[377] Calvin wrote this letter to King Edward VI., when dedicating
to him the following little work: Four Sermons of Master John
Calvin, treating of matters very profitable for our time, with a
Brief Exposition of Psalm lxxxvii. Geneva, 1552, in 8vo, inserted
in the _Recueil des Opuscules_, p. 824. These four sermons have
been translated at different times into English. In the first,
Calvin exhorts the faithful to flee from idolatry; in the second,
he encourages them to suffer everything for Jesus Christ; in the
third, he shews how highly believers ought to prize the privilege of
being in the Church of God, where they are at liberty to worship him
purely; in the last, he shews that this liberty cannot be purchased
at too high a price.
Dedication of a new work, and Christian exhortations.
FROM GENEVA, _this 4th July 1552_.
SIRE,--Although I ought to fear lest my importunity may prove
troublesome to your Majesty, and have indeed on that account
abstained from writing to you more frequently, nevertheless, I have
had the boldness to send you, together with my letters, a short
exposition which I have composed of the 78th (87th)[378] Psalm,
hoping that you would take pleasure in it, and also that the reading
thereof might be profitable to you. As I was one day expounding
it in a sermon to the people, the argument appeared to me so
appropriate for you, that I was forthwith moved to draw up a summary
of it, such as you will see, when it shall please your Majesty
to devote to it one hour only. It is very true, that I treat the
subject generally, without addressing you personally. But as I have
mainly had regard to you in the writing of it, so in the prudent
application and appropriation of it, you will find that it contains
a very profitable lesson for your Majesty.
[378] An error in the original; we must read 87th.
You know, Sire, how much danger kings and princes are in, lest
the height to which they are raised should dazzle their eyes, and
amuse them here below, while making them forgetful of the heavenly
kingdom; and I doubt not that God hath so warned you against this
evil, to preserve you therefrom, that you are a hundred times more
impressed with it, than those who have no personal experience of
it. Now, in the present Psalm mention is made of the nobleness and
dignity of the Church, which ought so to enrapture both great and
small, that no earthly honours and possessions should hold them
back, or hinder them from aiming to be enrolled among the people
of God. It is indeed a great thing to be a king, and yet more,
over such a country; nevertheless, I have no doubt that you reckon
it beyond comparison better to be a Christian. It is therefore
an invaluable privilege that God has vouchsafed you, Sire, to
be a Christian king, to serve as his lieutenant in ordering and
maintaining the kingdom of Jesus Christ in England.[379] You see,
then, that in acknowledgment of such great benefits received from
his infinite goodness, you ought to be stirred up to employ all your
energies to his honour and service, setting to your subjects an
example of homage to this great King, to whom your Majesty is not
ashamed to submit yourself with all humility and reverence beneath
the spiritual sceptre of his Gospel; and if hitherto you have done
this, so that we have cause to glorify God for his goodness, the
present Psalm will always serve you as a support and a buckler.
Meanwhile, I humbly entreat you, Sire, that this short letter may
serve as a protest and testimony to your Majesty of the hearty
desire I have to do better, if the means were given me.
[379] For a facsimile of the original of this passage, see Vol. I.
Sire, after having very humbly commended me to your kind favour,
I pray our Lord to fill you with the gifts of his Holy Spirit,
to guide you in all prudence and virtue, to make you prosper and
flourish to the glory of his name.
Your very humble and obedient servant,