of a verye malice that he had against mee , who at that tyme was in Fraunce greatlye troubled , to my great griefe , in the ciuil warres : or at the least beyng moued with some vnmeasurable ambition , hee wrote a little booke intituled , Counsell to desolate Fraunce , without putting his name to it , or naming the place wherin it was printed , albeit it was a free towne : in it doth he condemne all the French Churches of sedition and rebellion , and giueth councell to euery one to beleue what he wyll , and by that very meane opening the gate to all Heresies and false doctrines . I did not vouchsafe to make aunswere to that worthy counsell , which declared this man to be ouer beastly and ignorant in that whereof he did entreate , & very euill exercised in suche affaires , but in the steade of it I did aunswere to many pointes wherof hee rebuketh mee , mingling with them most villaine and intollerable errors , vnder colour of defending that which I did mislike in his Latin translation . This myne aunswere being dedicate to the pastors of the Church of Basil , was the cause that the same Castalion was called by the Churche and afterwarde by the Seignorie , and was commaunded to make aunswere to that wherewith I charged him , and did offer my selfe to proue by hys owne writings : but within few dayes after death deliuered him from that trauaile . I knowe well that thys long discourse shal be misliked of some men , as though I spake as a man loded with passions , and coulde not be content to suffer the dead to be at rest in their graue . But I may well protest before God that I did neuer hate the man in hys lyfe time , with whom also I neuer had to doe nether in good nor euill in perticuler , much lesse that I woulde nowe hate and persecute the deade which are put ouer to the iudgement of the Lorde . But it was needefull to make thys knowen , to the ende that euery man myght beware of hys Bookes and disciples that hee hath left behind him . Whilest these things were doing , a certaine Disciple aduaunced himselfe , to wit , Fraunces Baldwin , who could no more continue in one Religion than in one place , but chaunged dwelling place & condition in maner euery day , & Religion at the least three times , in the ende hauing no more conscience to loose , he placed himself in a certain Religion , like to that of Chanonnes Regulers , the which being such in general as were the reast of al their troupe , yet when ther is a question of their perticuler , thei become Moncks in the that is profitable for the Monkes : and on the contrarie they be alwayes seculers , when Monkry pleaseth them not : & thys worthie personage did kisse the Pantophle as the reast haue done , & bicause the people should be out of doubt that he did it vnfainedly , he receiued a good and a worthy absolucion of his king , to enter againe into the fauour of his holinesse & his Cardinals , vnto whom for recompence of all his euill hap he became slaue . If then it come in question to haue one to write against vs , this is the best Catholique in the world : but on the other side if he must frame himselfe to those that are as it were betweene twoo yrons , & boast them that they holde the meane , then this good man spitteth out the reformations of the Romish Church , & speaketh stoutly of certaine abuses , but it is without touching the principal , & in such sort notwithstanding , that euery man which knoweth him not , would think he did meane good faith , & not to purchase him credite . This galaunt for his beginning , fayled not in the yeare .1561 . to set forth a booke of such stuffe , without any name , at the present time the men were at the conference of Poyssy . Caluin vnderstanding the meaning of this wicked one , made answere briefely according to his vsage : but verye paremptorilie and fully , giuing certaine attaints to him that was chiefely culpable of this euil . Baldwine vpon this began to chafe , & afterwarde left not to fome oute his rage against him whom he had so often called father and Maister , onely to make it knowen that he was reuolted in deede , whereupon Caluin did ouerthrow him , by one only silence . For as touching the iniuries and outrages against his person , he did alwayes esteeme them honorable for the name of the Lorde whom he serued , forsomuch as to be blamed by a wicked man , is a token of vertue . And as for his reprehensions concerning the doctrine , the one sort were so slender and so improper in his iudgement , that they deserued no aunswere , the others were but recitals borowed elsewhere , and refuted more than a thousande times . And for so much as it is to me , that this Apostate hath also addressed him to gratifie his Maisters , I haue taken vpon mee to aunswere hym for the seconde tyme , which thing I hope also well to discharge , with the grace of our God . These be the principall combats that this worthye personage hath happily endured for the truth of the Lorde . As touching the reast , in thys discourse I thinke I haue entreated of the greatest part of hys lyfe : for what was hys lyfe other than a continuall doctrine , as wel by worde as by writing , and by all his manners and order of lyfe ? the which also will doe very well to be declared perticularly , to the ende that euery man may vnderstande the maruels of God in the person of this excellent man . Hee was borne in Noyon , an auncient and famous towne of Picardie , the yeare .1509 . the tenth of Iuly , of an honest house and of a reasonable wealth , his father was named Gerard Caluin , a man of good vnderstanding and counsell , and therefore greatly desired in the houses of noble men dwelling in those partes : by reason wherof his