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…

I said at the beginning that none almost were here deceived, but such as being loth to come to Christ, do procure lets to themselves from a far of. The time hath been that this same scruple hath hindered many simple & godly souls: but at this day (I say) there are few that object the Offence, rising upon the name of the Church, against the wholesome doctrine, except it be such as maliciously and proudly vaunt themselves against Christ. Like lewdness is it, that they demand miracles at our hand, wherewith they being amazed, are at length compelled to yield unto God speaking by us. And I say, that seeing our doctrine beareth evident witness to it self, that it hath been confirmed by all the miracles which have been since the world was made: these men which forgetting the old miracles gape after new, forasmuch as they are so astonied at the manifest ⟨p. 106⟩power of God, and so blind in the clear light, are no less monsters themselves, than if we should see a man turned into a beast. Because divers are enriched with holy goods, and othersome have meetly well appeased their hunger for a time, the enemies of the Gospel report, that we were led to alter things for desire of spoil, than for any good zeal to Godward: and many which hawk for a pretence to put by the Gospel, give their assent to these malicious sayings. Surely for my part, if there be any that have spoiled the goods of the Church, to fill their own pouches, I excuse them not. And my Books are manifest witnesses, how much I abhor from such sacrileges. But as I am not minded to make my self a patron or advocate of the defaults of our part, if any be: so the slander is not to be borne with, that the malicious persons charge us withal, how we made our pray of all whatsoever was taken from those filthy Seagulls, that is to say, the chaplains of Ball and the Monks. Certainly whereas the popish impiety is abolished, there at leastwise part of the ⟨image 118⟩revenues, which whores and bawds devoured with the Priests, is now bestowed upon the poor. Somewhat more is bestowed upon schools than was wont to be: true Pastors are found, that minister the doctrine of Salvation to the people: expenses are allowed to maintained the state of the Church, and those not small.

I sayd at the beginnyng that none almost were here deceiued, but suche as beyng lothe to come to Christe, doo procure lettes to themselues from a farre of. The time hath bene that this same scruple hath hindred many simple & godly soules: but at this day (I say) there are fewe that obiect the Offence, risinge vpon the name of the Churche, againste the wholesome doctrine, except it be suche as maliciously and proudely vaunt themselues against Christe. Like lewdnesse is it, that thei demaūde miracles at our hande, wherwith they beyng amazed, are at length compelled to yéelde vnto God speakynge by vs. And I saye, that seyng our doctrine beareth euident witnesse to it selfe, that it hath bene confirmed by all the miracles whiche haue bene since the worlde was made: these men whiche forgettynge the olde miracles gape after new, for asmuch as they are so astonied at the manifest