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…

whereby he meaneth both that this is the keeper of right understanding, and that it is no wonder though they have nothing steadfast among them, which are tossed among the sundry waves of their lusts. There is no cause therefore why we should be troubled with this Godlessness, which now partly rageth everywhere through the whole world, but specially reigneth in the Courts of Kings and Princes, in judgement places, and in other glorious trades of living: for if I should demand of one that had skill in things, (yea and it were even of those, who cannot rid themselves from this temptation,) which of them all there did harborow a good conscience, their answer would be in a readiness, that it is banished a great way of: wherefore then do ⟨p. 57⟩we wonder at that shipwreck of Faith, which Paul teacheth must needs follow? Moreover if they so warily keep money bestowed in coffers, as many as are any thing smitten with the love thereof, what excuse shall he lay for him self, which being fenced with no guard of God, doth set him self forth wilfully to the spoil, if he be robbed of the heavenly treasure? specially considering we know that nothing is so hurtful as these cobwebs of the wicked. For it is not my mind to extenuate the peril that may come by them, but rather I admonish and testify, that no Serpent hath so venomous a blast as they, and therefore it behoveth us to be so much the more waker & careful to beware of them. By the way, I say that all such shall be free from this contagion (be it never so pestiferous) as have not forslowed to root themselves deep in Christ. Neither is this my saying, but the saying of Paul: that we ought to grow in Christ until we come to be perfect men: least we be any more subject to the subtlety of men, which go about to deceive us. Notwithstanding, we must ⟨image 69⟩hearken also to another exhortation of Paul: namely that forasmuch as we are ensured to the Son of God upon this condition, that we should keep our promise of marriage unto him unuiolate, we ought in especially to beware that the Devil corrupt us not with his flattering enticements. For if the woman which hath given ear to allurements of bawdry, seemeth to have given already some sign of unchastnesse, it appeareth that those souls are scarce chaste, which delight to be moved to false forsaking their obedience to God.

whereby he meaneth bothe that this is the keper of right vnderstandynge, and that it is no wonder though they haue nothinge stedfaste emong them, whiche are tossed amonge the sundry waues of their lustes. There is no cause therefore why we should be troubled with this Godlesnesse, whiche now partly rageth euerywhere through the whole worlde, but specially reigneth in the Courtes of Kinges and Princes, in iudgement places, and in other glorious trades of liuyng: for if I shoulde demaunde of one that had skill in thinges, (yea and it were euen of those, who cannot ridde themselues from this temptacion,) whiche of them all there did harborow a good conscience, their answeare would be in a readinesse, that it is bannished a great way of: wherefore then doo