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…

giveth sufficient warning, that we ought not to hang upon the multitude. Why then have miserable men pleasure, to seek occasion of wavering and staggering, among the variable blasts of the world, when God stayeth us upon the everlasting foundation of his word? why had they rather wave among the storms of ⟨image 115⟩opinions, than harbour at ease in the sure haven of certain verity, to which God calleth us. But very great reverence is dew to the Church. I confess so truly: and I willingly also put this more to it, that the understanding of the Church is so linked with the native doctrine of the law and the Gospel, that it is worthily called the faithful keeper and interpreter of the same. But between us and the Papists is the odds: that they think the Church not to be the pillar of truth, otherwise than in sitting as a judge over the word of God. And we on the contrary part uphold, that because the Church submitteth it self reverently unto the word of God, the truth is by it retained, and delivered unto others from hand to hand. And therefore the word of God hath no more authority among them, than the Church as it were by intreatance granteth unto it: & they turn the interpretation of the whole Scripture to the judgement of the Church, even after the same manner that the Lesbians in old time were want to make their mason work by their leaden rule, as the old ⟨p. 104⟩Proverb reporteth. There is therefore no place of the Scripture so clear, which being bowed (or to speak more properly) writhed to this Lesbian rule, taketh not a strange shape. And yet the chief contention between us consisteth not upon this point alone. But after the Papists have installed the Church in Christs throne, to determine Religion at her own pleasure, and to judge of the Scripture without appealing from her, by and by they take the law (such as it is) into their own hands. We on the other side, because it is as easy a matter, as dangerous to be deceived in, will have it discussed which is the true Church. Surely it is no new thing, that those are sometime cruel Wolves, which occupy the rooms of shepherds: and that they are wicked & rank traitors to God & his Church, in whose hand the ordinary Sovereignty is.

giueth sufficient warnyng, that we ought not to hange vpon the multitude. Why then haue miserable men pleasure, to séeke occasion of wauerynge and staggeringe, amonge the variable blastes of the world, when God stayeth vs vppon the euerlastyng fundation of his woorde? why had they rather waue amonge the stormes of