saide Sonne was the better and more liberallye brought vp , at his fathers charges notwithstanding , in company with the children of the house of Mommor , with whom also he was in companie at the schole at Paris . Hee was alway of a singuler good wit , and aboue all other things of a very good conscience , enimy to vices , and greatly giuen to the seruice of God as men did then call it : in such sort as his minde was wholy to deuinitie , which was also an occasion that he was prouided of a benefice in the Cathedrall Churche of Noyon . Yet was his father alwayes minded that hee shoulde studie the Lawes , and he also on his part hauing alredie , ( by the meane of a cosin and frinde of his , named Maister Peter Robert , otherwyse Oliuentanus , who afterwarde tourned the Bible out of Hebrue into French and imprinted it at Neufchastle , ) tasted some thing of the pure Religion , began to withdraw himselfe from Popishe superstitions : which was the cause that beside the singuler reuerence that he had towarde his father , he did agree to go to Orleaunce to the same ende , where there did then reade an excellent man named Peter de l' Estoille , who was afterwarde President of the Court of Parliament in Paris , vnder whom he did so profite in short space , that he was not accompted a scholer , but as an ordinarie Doctour , as oftentimes hee was rather in deede a teacher than a hearer , and he was offered to proceede Doctor without paying anye thing , which thing also he did refuse . And bicause that the vniuersitie of Bourges was then also famous by the meane of that excellent Lawyer Andre Alciat which then did reade there , hee woulde him . In the meane time he exercised himself also see and heare in holye letters , with such fruite and profite , that all those whose heartes it had pleased GOD to touche , giuing them to vnderstande what the differences were that were then moued concerning matters of Religion , did not onlye beare towarde hym singuler affection , but had him forthwith in great admiration for the learning and zeale that was in hym . Among other with whome he did frequent and companye , then at Bourges there was an Almaigne an excellent personage a Professor of the Greeke tongue , named Melchior Volmar , whom I doe so much the more willingly remember , bicause it is very he that was my faithfull gouernor and teacher all the time of my youth , for the which cause I will praise God all the dayes of my lyfe . Thys good man seyng Caluin not to be well instructed in the Greeke tongue , caused him to studie the same , wherin he did greatly helpe him , as he himselfe hath witnessed , dedicating to him hys Commentaries vpon the seconde Epistle of S. Paule to the Corinthians , and did him the honor to call him his Maister & instructer . In this meane time his father died , which was the cause that he left the studie of the Lawes , and returned to Noyon , and then to Paris : where notwithstanding his youth , hee was not long vnknowen , nor without honor , by all such as had anye feeling of the truthe : hee of hys parte dyd then resolue to dedicate hymselfe wholye to GOD , and did trauaile wyth great profyte in suche sorte , that being in Paris in the tyme of the Rector named Monsieur Copus , there happened a sedition whereupon hee was sent to the Court to be preferred , where he was knowen and very well receiued of all those that had any pure affection and sounde iudgement in those affayres : In the ende seyng the miserable estate of the Realme of Fraunce , hee determined to absent himselfe and to be where he might liue more quietly & according to his conscience . He then departed out of Fraunce in the yeare .1534 . and in the same yeare he caused to imprint at Basil his first instruction as an Apologie , dedicated to Fraunces the first Frenche King of that name , in the behalfe of the poore faithfull that were persecuted , whom they did most falsely name Anabaptistes , to excuse them towarde the Princes Protestantes , of the persecutions that they then vsed against them . He passed also into Italie , where he saw my Lady the Duchesse of Ferrare , yet at this day liuing , thankes be to God , who when shee had seene & heard him , forthwith iudged of him as hee was , and euer after vntyl his death , did loue and honor him as an excellent Organe of the Lorde . In hys returne from Italie the which he had but seene , he passe ( in a happie time ) thorow this towne of Geneua , which not long before had receiued the Gospell by the preaching of M. William Farell , and dyd meane nothing lesse than to tarry there , but to passe thorow it and to go to Basil , or else to Strasbourgh . But the Lord being euen then willing to prepare away to his so great goodnesse as his pleasure was to bestowe vpon his Church by the meane of him , did put in the heart of the sayde Farel to staye him : which thing was very harde for him to doe , in such sort that after many requestes & desyres he was fayne to vse adiurations . Then he was contented to stay , not to preach , but to reade Diuinitie , and this came to passe in the yeare .1536 . in the beginning of September . When hee was in this sort declared Doctor in thys Churche by lawfull election and auctoritie , hee then framed a briefe forme of Confession and Discipline to giue some shape to thys new erected Churche . Hee made also a Cathechisme which may be wel called one of his excellent works , and hath yelded maruellous fruite , beyng so well framed , that it was afterwarde turned out of Frenche into Hebrue to winne the Iewes , into Greeke & Latin for the scholes , also into Italian , Dutch , Englishe , Scotish and Flēmishe , & also Spanishe , for all these nations . These prosperous beginnings dyd greatly mislike Satan & his , who failed not , ( as it was an easy matter to doe in the first change of the estate of Religion ) to set himself against the proceding of the Gospel . Albeit that it was receiued with an oth by all those of this town . Maister Caluin on the other side as he was in deede of a noble minde , withstoode firmely & constantly with Maister Farel , the seditious persons , hauing also on his side an other good man named Conrant , a Minister also of this Church , being blinde of his bodily eyes , but could wel see with the eyes of his spirite , whom also the said Caluin had brought from Basil , where he did remaine bicause of the great persecutions , that were in Fraunce : The ende was such , that the Lord being minded euen at once to take his seruant out from the presse , & to purge this Towne of certain seditious persons which did abuse the name of the Gospel , to plant his name else where , & last of al to frame his seruant by certain experience of things which did afterward stand him in great steade : it was ordeined ( the greater part of the Counsel not being the best ) that the forenamed should depart the town within .24 . houres , bicause that they wold not minister the Supper of the Lord in a Citie that was then so troubled and stirred . When thys was declared to the said Caluin , his aunswere was that if hee had serued men , he should haue bene ill recompenced , but he serued him , who in steade of euil recompencing his seruants , did alwayes giue them more than they deserued . And he might iustly so say : for he had folowed the example of S. Paule , in seruing of the Church vpon his own charges & cost . He then departed to the great griefe of all the good , first to Basil , & then to Strasbourgh , wher being receiued as a treasure , by those excellent men M. Martin Bucer , Capito , Hedio , and others , who at the present did shyne as precious Pearles in the Church of God , hee there erected a French Church , & therin did establish Ecclesiastical discipline in such sort , as the Almaignes could neuer yet attaine vnto , for their Churche , euen to this very daye : he did also reade Diuinitie with great admiration of euery man , & then he began to write vpon S. Paule , dedicating his Commentarie vpon the Epistle to the Romaines to M. Simon Grinee , who was accompted to be the best learned of the Almaigne nation , & was his great friende : he had also this grace among others , that hee brought to the faith a great number of Anabaptists which were sent vnto hym out of all partes , and among others one named Iohn Stordeur of Liege , who within short tyme after dying of the Plague at Strasbourgh , he tooke his widow to wyfe , whose name was Idelleto de Bure , a verye graue and honest woman , with whome hee liued afterwarde verye quietly , vntyll our Lorde tooke hir away to himself , the yeare .1548 . without hauing had any childe : at the same very time there were holden in Almaigne certaine imperiall assembles or diets for the matter of Religion , at Woormes and at Ratisbone , in the which Caluin was chosen for one of the chiefe by the aduise of all the Diuines of Almaigne , where he did so behaue himselfe that his renoume became great euen among the very enimies , and Phillip Melancthon among others , did euen then receiue him into singuler friendship which did alwayes laste afterwarde , and did then call him ordinarilye the Diuine , in token of singuler honor . In the meane time the Lord did execute his iudgements at Geneua , punishing certaine which beyng in the place of Syndique .1538 . were the cause of the banishement of Caluin and Farel , in such sort as one of them beyng gyltie of a sedition , & thinking to saue himself thorow a window , did all burst himselfe , an other of them hauing committed a murder , was by order of iustice beheaded , the other twaine being conuinced of certain vntrouth against the state of the towne , fledde awaye and were condemned in their absence . When the towne was purged of this froth , they began then to bewayle Caluin , & he was desyred thither againe by sundry Ambassades from Geneua , and by the intercession of the Lordes of Zuriche , to the Lords of Strasbourgh , who made great difficultie . On the other side Caluin seing how he profited in Strasbourgh , would in no wyse consent therunto , albeit to declare the good wyll that he bare to the towne , the yeare .1539 . a whole yeare after hys banishment , hee maintained the cause therof or rather of the truth of God against the Cardinal Sadolet , in a large and learned Epistle which is printed among the reast of hys workes . In th ende he was threatened with the iudgements of God if he did not obey to that vocation , in such sorte that to the great sorrowe of the Lordes of Strasbourgh , and especially of Maister Bucer and his companions , he was licenced to be at Geneua for a certaine time . But when he came thither and was receiued of singuler affection by those poore people which acknowleged their fault , & hauing a great desire to heare their faithful Pastor , they helde him there continually : wherunto in the ende the Lordes of Strasbourgh consented , vpon condition that he should be alwayes a Bourgeois of their towne . They would also that he should haue had alwayes the reuenue of a Prebend which was appointed vnto him for hys scipende of his reading . But as he was a man clearely voide of all greedinesse of the goodes of thys worlde , so coulde they neuer bring to passe that hee woulde receiue so much as the value of one Denier thereof . And in this sorte he was againe established at Geneua , the yeare .1541 . the .13 . of September , where forthwith hee framed an order of Ecclesiasticall Discipline , which hath alwayes since continued there firmely , albeit Satan and hys adherentes haue employed all theire forces to abolishe it . Now hee that woulde here declare particulerly all the trauayles & paines that thys excellent personage hath endured since by the space of .23 . yeares as well within as without , hee shoulde haue matter sufficient to fil a great volume . For if euer there were towne furiously assayled by Satan , and valiantly defended during that tyme , it was Geneua , the honor belongeth onely to God , but it ought and may lawfullye be said that Caluin hath bene the instrument of hys vertue & power . If there be question of vigilance , Satan & his could neuer take him vnprouided , but either he hath warned that flocke before hande , or else preserued it in the place . If wee shal speake of integritie , he is yet vnborne , that hath sene him commit any fault in his office , or to yelde , be it neuer so little , for any man liuing , or to haue varied in doctrine or life , nor neuer misreported man . If we shall speake of labour & paine , I beleue that his like is not to be founde , beside that he preached continually euery daye in the weeke , and most commonly , and as often as he was able , hee preached twice euery Sonday : hee did reade diuinitie three times in a weeke : hee made declaration in the Consistorie or as it were a whole lesson euery Friday , in conference of the Scripture which we call Congregation , & did continue this order thorowly without interruption vntill his death , & in dede neuer did fayle so much as once , except it were by extreme sicknesse . Further , who is able to recite his trauailes ordinarie and extraordinary , I knowe not if any man of our tyme hath had more to heare , to aunswere , and to write , nor matters of greater importaunce . The onely multitude and number of hys bookes and writings are sufficient to astonishe any man that shall se them : but much more those that shall reade them . And that which maketh hys labours more wonderfull , is that hee had a bodye so weake of nature , and so lowe brought with watchings and ouermuch sobrietie , yea and being subiect to so many diseases , that all men that had sene him , would haue thought that he coulde not haue lyued at all . And notwithstanding this , hee neuer left of day nor night his trauaile in the workes of the Lorde : & he coulde not endure to heare the requestes and exhortations of hys friendes which they daylye made vnto him , to the ende that he shoulde take some rest . I wyll alledge onely two examples . The yeare .1559 . beyng assayled and maruellously greued with a feuer quartane , he did notwithstanding , in the chiefest of hys sicknesse , set forth the laste edition of his Christian Institution , and did translate it thorowe oute into Frenche . Likewise in his last sicknesses , which were the stone , the goute , the Hemorrhodes , a Phthysike feuer , shortnesse of wynd , beside his ordinarie disease of the Miegrame , be did him self translate wholly that great volume of his Commentaries vpon the foure laste Bookes of Moyses : examined the translation of the fyrst : made this booke vpon Iosue , and did peruse the greatest part of the translation and annotations of the Newe Testament , in sor● that he neuer ceased from writing but only eyght dayes before his death , hys voice beginning to fayle him . Beside hys innumerable paines and his charges , in all the mischiefes and perilles , wherein this poore Citie hath bene , assayled within by many mutinous and desperate Citizens , tormented without a hundred thousand wayes , threatned by the greatest Kings and Princes of Christendome , bicause it was alwayes a refuge and defence for all the poore children of God afflicted in Fraunce , Italie , Spayne , Englande , and else where , it was so that Caluin bare alwaye the greatest burden : to be short he myght well saye with S. Paule , who is he that is troubled & I do not sorrowe ? And it was not without cause that euery man had his refuge to him : for God had adorned him with so wyse and good councell , that neuer man repented him of the following of it , but I haue knowen many fal into great and extreme inconueniences which would not beleue him . Thys hath bene founde so by many experiences and proofes , namely in the seditions that happened the yeare .48 . 54. and .55 . to breake and disorder the discipline of the Church , where he thrust himself naked in among the swordes drawne , and with hys presence & wordes he so frayed the most desperate mutines of them , that they were enforced to prayse God . The lyke was in the conspiracie Catilinarie , which was the verye yere .55 . to haue murdred all the French , by the Captaine of the towne named Amied Perrin and his conspirators , which coniuration carying with it a maruellous number of daungers and trauayles , in the ende , the Lords of hys great grace , by the wysedome of hys seruaunt brought it to that passe that it is now at : to wyt , to the greatest quietnesse and felicitie that euer this Citie did knowe . As touching his ordinary life & dyet , euery man can witnesse that it was so temperate , that ther was neuer excesse in it , no more was there of nigardise , but a commendable meane , sauing that he had alwayes to small regarde to his health , being contented for the space of many yeares with one repast in .xxiiij. houres , and neuer receiuing any thing betwene his meales in such sort that all that euer the Phisitians could persuade him vnto in the point , was that about half a yere before his last sicknesse , he did take at times about noone a litle wine and