Excerpt from A Commentary on the Psalms of David, Vol. 1 of 3

A year had not elapsed when all who were desirous of purer doctrine, were continually coming to learn of me while as yet but a novice and tyro. I, who was naturally somewhat simple, and was always fond of the shade and retirement, then sought where to hide myself; but this was so far from being permitted me, that all my retreats were like a public lecture room. In a word, whereas the one great object with me was to live retired and undistinguisbed, God so led me about through various turnings, that he yet suffered me not to rest anywhere, until in spite of the bent of my nature, I was dragged forth into the light. And it was for the pur pose of enjoying the repose so long denied me in the seclu sion of some obscure nook, that I left my fatherland and retired into Germany. But 10! While I lay hid and unknown at Basle, it happened, since, in consequence of many pious persons having been burnt in Gaul, a flame of indignation was kindled in Germany by those fires, that wicked and lying pamphlets were circulated for the purpose of putting it out, which stated that none were so cruelly dealt with but Ana baptists and turbulent characters, who, by their untoward ravings, were undermining not only religion, but all civil order. Perceiving that the object of these crafty instru ments of the court was not only that the shameful effusion of innocent blood might be buried under an unfounded slander upon the holy martyrs, but that thereafter they might be allowed to wade through indiscriminate slaughter without exciting compassion in any one for their victims, I resolved that unless I opposed myself to them to the utmost of my power, my silence could not be exculpated from the charge of perfidy.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comwww.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.