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…

But now I have spent to many words in repeating the slanders, wherewith such varlets as are departed from among us, do through my sides overthwartly wound the Gospel: I return again to the general slanders, wherewith the manifest and sworn enemies do openly assault the doctrine. This is the slander most frequented among them: that we under pretence of Christian liberty, do set free all things at the lust of our selves and of other men: and that our doctrine tendeth to none other end, but that men being loosened from law, & awe, should take their pleasure without measure or modesty. What our doctrine containeth, large volumes are able to show. But ye may understand that it is as free for our enemies to lie, before ⟨p. 89⟩them that are kept from reading our writings, as it is superfluous for us to make excuse before the Readers. Nevertheless, first I would know what yoke of discipline it is a Gods name, that is so grievous, that it compels us to fly to this sanctuary. For the rigorousness of the Papacy was never yet so great, but that it was lawful there to go a whorehuntinge, to dance, to exceed unmeasurably in all riotousness, to feast and banquet, to play at dice, and by all means to use misbehaviour through the whole year: conditionally that once after yearly pardon, those that had lived so lewdly, discharged their stomach into the Massemongers ear, as it were by vomiting after a surfeit. To what purpose then was it, to seek this last remedy of despair, in such dissolute licentiousness? Certainly if there were any, never so desirous of alteration, yet they never began to make a do, before they were past all hope of con passing their desire otherwise. Now there could not any unruly or wanton desire have tickled us, which might not have been borne with, unpunished under ⟨image 101⟩the Papacy. But the blowers abroad of the praise of the Papacy, are too too much to be laughed at, while they preach their straight orders of discipline, as if they were the laws of Sparta. For who would believe a Monk with plump and ruddy cheeks, boasting of his fasting? who can think that they are sparing, who are everywhere known to be drowned in ruffianrie?

But nowe I haue spente to many woordes in repeating the slaūders, wherwith suche varlets as are departed from amonge vs, doo through my sides ouerthwartly wounde the Gospell: I returne againe to the generall slaunders, wherewith the manifest and sworne enemies doo opēly assault the doctrine. This is the slaunder most frequented amonge them: that we vnder pretence of Christian libertie, doo set frée all thinges at the luste of our selues and of other men: and that our doctrine tendeth to none other ende, but that men beinge loosened from lawe, & awe, shoulde take theyr pleasure without measure or modestie. What our doctrine conteineth, large volumes are able to shewe. But ye may vnderstand that it is as frée for our enemies to lie, before