Tracts & Letters (Vol 7) - Calvin - VII - Letters DCXVII to DCXXXIV

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 7) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Letters DCXVII to DCXXXIV.

My summary
Today we read letters from 1561 and 1562 addressed to Beza, the Queen of Navarre, the King of Navarre, M. de Colognes, M. de Passy, the Duchess of Ferrara, Bullinger, Peter Martyr, Sturm, the Church of Lyons, the Baron des Adrets, Monsieur de Diesbach and the churches of Languedoc.

Among other things, two major issues in today's letters were:
(i) the outright rejection of Protestantism by the King of Navarre and his support for Roman Catholicism, much to the dismay of his Reformed wife;
(ii) an outbreak of violence among the Protestants of Lyons, with even the support of some of the ministers.

What grabbed me
I liked Calvin's encouragement to the poor Queen of Navarre: 'I know, Madame, that the first batteries are directed against you. But though the difficulties should be a hundred times greater, the courage which comes from on high, when we have recourse to it, will be victorious. Remember only never to weary of holding out, having God for your guaranty, for we do not obey him at random, inasmuch as his promise cannot fail that he will give a favourable issue to our constancy when it is founded on his word. Therefore, should the whole world be turned upside down, if our anchor is cast in heaven, however tossed we may be, most assuredly we shall arrive in safety at the harbour. St. Paul says that He is faithful to keep that which we have committed to him. Thus knowing in whom we have believed, let us persevere, pitying those who amuse themselves with such paltry attractions as even little children would laugh at.'

Even if the whole world is upside down, with your anchor in heaven you will be the right way up.

Next week's reading
Read Letters DCXXXV to DCXLVIII.

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