MANY indeed and various testimonies of His providence or governance doth God continually exhibit unto us, both in the administration and preservation of this world, and in the propagation and defense of the Church: and these so evident, so certain, that they must needs be blind who see not, stupid who perceive not. But among so many things falling even under our eyes, I know not whether there be any more illustrious or more worthy of admiration than that which He doth not rarely put forth in frustrating the counsels and repelling the attempts of His perpetual enemy and his ministers.

Whosoever is indeed a studious observer of these things doth easily perceive that He doth thus from time to time mock his counsels and so overturn his attempts that they are carried to a diverse, yea, plainly contrary scope than that whereunto they tended—that is, those things which tended to extinguish or obscure His glory do serve to illustrate it, and those which looked to the destruction of His Church do promote its salvation.

Stratagems of this kind (if I may use that word in this matter) have been published in our age, and are still published, very many and most clear; but most pass them by as with closed eyes; some, not maliciously but rather perfidiously, endeavor to obscure or suppress them; only they who are wise do see, observe, and esteem them.

To enumerate indeed certain things out of many and point them out as with the finger would be to me neither difficult nor grievous, O Christian Reader; but concerning one thing, and that pertaining to our purpose, I have thought fit to admonish thee at present.

To no pious person, I believe, is it doubtful that the unhappy conflict concerning the Lord’s Supper was both formerly excited and lately renewed by Satan’s counsel and artifice, and that to the end he might intercept the course of the Gospel or retard its progress, inasmuch as he envieth both to Christ His glory and to men their salvation.

But what hath that excellent artificer accomplished? Plainly the reverse of what he had conceived and purposed. What indeed had he conceived, what did he purpose? What but that he might more involve that most beautiful part of Christian doctrine which he had oppressed and held buried, and by rendering it odious might more and more alienate the minds of men from it?

But what hath he effected, or what hath followed? By these stimuli the minds of many being excited (the heavenly Spirit impelling and illuminating them), they have not only brought forth that part of doctrine, but with it very many others, from darkness, have explained and so wondrously illustrated them that the mystery which was formerly unknown to many and held in contempt began, being known, to be held in highest esteem; and that which to very many was matter of all superstition and impiety became the chief exercise of piety.

What more? That which was the head and unconquered citadel of Satan’s kingdom, or the foundation of Antichristian tyranny, hath been converted into the primary defense of Christ’s kingdom; certainly among the chief sinews of Christianity all pious men acknowledge and confess it ought to be numbered.

Therefore, God deriding (if one may so speak of Him), that conspiring enemy hath washed away through this contention those defilements which he had sprinkled upon the divine mystery and restored it to its native splendor. Thus is the divine providence wont to destroy the adversary with his own sword and to turn that which he deviseth for the destruction of Christ’s Church to its salvation.

But many will object unto me: “Dost thou then judge that contention to be salutary to the Church which exasperateth and distracteth minds which ought to be most closely joined, and begetteth strife among those between whom the highest charity ought to flourish? Dost thou say it pertaineth to illustrating divine glory which so alienateth the minds of many from the name and profession of the Gospel, which also so offendeth many weak ones that nothing seemeth equally to hurt the Christian name, which so injureth many that most do not undeservedly fear it will bring destruction to Christ’s kingdom unless it be seasonably remedied?”

But I distinctly answer that I am by no means so inconsiderate as not to see and consider all these things and whatsoever are of this kind, nor am I of so iron a breast as not to feel and bewail these common evils most worthy of all tears. Neither am I one who doth not detest the counsels and endeavors of that most savage enemy of God and men, and execrate the attempts of his ministers; but now it pleaseth me to consider, admire, and proclaim the admirable wisdom of God converting those evils which they conceive and contrive into good, as that most wise Joseph of old both wisely acknowledged and openly professed.

Doth it not serve Christ’s glory that the monument of His death—that is, not only the commemoration but the most clear mirror and living image of all the benefits which He hath conferred upon His Church—being overwhelmed, oppressed, and almost buried with infinite defilements of superstition and impiety, should be restored to its native brightness and vigor, that is, reduced to that form which the Author Himself prescribed?

Doth it not serve the Church that a mystery in the first rank salutiferous (being indeed the most certain pledge of eternal salvation), which by the ignorance of some men in part, and in part by their malice, was not only taken away from itself but also converted into a workshop of idolatry and all impiety, should, having recovered its pristine vigor, be had and enjoyed as an exercise and nourishment of piety?

For the fuller accomplishing of this thing, I judge and say that the contentiousness of certain persons doth serve, and that not without divine providence. I confess indeed that it bringeth also some distraction of minds; but it distracteth those who were ill joined together—that is, whom not true love and serious study of piety had conjoined.

I know also that very many are offended and deterred from the profession of the Gospel; but these, it is evident, stumble by their own fault, as they who prefer darkness to light. If true love and study of piety holdeth them, and they are seriously affected with desire of their salvation, why do they not apply their mind to that thing which looketh thereunto? Let them read themselves, let them inquire with whom the true opinion resteth, let them explore and imitate the excellent study and pious prudence of the Bereans.

I know also and feel that very many fall away; but if these were such as they ought to be and as they seemed and were believed to be, no disputation undertaken for the cause of knowing the truth, unto which salvation is conjoined, would ever alienate them, howsoever certain persons in pursuing it may conduct themselves otherwise than the matter, the name, and their own profession do require.

They depart indeed, but they who seemed rather than had truly approached. For by no more evident argument doth hypocrisy betray itself than by apostasy, inasmuch as this is its genuine offspring. What shall I say? I confess that I see not a few today who, having laid aside hypocrisy, take up and put on impudence. Yea, scarce any hath Christ’s doctrine and religion more bitter adversaries and more hostile enemies than those who sometime pretended they would defend and help it.

But in this thing I acknowledge that most just recompense of which the Apostle maketh mention in Romans 1. For what is more just or more fitting than that he who hath wickedly lied that he is God’s friend—that is, a true worshipper—and under a mask hath imposed upon many, the mask being taken away, should profess himself a manifest enemy of God, of Christ, of truth, and of piety, and cease to impose upon evil men? For thus doth God, Whose wisdom and justice it is, most justly vindicate, Who most bitterly hateth hypocrisy.

Let those depart who, by the example of Esau, prefer pottage to the birthright; and when it so pleaseth them, let them perish. But let us seriously think, weigh, and meditate what that most weighty sentence of the Apostle meaneth: “There must be heresies, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” (1 Cor. 11).

Assuredly, howsoever things stand, I shall not hesitate to affirm that from this so sharp disputation there hath been effected today what of old was effected by those most weighty conflicts concerning the Trinity (as we are wont to speak) and concerning Christ’s person and the two natures in Him, excited in the Church by Satan’s impulse and through the work and fault of ambitious and importunate rather than unlearned men.