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…

seeing that the use of them through the power of the holy Ghost is effectual, and that God by the secrete working of the same holy Ghost, doth truly perform whatsoever he thereby declareth. And therefore we confess that the Bread and Wine in the Supper of our Lord, are not empty pawns or tokens of the Communion, which the faithful have with Christ their head: because our souls enjoy him as their spiritual food. Of all these the doctrine is agreeable in all places. What so great stumbling block do proud ⟨p. 76⟩men find in this behalf, that should stop up the way of the Gospel? But in defining the way, the manner is somewhat divers. I confess surely that all men speak not so distinctly as were to be wished: either because every man hath not the like gift to dispute plainly and clearly, or else because that all have not attained one measure of faith. Whereas there remaineth as yet much of the thick darkness of the Papistry, if it be troublesome to any man to have it narrowly and plainly set forth, whatsoever maketh to the discussing of the darkness of their errors, he bewrayeth him self to be a malicious shunner of the light. Now whiles we lift men from the earth to heaven: while we carry them from dead elements to Christ, because we ascribe the cause of righteousness, salvation, and all good things to his mere grace: while we ascribe to the holy Ghost all the efficacy of the signs or Sacraments: & like as God is the only author and performer of spiritual life, we challenge wholly unto him that which is his own: while we reject all gross glosses, wherewith it is manifest that the ⟨image 88⟩world hath been deluded: while we take away the carnal manner of Christs presence, and the perverse worshipping of him in the Sacrament: They that make a stumbling block thereof, forasmuch as they wittingly and willingly stumble at Christ, they are worthy to crush themselves together. I have proved in this case, that there are many which take delight to pretend Offences, because it pleaseth them to be blind in the light.

seyng that the vse of thē through the power of the holy Ghost is effectuall, and that God by the secrete woorkyng of the same holy Ghost, doth truly performe whatsoeuer he thereby declareth. And therefore we confesse that the Bread and Wine in the Supper of our Lorde, are not emptie pawnes or tokens of the Cō munion, whiche the faithfull haue with Christe theyr head: bicause our soules enioye him as their spirituall foode. Of all these ye doctrine is agreable in all places. What so great stūblingblocke doo prouds