would soupe of an egge , the causes were the weakenesse of his stomack , and the Miegrame , for the which he saide hee coulde neuer find any remedy but a continual dyet , in suche sort as I haue knowen him oftentimes to eate no meate in two dayes . Being of so smal a dyet , he slept very little : & for the more parte he was constrained to warme him vpon his bedde , whereon also hee hath made the greatest number of his bookes , being continually happily occupyed in spirite . This is the order that this excellent seruant of God did continuallye obserue , forgetting himself to serue God & his neighbour in his vocation & charge : yet coulde hee not so doe but the Satan did rayse vp against him al the shamefullest slaunders of the worlde , but that is no newes , for it is the rewarde that the world in all ages hath giuen to those that woulde drawe them from perdition . I wyll not aunswere those that doe call him Heretique and woorse than Heretique , ( whereupon they haue forged a name of Caluinistes ) for hys Doctrine maketh aunswere on the contrarye more than sufficientlye . Some haue charged hym wyth ambition , but if they be able in anye point to proue it , I am content to be condemned . Is there any man that hath folowed greater simplicitie in the exposition of the Scriptures , and hath more wherewith to set hymselfe forthe if hee woulde haue profaned the Scriptures with subtile and vaine ostentations ? Hee would rule all , saye they . O villaine & false shamelesnesse : what preheminence did hee euer seeke ? & if he had sought it , who coulde haue kept him from it ? with whom did hee euer striue for the first or the seconde place , when men haue not giuen vnto him that which the giftes and graces that God had giuen him did require ? when hath hee bene seene alter , be it neuer so little ? when hath it bene sene that euer hee did abuse his charge and his auctoritie towarde the simplest in the world ? when did he take in hande any thing without the aduise or against the opinion of hys companions ? To be short , what difference was there euer betweene him and vs , but that he did excell vs all in all humilitie among other vertues , and also in that hee tooke more paine than all we did ? was there any man more simplye apparelled or more modest in al respectes ? was there any house considering the estate of the man , I doe not saye lesse sumpteous , but more slenderlye furnished with moueables ? And if men wil not beleue mee and ten thousand witnesses with mee , at the least let them beleue the slender wealth of hys brother & onely heire , and also the inuentorie of all his goods , and it shall be founde that all that euer hee lefte behinde him ( accompting also hys bookes which were dearely solde bicause of his precious memorie , to all men that were learned ) doth not exceede the value of two hundred crownes . These maye also aunswere these shamelesse euill reporters who haue talked so largely , that the one sorte sayd hee was a Vsurer , the other that he was a very bancker : a matter so worthie of scorne and so falsely raysed , that anye man that euer did knowe him , wyll neuer require aunswere to such an vntrouth . He was so couetous that hauing in the whole sixe hundred Florines for his stipende , which doth not al amount to three hundred liures tournois , yea he sought to haue lesse , & the accomptes of this Seigniorie can witnesse it . Hee hath bene so couetous of thys worldely goodes , that being in fauour , yea & honored both of Kings , Princes & Lordes of many nations , and hauing dedicated his workes to them , I know not ( and I think I should haue knowen it if it had bene otherwise ) that euer he receiued of them to hys vse the value of .xx. Crownes . Also he had the sacred woorde of God in such reuerence , that he had rather to dye than to vse it as a bayte to Ambition or auarice . Hee did dedicate hys bookes to priuate persons , acknowledging some benefite or friendship , as he did a very learned & singuler Commentarie vpon the booke of Seneca concerning the vertue of Clemencie & gentlenesse , which he wrote in Parris , being of the age of .24 . yeares , & did dedicate it to one of the Lordes of Monmor , wyth whom hee had bene brought vp , not at theire charges notwithstanding . The like hee did with his Commentaries vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romanes , being dedicated to Simon Grinee : vpon the first to the Corinthians , to the Lord Marques Caraciol : vpon the second to the Corinthians , to Melchior Volmar his Maister that taught him the Greeke : vppon the first to the Thessalonians , to Mathurin Cordier his gouerner in the colledge of S. Barbara at Parris in his first youth : vpon the second , to Benet Textor his Phisitian : vppon the Epistle to Tite , to his two singuler friends & companions in the worke of the Lord , Maister William Farel & M. Peter Viret : and the booke of offences to Lawrent of Normandie his auncient & continuall friend . As concerning the others which hee did dedicate to certaine Kings , Princes , or common wealthes , his meaning was to encorage the one sorte to perseuer in the defence of the children of God , & to stirre vp the others to the lyke . Wherefore also when he saw that such men did the contrary , he made not straunge to put out their names & to put in others , which onely came to passe in two of his Prefaces . This be said as touching this crime of auarice . Others on the other side haue reported him to be prodigall & a player , but it was as true as the report of those the charged him with fornication . As concerning prodigality & the fruites therof , hys bookes wyll well declare euen to the ende of the world , of