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…

I come to another spice of backbiting, ⟨image 96⟩which not only cometh out of the same workhouse of Satan, but also is forged almost upon the same stithy. This only difference there is, that those former, of whom I have spoken, being open and sworn enemies, do defame the Gospel in their ministers to the people: and these of whom I purpose to speak hereafter, do so wind themselves in, under the name of the Gospel, that nevertheless by overthwart murmuring, they withdraw as many as they can from Christ. These are partly hunger starved vagabonds, which will overwhelm thee with cartloads of slanders, if thou cram not full their gorges: and partly naughty lewd fellows, who being dispatched from our company for their own fault, or else deprived of some office for ill doing, hunt for a new living in another corner: and yet both sorts of them have their minds and tongues in their belly. Othersome, being a little more dainty, as not so much pinched with hunger, and yet shunning the Cross, to the intent to have a cloak for their cowardliness, do overload the pure doctrine of the Gospel ⟨p. 85⟩with fables, feigned by themselves. I said a little before how there are a great nun ber of Drones that rove abroad, to get somewhat by pilferie, or by deceit. Such being now so known by their own packings, that they can find place no more to beguile folk in the Churches of Christ: departing aside some otherwhere, do power out any thing they can imagine against us impudently, to the intent to get themselves favour, by bringing us in hatred with the unskilful. But what will those good men prescribe us, which conceive cause of Offence upon their vanity. We see ass headed Monks, who yet were wont to stuff the paunch, that if ye cram not meat into their mouths, by and by they wax fiery to sanctify battle (as the Prophet termeth it.) We see others also not unlike the Monks. They promise all to become half Angels, so they may happen upon a measurable trade of living, saying they will be contented with bread and water. But that same brag of sufferance, anon after vanisheth into smoke. And they themselves after they have within a while given a ⟨image 97⟩proof of their slothfulness, being weary of work, steal privily away.

I come to another spice of backbityng,