A17684:104
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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 we must entreat of the Offences ⟨p. 49⟩which we have assigned to the second sort. Many complain that the Gospel is the fountain of discord: because that as soon as it springeth up, there bud out debates with it: or rather as if a trumpet were blown to some battle, men arm themselves one against another. It is surely to be confessed that Christ hath pronounced, that debate and fighting should spring up with the Gospel: but it is to be weighed upon what occasion it cometh so to pass. First if men rise wilfully against God, when he goeth about to bring them to conformity, we have told you before by what means that happeneth. It is a hard matter that they that stand to much upon the reputation of their own wisdom, should yield themselves willing to be taught of Christ. But now when the lusts of the flesh, which reign in men are so many, and like a sort of fierce and unruly beasts, do we marvel if they make a trampling and stirring against the yoke and the bridle? But it is to much wrong to lay the blame of that evil upon the Gospel, the cause whereof is in our selves. They ⟨image 61⟩do even as uprightly, who for fear of trouble and for hate of discord, abhor from the doctrine of peace. They think nothing to be better than a quiet state: what then if some Tyrant should by his horrible and outrageous cruelty obtain thus much, that whiles he ravisheth maidens and honest wives, whiles he spoileth every good man of his goods, whiles he murdereth the guiltless like a cutthroat, all men amazed for fear, should hold their peace: shall tyranny under this pretence deserve praise? now if it be demanded what manner of peace this is, which many stick not to purchase with the loss of the Gospel? this surely shall be the manifest truth, namely to obtain sinful and perverse Religions quietly & without stir, because Satan the worst of all Tyrants, doth without check take his pleasure of men half dead. Notwithstanding as to the outward bondage of the body, peradventure it were expedient rather to suffer sometime, than for the recovery of liberty, to make insurrection which may burst out into slaughter and confused wasting. But ⟨p. 50⟩when the matter toucheth the eternal destruction of the soul, nothing ought to be so much set by, that we should either desire or wilfully embrace deadly peace.