As the mercies and goodness of God (beloved in the Lord) towards his dear Spouse and Church hath especially manifested itself in this last ruinous age of the world: so hath Satan in these very times brought his whole munition into the field, with full purpose and intent, one way or other, to bring either a ruinous fall, or a confused deformity, where the Lord intendeth to build his sure grounded and well-ordered house. And therefore all those who have given their names unto the profession of the Gospel, are to consider what it is, that thereby they have taken in hand. For as it hath been true in all ages, so shall it be verified in these our days, that all shall not walk with the Lamb for evermore, who for a time seemed to be of his train. And alas we know that he earnestly entreateth over many to open unto him, who yet shall not be partakers of the supper of the great King.
For such is the deceitful wisdom of man’s nature, and Satan’s powerful delusion, that even professors themselves never want great and weighty reasons why they should deny God’s oppressed truth here upon earth, that the Lord may deny them in that day when he shall come not to suffer in his members, but to judge as the most magnificent King, and shall come in that glorious majesty whereat heaven and earth will be astonied. Now, because his judgment shall be (“Go you cursed”) upon as many as shall be found not only the defacers of his glory, but even the deniers of any point of his truth and word, as the Holy Ghost hath forewarned us: Therefore, I thought it my duty unto his majesty and his Church, to publish this book in the English tongue, that men and angels may bear testimony against the moderation and discreet wisdom of this age in defending the truth that the Lord hath made known unto it, and that by many witnesses what that truth and what that word of his is which he will have at all times, and in this age especially, maintained by all men without exception, that mean to be partakers of his eternal favour. The which truth, as it is largely contained in God’s most sacred written word, of the Old and New Testament, so is it briefly set down in this book, by the whole consent of the godly learned in the Church of Geneva, and especially by that famous learned man, universally reverenced in God’s Church, M. Theodore Beza. Out of this book also shall appear for what cause the Church of God is at this day persecuted, wheresoever the same be hardly entreated. For this I may boldly affirm, that there is no church or private man at this hour, in any affliction for the maintenance of the truth, but the cause of his trouble is contained and defended in this treatise. So that although all the persecuted saints of God, now pilgrims upon earth, be not included within the walls and narrow dominions of Geneva, yet doth this book manifestly prove, that as that Church is barbarously assailed by the Duke of Savoy within the bounds thereof, so is this doctrine therein professed, hardly dealt with under their government (though it may be they are ignorant of it) who would be loath to be found at the siege of Geneva, or any wise to favour such godless cruelty. And I would wish that this were made known unto them.
And hereby also it will be manifested, that there is great cause why the estate of that now distressed Church should be respected. For surely if there be any love in men towards Christ Jesus, laboring and fainting as it were in his poor members under the burden of great crosses and trials, they cannot shut up their compassion towards him, craving their help in the person of that poor Church. I beseech thee therefore, good reader, in the mercies of God, not to shut up thy compassion towards the same, and be assured, that the Lord Jesus will for that thy kindness say unto thee, nay say of thee unto his Father, his angels and Church: “I was poor, hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and besieged in Geneva, and behold this man enriched me, fed me, clothed me, visited me, and defended me as far as lay in him: wherefore come thou blessed of my Father, and possess thy never-ending reward.” I know, beloved, that thou hast many hindrances to do this in this backsliding age, but know yet that Matthew saith, that it is a King who requireth this at thy hands, and will be exceedingly angry with thee to thy woe, if thou deniest his request; as he will reward thee most bountifully to thy comfort, if thou grant the same. And in any case take heed in this, as in all other points touching thy duty, of the wisdom of this age, whose wariness tendeth to no other purpose but warily to starve and forsake the Gospel. The shame, poverty, and discontent of the Gospel, I tell thee, is a glorious ignominy. All the crowns in the world are not worthy to stand in the balance with the same.
Thou art also to know, that the Gospel is, whatsoever is according unto wholesome doctrine, as the Apostle teacheth; and therefore, if thou wilt stand unto the same, thou must wholly cleave unto it, otherwise the fierce anger of the God of truth will be against thee for shrinking from any part of his testimonies. And thou must know, that thou art not to choose what to defend, but thou art bound to maintain according unto thy calling, whatsoever thou seest to be oppugned by any, be they friends or be they enemies of the truth. And thou needest not regard herein, whatsoever power opposeth itself against thee, for he whose truth thou maintainest is no respecter of persons, but is terrible, as the Prophet saith, even unto the kings of the earth, and thou shalt find that in thy defence, defending his truth, he will break the great men in the day of his wrath, except they submit themselves unto the scepter of his word.
In conclusion (for necessity is laid upon me, that I cannot write what I had purposed), say with the holy man Ezra unto thine own heart, and be assured thereof, that the hand of God is upon all those that seek him in goodness, and therefore fear not, but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
Briefly, that thou mayest profit by this book, I crave of thee to take this pains in it: bestow an hour a day in the reading thereof, and in so doing, after the first time, thou mayest well read it over once every month. The which course, if thou shalt take, I doubt not but in one year thou shalt so benefit thyself as there shall be no point of weight in religion whereof thou shalt not be able to resolve thine own conscience, and also to edify others according unto thy calling in very good measure. But in any case take heed that thy knowledge, gotten by reading, rather increase than diminish thy care in the hearing of the word preached. And thus thou mayest expect for the blessing of the Lord, unto whom I betake thee, myself and all his, now and ever, Amen.