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 therefore like as it becometh us to watch earnestly, that no door be left open to such varlets to do harm, by preventing their secrete practises in time, and by endeavouring (as much as in us lieth) that deceits and evil doings be punished strictly by the Magistrate, to the intent that such as make a mockage of Gods word, and such as reproachfully scoff at the Church, may according to their deserts have the hangman for their master, and the gallows for their school: so must we again somewhat more diligently take heed of the crafts of Satan, least by casting in our way the loss of a little transitory ⟨p. 68⟩money, he shake us quite from our heavenly treasure. For that is it that he goeth about, and it is more pernicious unto us. Whosoever hath faith in Christ (sayeth John) he sanctifieth him self. Those that aspire not to this sanctifying, forasmuch as we know they falsely pretend the name of Christ, what reason is there, that they should trouble and hinder us with their lewdness? The Gospel is the bread of life: and yet it is a hard matter to bring to pass, that all men should digest it, when as of many that seem to swallow it greedily, few do take the taste of it throughly. Finally, when Christ compareth his Church to a barnefloore, where the wheat is so mingled with the chaff, that for the most part it lieth hid under it, he likeneth not strangers to the chaff, but such as under profession of the Gospel, keep place among the godly. To what purpose also should he have testified that he will not know many in the last day, which shall boast themselves to have been preachers of his Gospel, and object that they have wrought miracles: but that there ⟨image 80⟩must needs be some such in all ages? Sometime also it cometh to pass, that they which otherwise fear God from their heart, or at leastwise are not altogether reprobates, do by falling into some filthy fault, shame both themselves, and the pure Religion which they follow. How great was that trespass of David, when following his own lust, in ravishing another mans wife, he not only shed the guiltless blood of one man that had deserved well at his hand, but also as much as in him lay, delivered all the people of God to destruction?

And therfore like as it becometh vs to watche earnestly, that no doore be left open to such varlets to doo harme, by preuenting their secrete practises in time, and by endeuoryng (as much as in vs lieth) that deceites and euill doynges be punished streightly by the Magistrate, to the entent that suche as make a mockage of Gods woorde, and such as reprochfully scoffe at the Church, may accordyng to their desertes haue the hangman for their maister, and the gallowes for their schoole: so must we againe somewhat more diligently take héede of the craftes of Sathan, least by castyng in our waye the losse of a little transitorie