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…

this assurance ought to be enough to encourage us in the avouching of that doctrine, which only procureth us his grace & blessing. Notwithstanding, what issue so ever our attempts in the end have, there shall never be any cause why it should repent us to have performed, both godly and acceptable obedience unto God: and (which may comfort our heaviness even in our greatest afflictions,) to have faithfully furthered both the glory of Christ, (which is more to be esteemed than all the kingdoms of the world,) and also our own souls health, (which is more precious than all the world.)

this assurāce ought to be inough to encourage vs in the auouchyng of that doctrine, whiche onely procureth vs his grace & blessynge. Notwithstanding, what issue so euer our attemptes in the ende haue, there shall neuer be any cause why it shoulde repent vs to haue performed, both godly and acceptable obedience vnto God: and (which may comforte our heauinesse euen in our greatest afflictions,) to haue faythfully furthered bothe ye glorie of Christ, (which is more to be estéemed than all the kingdomes of the worlde,) and also our owne soules health, (whiche is more precious than all the worlde.)

Now that I have reckoned up the Offences in general, which we find by experience to be hurtful, all the children of God are briefly to be admonished again, that being armed with the remedies by me showed, they rather keep Christ still for their foundation, than by their rash and lewd running upon him, make him to themselves a stone to stumble at, and a rock to dash against. It cannot otherwise be but that in this world, many occasions of Offence must from time to time be fathered upon the faithful. From the which not even Christ him self was free. Yea rather it is scarcely to be hoped for, that they should steppe one pace, but that the Devil cast some stumbling block in their ways. So must they walk through innumerable Offences. But albeit the variety of them be manifold, and the heap thick packed, yet shall none be a Christian, but he that wadeth through them with victory. Christ saith, that Peter him self was a stumbling block unto him, when he assayed to call him back from suffering death. But did he retire back when he was assaulted with occasion ⟨image 121⟩