A17684:146
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
Three things specially they object against us: wherein they accuse us to covet a licentiousness of doing what we list. Because we have abrogated auricular confession: ⟨image 102⟩because forbidding of meats is condemned: & because we make free unto all men the use of Marriage. They cry out that shamefastness is taken out of the world, but if the necessity of confessing bridle it. Verily it is a wondrous thing that the spirit of God, neither in the old Church, nor of many ages after Christs coming, did use this bridle. Shall we then say, that all that time wanted shamefastness, when holiness, chastity, and all virtues flourished chiefly? Albeit the rigour of discipline were at that time exceeding sharp, yet notwithstanding there was not this bridle, without the which these good patrons of modesty think nothing should be in safety. But it is most false which they boast of, that the lusts of men are hereby restrained. For who seeth not, that in like manner as drunken men do ease themselves by vomit, to the intent that anon after, as if they were fresh and fasting they may return to glutting themselves new again: Even so the Papists utter their secret whisperings into the Priests ear, to the intent that being lightened of their ⟨p. 91⟩former fardel, they may more boldly heap sin upon sin. They pretend by their words, to confess themselves to God. But I say it is the common intent of them all, to disclose their privities covertly to the Priest, to the intent they may be hidden from God and man. And therefore we see that after they are dispatched of their thievish mumbling, they follow their lusts far more carelessly than before. But let us grant them that some are so kept in awe with that slavish fear, that they abstain from sinning: yet infer they slanderously upon us, that we seek fleshly liberty in this behalf. We condemn the law of Innocent, which bindeth the consciences with the necessity, from which God absolveth and setteth free. Let them reason the matter with God, who so precisely forbiddeth that any man should snarl him self in such snares, or suffer the souls which Christ hath redeemed with his blood, to be snarled. We say it proceeded of traitorous boldness, that the Remission of sins was bound to the device of man.
Thrée thinges specially they obiect against vs: wherin they accuse vs to couet a licentiousnesse of doynge what we list. Bicause we haue abrogated auricular cō fession: