Preface To The Commentary On The Psalms (1557). An extract will follow.
A great proportion of them,it is true,are so blinded by a passion for slander and detraction,that to their great disgrace,they betray at once their impudence,while others,however crafty and cunning,cannot so cover or disguise themselves as to escape being shamefully convicted and disgraced;yet when a man has been a hundred times found innocent of a charge brought against him,and when the charge is again repeated without any cause or occasion,it is an indignity hard to bear. Because I affirm and maintain that the world is managed and governed by the secret providence of God,a multitude of presumptuous men rise up against me and allege that I represent God as the author of sin. This is so foolish a calumny that it would of itself quickly come to nothing,did it not meet with persons who have tickled ears,and who take pleasure in feeding upon such discourse. But there are many whose minds are so filled with envy and spleen,or ingratitude,or malignity,that there is no falsehood,hoever preposterous,yea,even monstrous,which they do not receive if it is spoken to them. Others endeavor to overthrow God's eternal purpose of predestination,by which he distinguishes between the reprobate and the elect;others take upon them to defend free will;and forthwith many throw themselves into their ranks,not so much through ignorance as by a perversity of zeal which I know not how to characterize. If they were open and avowed enemies,who brought these troubles upon me,the thing might in some way be borne. But that those who shroud themselves under the name of brethren,and not only eat Christ's sacred bread,but also administer it to others,that those,in short,who loudly boast of being preachers of the gospel,should wage such nefarious war against me,how detestable is it?