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The Commentarie of Iohn Caluine, vpon the Gospel after Iohn.
The Preface.
¶To the right honorable Lordes, the Syndiques and Senate of Geneua, his right reuerende Lordes Iohn Caluine wisheth from the Lorde, the spirit of wisdome and strength, and pro∣sperous successe of gouernement.
AS often as I call to mynde that saying of Christe, wherin he maketh so great accoūt of that dutie of humanitie which is besto∣wed vpon the gathering together of stran∣gers, that he maketh account of it as done to him: I do therewithall remember vnto how great honour hee hath vouchsafed to promote you, who hath made your Citie a place not for one or a few to dwell in, but a common Inne for his Church to lodge in, Hospitalitie hath not only been cōmended amongst the Heathen, but it hath also bin accounted one of the chie∣fest vertues: and therfore in whomsoeuer they wold con∣demne extreeme barbarisme and manner altogether vn∣ciuill, they called them axenous, or men which were not giuen to hospitalitie. But farre more excellent is your praise, bicause the Lord hath appointed you in these troublesome & miserable times, to be those vnto whose tuition the godly might cōmit thēselues, & vnder whose feathers the innocent might be shrouded, whom the ty∣rannie of Antichrist, being no lesse sauage then sacriligi∣ous, doth chase & driue away out of their own countries & natiue soyle. And this is not all, but he hath also dedi∣cated an holy house amongest you vnto his owne name, where he may be worshipped sincerely. Whosoeuer he be that indeuoureth either publikelie to cut off, or priuilie to take away the least part of these two, he doth not only goe about to disfigure your Citie beeing spoyled of her principal ornaments, but also he maliciously enuieth the helth therof. For althogh those godly good turnes which