Tracts & Letters (Vol 5) - Calvin - IV - Letters CCII to CCXXIII

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 5) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Letters CCII to CCXXIII.

My summary
Today we read letters from 1547 to 1548 addressed to the Faithful of France, Monsieur De Falais, Farel, Viret, Bullinger and the Family of Bude.

The content of today's letters included:
(i) the war in Germany and persecution of the reformers throughout Europe;
(ii) troubles in Geneva;
(iii) continued talk of Monsieur De Falais moving to Geneva;
(iv) false rumours circulating about Calvin and Geneva;
(v) books, including Calvin's thoughts on Bullinger's book on the Lord's Supper;
(vi) troubles in the church at Berne.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed the letter to the Family of Bude. 

Particularly the exhortation to stand firm in the midst of persecutions: 'I am not ignorant of the dangers which environ you, and am not so devoid of fellow-feeling, as not to have that sympathy which I ought. But you are aware, that will not excuse such a degree of timidity as there is among those who mingle in the world, disguising themselves in every way; and so much the more that there are few who are quite exempt from it, our duty is to urge and provoke one another forward; and inasmuch as every one ought to do his utmost to walk according to the measure of knowledge vouchsafed to him, you should examine the more narrowly whereunto ye have attained. For you cannot pretend the common excuse wherewith the most part cover themselves, as with some moistened rag of a palliative, namely, that God has not yet bestowed so much grace upon them. For besides that God has opened your eyes to make you understand with what zeal you ought to glorify him before men, above all, the profession you have made obliges you to it as well. Nought remains, therefore, except that you disencumber yourself of worldly anxieties, to seek in good earnest the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And if it be not possible to confess him as your Saviour where you are, you should far rather prefer to be removed for a little while from the country of your birth, than to be for ever banished from that immortal inheritance to which we are called. Whether willingly or no, we must needs be strangers in this world; shall we then refuse even to stir from the nest ? Happy, indeed, are they who declare, not merely by empty profession, but effectually, that they are so, and rather than decline from the faith, are quite ready at once to quit their home, and, in order to dwell in union with Jesus Christ, make no difficulty about parting with their earthly comforts. These are hard sayings to those who have not tasted the worth of Christ; but to you who have felt his power, all else ought, after the example of Saint Paul, to be counted but as filth and dung. Indeed, it is not enough that you yourselves keep steadfast, but if there be others who are weaker, you ought to strengthen them by your admonitions, and to look well to it that there be no falling away.'

To be deprived of earthly comforts in order to achieve heavenly comfort is not a loss at all.

Next week's reading
Read Letters CCXXIV to CCXXXII.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.