A17684:116
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
To take occasion of lewd behaviour of the Gospel, hath now from old time been customable to many. Not without cause do the Apostles so oftentimes give warning of bridling our liberty, least it should be turned into a fleshly licentiousness. For evermore the flesh at every light occasion, doth by and by advance it self. But as bondage is a hard thing and contrary to mans nature: a great sort (by what means so ever they may shake of the yoke) do deem that the blessed life consisteth therein. Under this pretence the bondmen in old time, (as though by proclamation of the Gospel they had been called to liberty,) were puffed up with stubbornness: in so much that some of them wrested themselves from subjection of the Kings and Magistrates. ⟨p. 62⟩Likewise at this day many of the rascal sort, having taken a smatch of the Gospel, do boast themselves arrogantly: household servants do take halt and stout stomachs to them: very many forgetting all shame and modesty, dare presume any thing. But this is worst of all, that many do in such wise set themselves free from the obedience of God him self, as if by adopting us to be his sons, he had abrogated from him self all fatherly right and authority over us. Surely it is a foul lewdness, & with the unworthiness thereof might grievously wound all godly minds. But let the wrong done to God burn us, rather than we should double it. We hear what Isaiah hath testified of the meekness of Christ: we hear what Christ preacheth of him self: Learn of me (saith he) because I am meek and lowly of hart. And for this cause (as Paul admonisheth,) when he was in the shape of God, he abased him self, to the intent we should learn humbleness of him. Seeing that the Son of God descended from the heavenly throne of his majesty down hither, that ⟨image 74⟩being clad with our flesh, he might abide not only the state of a servant, but also the utter reproach of the Cross, which of us may not be a shamed of our selves to look so loftily, that we should either be, or seem to be any thing at all. Those that excel in great riches and honours, to the intent they may make them selves conformable to the example of their master, must needs (as it were forgetting their own greatness) come down to the baser state.
To take occasion of leude behauiour of the Gospell, hath now from olde time bene customable to many. Not without cause doo the Apostles so oftentimes giue warning of bridelyng our libertie, least it should be turned into a fleashly licentiousnesse. For euermore the fleash at euery light occasiō, doth by and by auaūce it selfe. But as bondage is a harde thing and contrary to mans nature: a greate sorte (by what meanes so euer they may shake of the yoke) doo déeme that the blessed life consisteth therin. Under this pretence the bondmē in old time, (as though by proclamation of the Gospell they had bene called to libertie,) were puffed vp with stubburnnesse: in so much that some of them wrested themselues from subiection of the Kinges and Magistrates.