A17684:102
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
As who should say God did not so govern his elect with his holy spirit, & give over the castaways to be troubled by the Devil, that he maketh the doctrine of Godliness and exhortations fruitful ⟨image 59⟩unto the one, and holdeth the other as convict of wilfulness and unexcusable, because they obeyed not his warning. I omit how little they profit by diffaminge the Providence of God with the slanderous name of destiny. For we neither dream of intricate knots of causes with the Stoics, nor submit the governance of the world to the Stars, nor imagine a necessity of things in the very nature of things it self. Howbeit the same is it that Heathen men call fatal. The predestination of God therefore is far another thing than the Heathen destiny, but let this brawling about words cease in this case. If (say they) that necessity of things be prefixed by the eternal decree of God, it is superfluous to teach what every mans duty is. For teaching shall alter nothing of that which is already determined. But they ought to have considered by the way, that doctrine was by God himself ordained to this end, that it should be an underseruaunt to his secret determinations. Whom by his eternal adoption he hath predestinated to life, doth he not by doctrine as it were by ⟨p. 48⟩the hand stretched out, lead them thither as he had predestinated them? For what else is an effectual vocation, than an accomplishment of the election which before was hidden. He may by sundry threats compel the reprobates (to no purpose as it seemeth) howbeit inasmuch as by this means he maketh them unexcusable, herein also appeareth some strength of the doctrine. Foolish men perceive not in how goodly order, the works of God agree among themselves. Hereupon it cometh to pass, ye they rashly set at variance with the will, the doctrine which is nothing else than the minister of his eternal will. Let us learn therefore that God speaketh not to men, to the intent to reveal unto them, or to correct those things which he had determined with himself long before, but rather that he might teach them by trial, how firm & steadfast they be. It cannot come to pass that they should perish, whom he hath ones chosen from the beginning: & because he will not have them perish, he committeth them to the trusty tuition of Christ.
As who should say God did not so gouerne his elect with his holy spirite, & giue ouer the castawaies to be troubled by the Deuil, that he maketh the doctrine of Godlinesse and exhortacions fruiteful