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…

Now, if by bringing in the light of the Gospel, hypocrisy be put to flight, and wickedness openly discovered, the offence thereupon taken, is unrightful and perverse. In old time among heathen men, no man was counted a despiser of God, except he were a manifest murderer, or a forger of Testaments, or a forsworn person, and wrapped in all kind of lewdness. For inasmuch as they had made to them ⟨image 64⟩selves carnal Gods, nothing was more easy than to be religious. But we see how sharply the Prophets do inveigh against scorners: the which thing out of all doubt, they do not without weighty causes. So the ungodliness which showed it self in the Church of God, appeared to be none at all in manner among the unbelievers: shall we therefore say that the law and the Prophets were bellows to stir the same up? shall the pure Religion therefore, which drew that Serpent to light, be made the less account of? Yea verily even in the Church of God, Ismael uttered not himself to be a scorner, but after that Isaac was borne. He which before was next unto holy Abraham, did suddenly burst out into wicked scorning the grace of God, whereby he deserved to be banished his fathers house. Ought such an example to have alienated the household of Abraham from his holy Offspring? Furthermore, that which was lightly shadowed in Isaac, was needful to be more clearly expressed in Christ, and the History of the Gospel beareth witness ⟨p. 53⟩that it was so done. For we know that since he was brought into the world, how much the madness of them hath boiled, which before times did brag them selves of the title of Religion. Wherefore let this malicious opinion take his leave and be packing, that liberty to do naughtily springeth out of the doctrine of the Gospel, because it draweth wickedness out of his lurking holes into the open light. And rather let us be glad of this, that the thoughts are discovered out of the hearts of many: howbeit, of this matter there is another reason also to be marked: namely when some utterly refuse the grace of the Gospel offered unto them: & some disdainfully sip of it a little with their lips: and othersome proudly caste it of from them having received it before: doth not the unthankfulness of them all deserve, that God should punish it sore?

Now, if by bringyng in the light of the Gospell, hypocrisie be put to flight, and wickednesse openly discouered, the offence thereupon taken, is vnrightfull and peruerse. In old time amonge heathen men, no man was counted a dispiser of God, except he were a manifest murtherer, or a forger of Testamentes, or a forsworne persone, and wrapped in all kinde of leudnesse. For in asmuch as they had made to them