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…

It offendeth many, because they see almost the whole world to be against us. Neither are the defenders of the evil case negligent, or to seek what they should do, but with the same engine do strike the rude and weak: saying it is against all reason, that a few men should be credited, and all Christendom beside well near neglected? And to tread these under their feet, they chiefly arm themselves with the holy title of the Church as with a mace. But I would fain know, how such as are estranged from the ⟨image 114⟩Gospel, by reason of our fewness, may maintain their faith against the Turks? As for our part, if we being but one man condemned all the men of his age by his faith, there is no cause why the great multitude of unbelievers should move us from our places. In the mean while affirm that cause of Offence to be not only scarce probable, but also unjust and shameful, where the respects of men are weighed before the word of God. And why? shall not Gods truth stand sure, except it please men to believe it? Rather (as Paul sayeth) let every man remain a liar, and let them acknowledge God to be true, unto whom he vouchsafeth to manifest him self. And we have already in another place showed, why the greater part of men doth so hardly yield themselves serviceable to God. So much the less then is it convenient that in so great stubbornness of the world, we should direct our faith after example of the multitude. But Christ giveth a token, that whither the Eagles resort, there is the Carrion. I deny not verily, but that if at any time all the Eagles shall be gathered ⟨p. 103⟩together into one place, then the conversion of the whole world is to be hoped for. But forasmuch as Christ meaneth not there all sorts of Eagles, but such as follow the lively sent of his death: who seeth not, that that saying is to be restrained to a few, if any man will perchance take exceptions that we are not excused by the example of Noah, if we withdraw our selves from that congregation which holdeth the name of the Church? when Isaiah commanded to leaving the conspiracy of men and follow God only, he meant not strangers, but even such as at that time most gloried in the name of Gods people. And Peter when he maketh the Church like the Ark, because when the world perisheth, a little handful of men is saved as it were by a flood:

It offendeth many, bicause they sée almost the whole worlde to be against vs. Neither are the defenders of the euil cace negligent, or to séeke what they shoulde doo, but with the same engine doo stryke the rude and weake: sayinge it is against all reason, that a fewe men should be credited, and all Christendome beside welnere neglected? And to treade these vnder their féete, they chiefly arme themselues with the holy title of the Churche as with a mace. But I wold faine know, howe suche as are enstraunged from the