A17684:120
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
Which is no more to say, than if a man would refuse to drink of a fountain, because he would allege it to be grown about with briers & thorns, ⟨image 77⟩whereas nevertheless he might with small labour and less danger overpass the lets. Because they see divers having the Gospel in their mouth, live wickedly and naughtily: behold the Gospel say they. How much more of right should they with sorrow acknowledge, that great wrong is done unto God, when the living answereth so evil to the doctrine. If the clouds cast a mist upon the earth, no man is so mad or so lewd, to call the Sun misty. But great is the difference between the clearness of the sun, and the clearness of the Gospel. For although mists may darken the Sun, yet the lewdness of men can not bring to pass, but that the brightness of the wholesome and godly doctrine, may shine through, whereby our life (all darkness being wiped away) is reformed into true righteousness: shall we then confess the Sun to be clear, even when it is hidden? and shall the sins of men, (what sort soever they be of,) dazzle our eyes, when we see the bright light of the Gospel, and the glory of Christ shining therein?
Whiche is no more to say, than if a man would refuse to drinke of a fountaine, bicause he would alledge it to be growen about with briers & thornes, ⟨image 77⟩whereas neuerthelesse he mighte with small labour and lesse daunger ouerpasse the lettes. Bicause thei sée diuers hauing the Gospell in their mouth, liue wickedly and naughtely: behold the Gospell say they. How muche more of right shoulde they with sorrowe acknowledge, that greate wronge is done vnto God, when the liuyng answereth so euill to the doctrine. If the cloudes cast a miste vpon the earth, no man is so mad or so leude, to cal the Sunne mistie. But great is the differēce betwene the clerenesse of the sunne, and the clerenesse of the Gospell. For although mistes maye darken the Sunne, yet the leudnesse of men can not bryng to passe, but that the brightnesse of ye wholesome and godly doctrine, maye shine through, whereby our life (all darkenesse being wiped away) is reformed into true rightuousnesse: shall we then confesse the Sunne to be cléere, euen when it is hidden? and shall the sinnes of mē, (what sorte soeuer they be of,) dazle our eyes, when we see the bright lighte of the Gospell, and the glorie of Christe shininge therein?