A17684:157
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
Therefore among them, all the whole company of the Fathers shall not be esteemed at a hear, onlesse they list themselves: but if any thing perchance hath been spoken by any one of them dnaduisedly, it must by and by bind us with so great devotion, that it is unlawful to dissent from it never so little. I say once again that this prodigious & confused Chaos of the Papistry, is so unlike the ancient government of the Church, as that there is not more difference between fire and water. But if we seem to eager & full of clamour in condemning them, the Fathers would be much more vehement, if they lived at this day. Take this too, that these good sons, ⟨image 112⟩which toss the name of the Fathers to & fro like a tennis ball, seem to choose all the grossest errors for the nonce, whereunto onlesse we give our assent, they cry out upon us, that we are the enemies of all antiquity. Melchizedek offered bread & wine to Abraham as he returned from battle. The old doctors think it a sacrifice, which thing they have transferred to the holy supper of Christ. It is almost a childish error. And yet of their so famous writings, nothing liketh the Papists so well. Now least I should stand to long upon this part, they that have perused the writings of the Fathers, and can judge but meanly, shall sufficiently understand, that we are furnished with their authority to assault the Papacy. And though they were laid as indifferent between both, yet will they draw nearer unto us. Whereupon then is builded such a pile of Offences? But what if we grant, that the pure verity of God cannot by us be avouched and restored, but that that same consent of many ages which they vaunt of, would advance it self against us, (as I confess that a thousand ⟨p. 101⟩years since all thing have so decayed, that new broods of monstrous errors and superstitions have crop out of the shell from time to time) yet what find they in such dissenting as this, worthy to be offended at? If comparison be made, certainly those first under whom the Church flourished, either deserve to be counted lawful Fathers alone, or at leastwise, do challenge of right the chief degree of honour among the Fathers. But the good Papists (such is their gentle nature) do celebrate the memorial only of that corrupted age, which had now much declined from the ancient sincerity.
Therefore amōg them, all the whole companie of the Fathers shal not be estéemed at a heare, onlesse they list thēselues: but if any thinge perchaunce hath bene spoken by any one of them dnaduisedly, it muste by and by binde vs with so great deuotion, that it is vnlawfull to dissent from it neuer so little. I saye once againe that this prodigious & confused Chaos of the Papistrie, is so vnlike the auncient gouernement of the Church, as that there is not more difference betwene fire and water. But if we séeme to eger & full of clamour in condemnynge them, the Fathers woulde be much more vehemēt, if they liued at this day. Take this too, that these good sonnes,