[381] A letter without address, but evidently, as the date and
the contents prove, relating to the trial of the five students of
Lausanne.--(See the letter of the 10th of June, and the note at p.
355.) The personage to whom Calvin writes, is doubtless John Liner,
a rich merchant of Saint Gall, settled at Lyons, who often visited
the scholars in their dungeon, undertook several journeys on their
behalf, and was unsparing, during the whole course of the suit, in
tokens of most lively affection.--(_Histoire des Martyrs_, liv. iv.
pp. 230, 231.) John Liner afterwards retired to his own country,
where he lived to a very advanced age, and corresponded with Charles
de Jonvillers, the secretary of Calvin, a correspondence which has
been preserved to our days in the library of Saint Gall. Note, p.
363.
Thanks for the zeal manifested by him on behalf of the prisoners
of Lyons.
_This 10th of August 1552._
VERY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,--We are all bound to give thanks to
God for having made choice of you to assist our poor brethren who
are detained in prison by the enemies of the faith, and having so
strengthened you by the power of his Spirit, that you spare no pains
in so doing. I say that we are bound to give thanks to Him; for
we must needs recognize this work as his, and that it is he alone
who has disposed and directed you thereto. You have also reason to
rejoice at the honour he has done you, in employing you in so worthy
and honourable a service, and giving you grace to perform it. For
however despised and rejected of men, the poor believers persecuted
for the sake of the Gospel may be, yet we know that God esteems them
very pearls; that there is nothing more agreeable to him than our
striving to comfort and help them as much as in us lies. The Lord
Jesus declares, that whatsoever shall have been done to one of the
least of his people, will be acknowledged by him as done to himself.
How then if we have furthered those who fight his battles? For such
are as it were his agents, whom he appoints and ordains for the
defence of his Gospel. Yea, he declares that a cup of water given to
them shall not be lost. If then you have hitherto had the courage
to present so goodly a sacrifice to God, strive to persevere. I
know well that the devil will not fail to whisper in your ear on
many sides to divert you from it, but let God prove the strongest,
as is meet he should. It is said that they who comfort the children
of God in their persecutions which they endure for the Gospel, are
fellow-labourers for the truth. Be content with this testimony, for
it is no light matter that God should uphold and approve us as his
martyrs, even though we do not personally suffer, merely because his
martyrs are helped and comforted by us. And, therefore, although
many tell you the contrary, do not leave off so good a work, or show
yourself weary half-way. I feel assured that you did not look to men
at the first; follow on then as the servant of Him to whom we must
cleave to the end. Reflect, moreover, how many worthy brethren there
are who glorify God for what you are doing, who would be scandalized
if you altered your course. As for the dangers which they set before
you, I have no fear of their coming to pass, for the good brethren
for whom you have done so much, feel themselves so indebted to you,
that were they at liberty, far from being cowardly enough to betray
you, they would expose themselves to death for your sake. You must
also consider, that by the support which they receive from you, they
are the more confirmed, for they have no doubt whatever that God has
directed you to them, as indeed he has. And they have reason to lean
still more firmly upon him, seeing the paternal care he shews them.
Be of good courage, therefore, in this holy work, in which you serve
not only God and his martyrs, but also the whole Church.
Whereupon, my very dear sir and brother, after having heartily
commended myself to you, I pray our good Lord that he would
increase you more and more with the gifts and riches of his Spirit,
for the furtherance of his own honour; and meanwhile, that he would
have you in his keeping.