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…

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⟩of Offence? Nay rather perceiving Satan in Peter, he bad him avaunt. To the intent we should know that we must abide the same encounter as well as he, he telleth us all in general, it cannot otherwise be but Offences must come. But even as he assureth those which are his, that they shall never be free from Offences: so excuseth he no cause of Offence. For when he biddeth the right eye should be put out, if it offend any man, he admonisheth us that there is nothing of so great valour, that in respect thereof we ought any whit to be led from the mark. If we were so diligent in avoiding Offences, that none of us would spare his own eyes, I should not have needed to spend so much labour in putting away Offences. I grant it is a sore encounter and above our strength, but Christ saith not in vain, that he hath warned his disciples they should not be Offended. For there is none other cause why we are unable to vanquish and put to flight Offences, saving that we hearken not to Christ, when he speaketh to us. Surely it is true that he speaketh in another place, ⟨p. 110⟩how they that stumble do stumble in the night. For wherefore serveth the light of the Gospel, but to set before our eyes the stumbling blocks in showing us the way.

Now that I haue reckened vp the Offences in generall, which we finde by experience to be hurtfull, all the children of God are briefly to be admonished againe, that beynge armed with the remedies by me shewed, they rather kéepe Christe still for theyr foundation, than by their rashe and lewde runnyng vpon him, make him to themselues a stone to stumble at, and a rocke to dashe against. It cannot otherwise be but that in this worlde, many occasiōs of Offence must from time to time be fathered vpon the faithfull. From the which not euē Christe him selfe was frée. Yea rather it is scarsely to be hoped for, that they should steppe one pace, but that the Deuill cast some stumblingblocke in their waies. So must thei walke through innumerable Offences. But albeit the varietie of them be manifolde, and the heape thicke packed, yet shall none be a Christian, but he that wadeth through them with victorie. Christ sayth, that Peter him selfe was a stumblingblocke vnto him, when he assayed to call him backe from sufferyng death. But did he retyre backe when he was assaulted with occasion