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…

Behold on the other part, many defiling (as much as in them is) the profession of the Gospel with their dissolute and filthy life: whereupon riseth another stumbling block, next cousin to that which went before. And surely seeing that we (as Paul testifieth) by living holily & honestly, do adorn the Gospel, look how many do cocker themselves with a licentiousness of living, so many reproaches and spots of Christendom are there. And it is not to be doubted but ⟨image 75⟩that the horrible vengeance of God hangeth over the heads of all such, as by their lewd behaviour do defame the doctrine of godliness, and make the holy name of God a laughing stock to others. They shall one day feel how intolerable a crime it is, to have profaned the holy treasure of the Gospel: & how it was not spoken in vain, that they should not escape unpunished that abuse the name of God. They shall feel how precious the souls are to God, to whom through their evil example they have foreclosed the way of Salvation. First it is a point of to much lewdness, to confess God with their mouth, whom they deny in their deeds, as Paul sayeth: and to pretend to be the Disciples of the heavenly wisdom, when their whole life argueth a manifest contempt of God. But this is more than an heinous wickedness, to abuse the Gospel to the cloaking of our naughtiness. I speak now of the common practise, wherewith false and naughty men do wind themselves in, to deceive, to defraud, and by all means to hurt. I have seen some ere ⟨p. 64⟩this, that were not ashamed to colour their bawdry and unpure bargayninges under the shadow of the Gospel. Othersome that are less wicked, do not withstanding by their dissolute living, both defile the Church with the filth of their vices, and also stain the Gospel. Moreover it is a thing miserable and to be lamented at, that the wickedness of men should not only be imputed to the doctrine of holiness, but also that the same should be shamefully slandered in their person. But there is another bile of the Church more to be lamented, that the shepherds, (I say) the shepherds themselves (who mount into the pulpit, that is to say the holy judgement seat of God, to the intent they should excel all other men in pureness of life,) are now and then most filthy examples, either of naughtiness, or of all other evils.

Behold on the other parte, many defilinge (as much as in them is) the profession of the Gospell with their dissolute and filthie life: wherupon riseth another stūblingblocke, next cousin to that which went before. And surely seinge that we (as Paule testifieth) by liuynge holyly & honestly, doo adorne the Gospell, looke how many doo cocker themselues with a licentiousnesse of liuynge, so many reproches and spottes of Christendome are there. And it is not to be doubted but