A17684:136
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
For if the Papists object to us the dissolute living and scarce honest behaviour of a few men, we may of as good right and better, return the same and ⟨p. 81⟩greater reproaches by double upon them. Would God they gave us not so plentiful matter. It is to no purpose to tell how freely whoredom reigneth among them without punishment: what liberty there is of scolding and quarrelling: how all kind of wantonness is permitted commonly: with how great rejoicement reign among them lawless pomps, unchaste dancings, and other things of the same sort. Surely there is none of all these things, which (that I may glory after a sober manner) is not prohibited among us by public proclamations, & restrained by some discipline. Wherefore it is not to be feared, if we be compared with the Papists, that we should be found fully as ill favoured as they. When we remember our evil doings, there is cause why we should be greatly ashamed. But (which is a thing to be lamented,) their extreme filthiness maketh us to seem almost good and undefiled men. It is a wonder therefore that they, who are so coy in bearing with the vices of our men, should be steel hearted in suffering the wickednesses of the contrary part. Wherein they not only ⟨image 93⟩do us wrong, but also are most unthankful to God. For in the mean time they pass over very many examples of rare godliness, holiness, & all other virtues: whereby it became them rather to be provoked to the love and reverent fear of the Gospel, than for the faults of some to be moved to hatred or contempt of it. They allege that not many amended, since they professed the Gospel. But I pray you, how many may we bring forth of the contrary part, whose wonderful conversion doth beautify our Gospel? And seeing they enforce us to glorying, which so maliciously do darken the glory of the Gospel, there is no region which doth not daily behold princely triumphs of our doctrine in this behalf. The adversaries themselves also, although they dissemble it, yet are they ready to burst for madness, because they see men, who heretofore were given to riot, wantonness, unchastnesse, vain pomps of the world, covetousness, & raven, now wholly framed to soberness, temperance, chastity, modesty, and upright dealing.
For if the Papists obiect to vs the dissolute liuynge and scarce honest behauiour of a fewe men, we maye of as good righte and better, returne the same and