his pastimes , & of the shamelesnesse of such lyers . As concerning whoredome , it is maruell that any man durst so farre to stray , as to forge the euil report , were it not that it is a thing accustomed against the most excellent seruants of God . But he is yet vnborne that euer did suspect him of whom we speake in any place whersoeuer he vsed : hee liued about nine yeares in Mariage verye chastely , when hys wyfe was deade , hee continued in wydowerhead aboute the space of .xvj. yeares , euen to hys death . In all that time who is he that euer perceiued the least token that might be of so vnworthie an acte in him ? And what woman was there so villaine and shamelesse the durst to beholde without shame a forehead so reuerende and shewing to all men that did beholde it , all puretie and fredome ? Who hath bene a more rigorous enimy to whordome than he ? It is true that the Lord hath exercised him touching this matter toward such as touched him neare . There hath yet worse happened in the house of Iacob and Dauid , than to him of whom wee speake , and in a more straunge sorte . But what did Satan in this behalfe gaine of the faithfull seruaunt of God , but only shame & rebuke to himselfe in the later daye before the seate of the Sonne of God ? And now to them that hee had stirred vp , to rayse such sclaunder , Whoredomes , Adulteries , and incestes , are accompted for pastimes and exercises of the wicked ones , in sort , that one of the greatest faultes that they finde with the reformed Churches , is that there whoredome and adulterie is punished : In the meane while if there be any such fault or offence founde among vs , albeit that it be extremely punnished , they accuse vs with open mouth . In so doing , ( if they sayde truth , ) what other thing doe they than blame vs in that that we resemble them ? But without entring any further into this discourse , it muste needes bee , ( will they or no ) confessed that the theeues do not haunt where the Magistrates & Potentates are : but to exercise such things it were more meete to dwell among than where such offence is a vertue . But to returne to my purpose , it shal be well founde that this faithfull seruant of God hath shewed to all the worlde a singuler example , in condemning this villaine and stincking vice , as well in them as in others : for when there were any found faultie , he had no regarde at al without accepting of persons , but to GOD and hys Church : and I say nothing in thys , but that which all such as did knowe hym well , wyll testifie before God . Ther haue bene others which haue named him to be irreconciliable , cruell , and also bloudye , which some of them woulde moderate , naming him only , to seuere . The defence is sone made , God be praised , and it shoulde not be necessarie , were it not that it shal do well to rebuke some of them for their peruersitie , and to aduertise the others of their ingratitude towards God . I sayde in the beginning that which I doe now saye , which is , that he neuer had enimies but such as did not knowe him , or else such as made open warre against GOD . I wil bring forth to witnesse the same , a proofe more than sufficient , it is , that hardely may there be any man founde in our time of hys calling , againste whom Satan hath made more cruel warre by al kindes of outrages , but he neuer pursued any man in any court nor attempted the law against any , no , he neuer sought any reuenge : also hee neuer had house nor enheritaunce , nor neuer did deale with any traffique or occupying whatsoeuer it bee , but it is very true that when they banded against the doctrine of God which he taught , hee woulde neuer yelde in any thing , but would according to the holy lawes that bee here established , prosecute , that the mockers of God might be handled according to theire desert . But which are they that will blame that , but onely those that doe transforme a vertue moste rare and singuler , into a vice ouermuch common and hurtfull . By the waye , what if I say , and may lawfully say it in deede , that a number euen of those against whom hee hath bene enforced to stande for matters before recited , haue honored his constancie by their own testimonies ? I coulde name at the least thre , which I wil not name , notwithstanding twoo of them being brought to punishment for their faults & offences , did in the sight of all the people , thinke all the honor & thanks that they might yeld vnto him during the same , not to be sufficient , calling him their Father , crying out , saying , that they were vnworthie of hys presence , aduertisements & prayers , considering they had not harkened to his fatherly admonitions . The third being in his bed sick euen to death , who had bene during his lyfe the counseller of all these strayed ones , coulde neuer be persuaded the God would forgiue him , if the his faithfull seruant , whom he had so much offended , did not also forgiue him . So far were these men of from charging him either with cruelty or ouermuch seueritie . I confesse that hee hath alwayes shewed the Magistrates , how detestable that accepting of persons is in the sight of God , that they must holde the Balaunce aright : & that God abhorreth not only those which doe condemne the innocent , but also those which pardon the offender . Now if it be vice to say so , & to put it in vse , the holy Ghost must then be condemned who hath so saide : or if it be otherwise , such blasphemers that doe call the ordinance of God , crueltie , must haue their mouthes stopped . But , say they , he was ouer rigorous againste adulterers and heretiques . I may well aunswere that which is true , as all the towne doth know , that