A17684:101
A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are…A little booke of Iohn Caluines concernynge offences whereby at this daye diuers are…
A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable. Translated out of Latin into English by Arthur Golding.A little booke of Iohn Caluines concernynge offences whereby at this daye diuers are feared, and many also quight withdrawen from the pure doctrine of the Gospell, a woorke very needefull and profitable. Translated out of Latine into Englishe by Arthur Goldinge.
London: printed by H. Wykes, 1567
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now that Predestination is a sea of Offences, how happeneth that? but only by our own, either curiousness or malapertness? Here is meant of the secrete Judgement of God, through the brightness whereof, mens minds if they approach over nigh, must needs be not only dazzled and dimmed, ⟨image 58⟩but also utterly swallowed up. And yet as much as our capacity could bear, and as much as was for our behoof, our Lord hath declared in his Scriptures: namely that we are all forlorn, saving such as he choosing from death hath redeemed to life: and that the grace of Christ cometh only unto them, who by free election before they were borne, were predestinate to salvation: and that others, like as they be ordained before to everlasting damnation, so also they continue in their sins. To proceed any further if it were lawful, yet were it not expedient. But now seeing it were no less wicked than hurtful, to rush thorough from whence the Lord keepeth us, as it were by holding over his own hand: it were our duty to embrace reverently that which the Lord delivereth us, & to hold our selves contented there withal, without making any further inquisition. For the right rule of being wise in this behalf, is such a soberness as coveteth to know no more than is revealed in the Scriptures. Certainly God would that nothing should be hidden from us, but such as the knowledge ⟨p. 47⟩thereof were superfluous, or more dark than that our capacity could attain to the understanding of it. Wherefore we are the more unthankful, but if we temper our desire of searching, according to the mean which himself observed in teaching us, why marvel we then, if they throw themselves headlong into the bottomless pit, or dash themselves against the rocks, who after the manner of madmen rush violently against God. They accuse God of cruelty, because he adjudgeth to damnation such as are yet unborn. But they shall one day feel him a just judge: or rather they feel him so already inwardly, although they acknowledge it not. They cavil that precepts are given in vain concerning manners, that laws are made in vain, and that judgements are unjustly executed in punishing evil doers, seeing all things are ruled or rather rolled by destinies.
Nowe that Predestination is a sea of Offences, howe happeneth that? but onely by our owne, either curiousnesse or malapertnesse? Here is meante of the secrete Iudgement of God, thorowe the brightnesse whereof, mennes mindes if they approche ouer nie, muste néedes be not onely dazeled and dimned,