A17684:127
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
They are commanded to set before them, that everlasting sign of Gods election, in stead of a buckler against all assaults, in such wise that they seal up their faith also with a good conscience. Forasmuch as I have to do with such kind of men, as will be counted Christians, to the intent I stand not overlong talking of the matter, let them read the two Epistles of Paul to Timothy: the which I suppose will suffice to appease their minds: onlesse peradventure they will either turmoil with them selves for the nonce, or else seek vain pretences to fall from Christ wilfully. And surely with sound & wise men this one thing will be able to uphold their faith, ye it were lewdly done to measure the eternal ⟨p. 72⟩truth of God by the swimming inconstancy of men. But they that are so witty to take liberty of sinning by evil examples, why do they not observe so many wonderful examples of unuincible constancy, which might worthily stablish their faith among whatsoever storms of temptations. This our age hath seen good store of martyrs go cheerfully & unfearfully to death. Neither might men only boast themselves hereof, but in the womankind also did God show a strength surmounting the strength of man. Surely the old stories do not make report of any hearty women, which the women yt Flanders & the County of Artois hath brought forth a ten years ago, do not match. Shall then the false forsaking of a few, overthrow our faith? shall that same holy blood (whereof every drop are seals to as many godly hearts,) vanish away without estimation or strength? Although it be so vile to them, yet shall it not be without glory before God. Neither shall they scape unpunished for accompanying themselves wilfully to their own decay, the miserable forsakers of Christ: and for neglecting ⟨image 84⟩them that with stretched out hands call us unto Heaven.
They are cōmanded to set before them, that euerlastynge signe of Gods election, in steade of a buklar against all assaultes, in such wise that they seale vp theyr faith also with a good conscience. For asmuch as I haue to doo with such kinde of mē, as wilbe counted Christians, to the entent I stande not ouerlonge talkyng of the matter, let them reade the twoo Epistles of Paule to Timothie: the which I suppose wil suffice to appease theyr mindes: onlesse peraduenture they will either turmoyle with thē selues for ye nonce, or els séeke vaine pretences to fall from Christe wilfully. And surely with sounde & wise men this one thing wilbe able to vpholde theyr faith, ye it were lewdly done to measure the eternall