hee neuer iudged anye man , for it was not his office , and he neuer thought to do it : & if they haue demaunded his aduise , not to confounde the estates which God hath deuided , but to be gouerned according to the worde of the Lorde . I knowe well that I myght auouth it , if I sayde that they haue not alwayes folowed his counsell . But leauing that , what are these mercifull censors able to alledge , when I shall say vnto them that which is true , which is , that there was neuer yet good gouernement in anye common wealth wherein adulterye hath not bene iudged worthy of death : and yet it can not be proued that any one simple adulterer hath bene punnished in this Citie by death . As concerning Heretiques , where is , I pray you , that great rigour ? where is it that this bloudy man hath shewed one iote of a bloudy nature ? There are fewe townes of Guisse and of Almaigne where they haue not put Anabaptistes to death , and lawfully : they haue bene contented here with banishment . Bolsec hath here blasphemed againste the prouidence of God . Sebastian Castalion hath here spoken euill of the very bookes of the holy Scriptures . Valentine hath here blasphemed against the essence of God : None of them haue here bene put to death , twoo of them were onely banished , the other was set free by an honorable amendes towarde God and the Seignorie . Where is this crueltie ? Only one Seruet was put to the fire . And who was euer more worthy than that wicked one , hauing for the space of thirtie yeares in so many sundrie sorts blasphemed against the Eternitie of the Sonne of God , giuing the name of Cerberus , to the Trinitie of the three persons in one onely Diuine essence , making the baptisme of yong children of no value , hauing gathered and heaped togither all the filthy stinckes that euer Sathan did vomite out against the truth of God , hauing seduced an infinite number of persons , and for the chiefe and principall of all his wickednesses , would neuer neyther repent in giuing place to the truth , wherby hee had bene so often times conuinced , nor shewe any token of conuersion . And if wee should come to the iudgement of the Churches , who would not rather alowe that which al the Churches of Almaigne , and namely Philip Melancthon a man greatly renoumed for hys meekenesse , hath not only spoken , but also published by writing , the prayse of so iuste an execution ? To ende this matter , they which discommende such an act , coulde neither better set forth their ignoraunce in blaming that which deserueth singuler commendation , nor yet their rashenesse , when they deale wyth him who did but the office of a faithfull Pastour , putting the Magistrate in minde of hys dutie , endeuoring him by all meanes to bring suche a wicked man to some amendement , and in the ende , not forgetting anye thing that might let that such a pestilence should not infect his flock . There are others which haue reported hym to bee very cholericke , I wyll not make of a man an Angell , yet notwithstanding , bicause I do know how maruellously God hath bene serued by that same very vehemencie , I ought not to keepe silent that which is true , and that I doe know . Besyde his owne naturall inclination to choller , hys witte being maruellous prompt , the folly of many , the multitude and infinite varietie of the affaires for the Church of GOD : and towarde the later ende of hys lyfe , hys great and continuall diseases , had made him vnquiet and frowarde : but sure hee was farre of from any delight therein , for on the contrarie , no man did better perceaue nor so much finde it as did hee . Thys be sayde concerning hys lyfe and conuersation in hys house , in whome this onely default ( that euer I knewe ) was tempered wyth so great and amiable vertues , and so seldome or neuer at all acompanied with other vices which are alwayes wont to folowe the same , that he neuer offended any of hys friendes neither in woorde nor deede . But as touching in publique concerning the charge that GOD had committed vnto him , it is there that I muste needes maruell at the great wysedome of God , turning all things to hys glorye , and chiefely in hys most singuler instrumentes and Organes . Such as haue seene and knowen wyth what kinde of men he hath moste commonly had to doe , the thinges that God hath declared and done by him , the circumstances of times and places , they in deede may iudge wherto suche a vehemencie , I say , a vehemencie in déede Propheticall , did serue and shall serue to all posteritie . And that which made him ●ore maruellous , was , that nether hauing nor seeking any thing lesse than that which is so muche required by those that would be feared by meane of an outward apparance , the moste obstinate and peruers were constrained to bende vnder the great power of God , which did compasse about his faithful seruaunt . They which shall reade his wrytinges , and shall rightly seeke the glory of God , shall there see this maiesty ( whereof I speake ) to shine . As concerning such as doe at this day handle religion , as they doe politique affaires , which are more cold than yse in Gods cause , and more enflamed than the fire , in that which concerneth their particuler causes , and which doe cal al the choller , which is more frankly spoken than they woulde , euen as he neuer sought to please such men , euen so doe I thinke it not meete to stand about the answering of them . What would these wise & temperate men say then , ( seing there is no question but of God , ) if they had more earnestly felt such a choller ? I am sure they would haue bene also on their part as euill contented , as I doe thincke , and shall thinke my self happy