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…

And whereas we see many, which being entangled with this or that error, are led astray from the right way: it never happeneth but by the just vengeance of God. First Augustine truly nameth pride the mother of all Heresies. For there was never yet any master of error, whom lewd desire of vainglory puffed not up to his own headlong falling. We know that God is a faithful teacher to the little ones: we know that Christ calleth the humble and meek to him to be his disciples: wherefore such as swell with pride, it is no marvel though they be driven out of this school, and be carried up and down with their own ⟨p. 60⟩wavering speculations. As many as in this our age falling from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, have begun to be teachers of false opinions, we shall find that all of them being taken with the disease of pride, have forged punishment of the wit, both to themselves and to others. In stead of many let the only example of Seruet suffice. For he being puffed up with Spanish pride, and swelling moreover with his own arrogance, determined this to be the best way for him to get him a name, if he snapped at all the principles of Religion. Whatsoever therefore hath of antiquity from the very time of the Apostles been by the Fathers left, concerning the three persons in God, and received from time to time continually by the godly, he not only rejecteth as unsavoury, but also with to outrageous railing, tosseth and turmoileth it: now that same currish rage of biting and barking, which all the writers of that rabble do utter, doth sufficiently testify what manner of spirit stirreth the man. But if ye come to the matter, ye shall clearly perceive, that their greedy ⟨image 72⟩hunger, being inflamed with unstaunched thirst of vainglory, hath caused them to quaff up all kind of most absurd dotages so desirously, that they have made themselves drunken therewithal. He surmiseth that the word of God was not, before such time as Moses bringeth in God speaking in the beginning of the world. As who should say, that then first of all he began to be, when he showed plainly his so great power: & not rather that he declared a proof of his eternal being. He in such wise Deifieth Christs flesh, that abolishing the truth of his manhood, he maketh his Godhead which is spiritual, to be palpable.

And whereas we sée many, which beyng intangled with this or that errour, are led astray from the right way: it neuer happeneth but by the iust vengeance of God. First Augustine truely nameth pryde the mother of all Heresies. For there was neuer yet any maister of errour, whome leude desire of vaineglory puffed not vp to his owne hedlonge fallynge. We know that God is a faithfull teacher to the little ones: we know that Christe calleth the humble and méeke to him to be his disciples: wherefore such as swell with pride, it is no maruell though they be driuen out of this schoole, and be carried vp and downe with their owne