Calvin, on defending the truths of God…
“I say, whenever we see a man strive against God’s truth, we must set ourselves against him as adversarial parties. Why so? For if God gives us the means to make ourselves His representatives and witnesses, He will have His case maintained by us. And the honor is great that is done us on that behalf. God sees that we are full of vanity, and there is nothing but untruth in us, and yet He calls us to be His representatives. And should He do so? Is He bound to do it? No, but His mind is to honor us so far forth. What remains then? That every one of us strain himself to the utmost to do his duty. When we see men so malicious and wicked as to lift themselves up against God and to seek all means possible to pervert and corrupt the truth, is it fitting for us to be slothful then? No.”
…[more verbiage about the errors of the Papists]…
“Now when we see the devil working that way to overthrow the things that are good to edify the Church, and that men are so poisoned against them, should we hold our peace? Should we not resist them stoutly as much as we can? Yes, certainly. Or else we would be cowards, yes, and it would be imputed to us for high treason if we should allow God’s truth to be so defaced and we not maintain it.”
– John Calvin, from his 73rd Sermon on the Book of Job. (Job 20:2)