during my life , to haue enioyed so great and so rare a vertue , bothe openly & priuately . Euen as I coulde neuer be weary of solacing my self in the absence of so worthy and excellent a personage , in representing him vnto me by the discourse of his rare and exquisite vertues : no more can I without very great sorowe , make an end of that which resteth , and may notwithstanding in no wise bee lefte vntouched , for so muche as it is , as it were , the crowne and beautye of all his life . Beside that God did place this great wisdom and vnderstanding in a weake bodye , and disposed of it selfe to the disease of the Pthysike , whereof he also died : the studies of his youth had made him verye leane and weake , and when he came once to the affaires , he had alwaies so small respect concerning the trauaile of his mind , that withoute the speciall grace of GOD , ( whom it pleased to builde his Churche by the meanes of that instrumente ) it had not ben possible for him to haue come to the age which the Phisitians doe call the declining . The yeare .1558 . being required by the Lordes of Franckfort to make a voyage thyther , to appease and prouide remedie for certaine troubles that were in the Frenche Church , which was newlye receiued in to that towne : at the retourne of thys long & trauaylsome voyage , he had a tercian feuer , very sharpe , which was as it were the first pushe at hys health : in such sorte that in the yeare of our health .1559 . hee was assayled with a long and perillous feuer quartane , during the which , to his great grief , he was enforced to abstaine from both preaching and reading : but hee was neuer vnoccupyed in his house , what counsell so euer men gaue him , in sort that during that time , hee began and ended his last Christian institution both in Latin and in French , wherof wee will speake in the conclusion . Thys sicknesse brought him so lowe , that neuer afterward he coulde recouer his full health , he drewe euer afterwarde hys right legge after him , which oftentimes did greatly greeue him : his auncient diseases put them in order also : to wit , the head ache , and great rawnesses which caused a continuall defluxion : hee was also greued with the Hemorrhoides , so much the more in that that at some other time by chaunce that part was made verye weake : the cause was for that he neuer suffered his minde to rest . He had a continuall vnperfect digestion , wherunto he neuer gaue any heede , but when the disease compelled him . The colliques also folowed , and then in the ende the goute and the reast . Beside this , by strayning himselfe , and by a gnawing defluxion , hee fell into a spitting of bloud , which did weaken him to the vttermost . In the middest of so many diseases , it is a thing very straunge that this sharpnesse of Spirit was rather letted than diminished , and this dexteritie of iudgement nothing altered . There was only this euil , that the body coulde not followe the spirite , albeit that he did sometime enforce himself , vntil the time that he was so grieued wyth the shortnesse of his wynde , that with great paine hee was scarcely able to remoue hym twoo or thre paces . The Phisitians employed all their industrie , and he on his side did folow their counsel to the vttermost , notwithstanding his griefes & so many diseases togither mingled . But it was all in vaine , as he did alwaies say , looking vp to Heauen , speaking often these wordes , Lorde how long ? And then in the ende he remained without stirring , hauing yet the vse of hys speache , but could not long speake or continue any purpose by meane of the shortnesse of his breath , yet notwithstanding this , he ceassed not to laboure . For in this laste sicknesse , as hath ben aboue said , he did wholly translate out of Latin into frenche , his Harmony vpon Moyses , did peruse the Translation of Genesis , wrote vppon this booke of Iosue : and in the ende did peruse and correcte the greatest part of the Frenche notes vpon the Newe Testament , whiche other men had before hande gathered . Beside this he was alwaies occupied in the affaires of the churches , answering by worde and by wryting , when occasion required : all be it that on our parte wee made request vnto him , praying him to haue greater regard to himself : but his answer was alway to vs , that the whiche he did was nothing , requiring vs to suffer , that God mought finde him alwaies watching and labouring according to his ability in his worke , euen to his last breath . The xxv . of April , he made his Testament in brief sort , as he did alwaies auoid the vse of moe words than neded , as much as in him was . which doeth containe an excellent and singuler testimony for euer , that he spake as he beleued , which was the cause that I did willingly inferre this same , word by word , by the consent of his brother and only heire Antonie Caluin , to the end that this acte may remain for euer , as it hath pleased God that the Testaments of some of his moste excellent seruauntes haue bene enregistred , to be perpetuall witnesses , that one very spirit of God did gouerne them , both in their life , and in their death : and also to make the better knowen the extreme shamelessenesse of suche as would beare men in hand that hys death was not according to his life . And if any man doe thincke any thing to be herein other than trouth , I will not stand much in saying againste him : onely I doe gyue him warning whatsoeuer he be , to thinke what thing it is , that maye be true and firme among liuing men , if it be lawfull for a man to dout that which hath bene done in a Towne , in the sighte and knowledge of such as wold heare or vnderstand it .