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…

If I listed to gather together Offences of this sort, which were able to pervert even the Heroical men, what monstrous wickednesses saw the holy Patriarch Jacob at home in his own house? After that his daughter was forced, Simeon and Levi through as outrageous cruelty, as unspeakable traitorousness, murdered the Sichimites. His sons being thus imbrued with slaughter, conspired the murder of their Brother. At length to increase the heap of mischiefs, it came to pass that his first begotten son committed ⟨p. 69⟩incest, in companying with his stepmother. And yet the Church of God was at the time enclosed within one house: I abstain from reciting any moe examples. But at this day divers do search out a few Offences with Lynxes eyes, to the intent they may not have ought at all to do with the whole Church of God, as far as it stretcheth every way, with this one example I am content to have admonished my Readers, that the faith shall be to unstable, if at the several ruins of men, it do from time to time wax faint. In the mean while, this is to be held for an infallible rule: that it cometh to pass by the determinate counsel of God, that evil men are evermore mixed with the good. By this means both the constantnesse of the faith is tried, and we be exercised to patience, & the desire to pray is quickened, & the stinging of the pricks do move us earnestly, to walk warily and wisely, and the contempt of the world riseth thereupon, and together with desire of departing hence, mindfulness of the heavenly life increaseth. But if the cause lie hid, yet let us know that a ⟨image 81⟩part of our warfare, which we must follow during all the race of our life, doth consist in these exercises.

If I listed to gather togither Offences of this sort, which were able to peruert euen the Heroicall men, what monstruous wickednesses sawe the holy Patriarch Iacob at home in his owne house? After that his daughter was forced, Simeon and Leui through as outrageous crueltie, as vnspeakable trayterousnesse, murdered the Sichimites. His sonnes beyng thus embrewed with slaughter, conspired the murder of their Brother. At length to encrease the heape of mischieues, it came to passe that his first begottē sonne committed ⟨p. 69⟩incest, in companiynge with his stepmother. And yet the Churche of God was at ye time inclosed within one house: I absteine from recitinge any moe examples. But at this daye diuers doo searche out a fewe Offences with Linxes eyes, to the entent thei may not haue ought at all to doo with the whole Church of God, as farre as it stretcheth eueryway, with this one example I am cōtent to haue admonished my Readers, that the faith shal be to vnstable, if at the seuerall ruines of men, it doo from time to time waxe faint. In the meane while, this is to be helde for an infallible rule: that it commeth to passe by the determinate counsell of God, that euill men are euermore mixed with the good. By this meanes bothe the constantnesse of the faith is tried, and we be exercised to patience, & the desire to pray is quickned, & the stingyng of the prickes doo moue vs earnestly, to walke warely and wisely, and the cōtempt of the world riseth thereupon, and togither with desire of departyng hence, mindfulnesse of the heauenly life encreaseth. But if the cause lie hidde, yet let vs knowe that a