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…

To conclude in one word, almost all the popish Clergy, is a wide sink of all kinds of wickedness, which doth not only breath out his stench far and wide, but doth also infect with his deadly venom all other orders or degrees of the world. But admit we grant that all things are ordered holily and chastely among them. Yet for that they say we loosen and set at large the chastity of manners, which men were strictly bound unto by their laws: I will appeal to none other witnesses, for the disproving of this lie, than those which are daily quarrelling with us, complaining that all their old liberty is taken from them. I will say nothing but that which is throughly known to all men. As many ⟨p. 90⟩among us as being lecherous, riotous, or lewd, covet to do as they list, ye should say they be the very Soldiers of the Pope hired to assault the Gospel. Neither dissemble they the cause, that they cannot away with this ancient and sad severity (as they term it,) which erst lay hid in old forworn papers. The rage of these men at least wise were to be pacified, to the intent these good defenders of chastity might persuade that we give the flesh as much liberty as it will crave. But forasmuch as they kick and spurn so much against our rigorousness, to whom the discipline of Papistry was sweet and delectable, it may be easy for any man to gather hereby, that our doctrine is far wide from that unbridled partiality, whereof they accuse it. Nay rather many of the Papists do aggravate this spite upon our doctrine, that it taketh almost all mirth and gladness out of the world.

To conclude in one woorde, almoste all the popishe Clergie, is a wide sinke of all kindes of wickednesse, which doth not onely breath out his stinch farre and wide, but dothe also infect with his deadly venim all other orders or degrées of the worlde. But admit we graunt that all thinges are ordered holyly and chastly amonge them. Yet for that thei say we loosen and set at large the chastitie of maners, which men were streightly bounde vnto by their lawes: I will appeale to none other witnesses, for the disprouinge of this lie, than those whiche are dayly quarelynge with vs, complayninge that al their olde libertie is taken from them. I will saye nothinge but that whiche is throughly knowen to all men. As many ⟨p. 90⟩amonge vs as being lecherous, riottouse, or lewde, couet to doo as they liste, ye should saye they be the very Souldiers of the Pope hyred to assaulte the Gospell. Neyther dissemble they the cause, that they cānot away with this auncient and sadde seueritie (as they terme it,) whiche earst lay hidde in olde forworne papers. The rage of these men at least wise were to be pacified, to the entent these good defenders of chastitie might perswade that we giue the fleashe as muche libertie as it will craue. But for asmuch as they kicke and spurne so much against our rigorousnesse, to whom the discipline of Papistrie was swéete and delectable, it may be easie for any man to gather hereby, that our doctrine is farre wide frō that vnbridled parcialitie, whereof they accuse it. Naye rather many of the Papistes doo aggrauate this spight vpon our doctrine, that it taketh almost all mirth and gladnesse out of the worlde.