A17684:46
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…
A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable. Translated out of Latin into English by Arthur Golding.A little booke of Iohn Caluines concernynge offences whereby at this daye diuers are feared, and many also quight withdrawen from the pure doctrine of the Gospell, a woorke very needefull and profitable. Translated out of Latine into Englishe by Arthur Goldinge.
London: printed by H. Wykes, 1567
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The work of John Calvin concerning Offences, whereby in these days divers are feared, & many also quite withdrawn from the pure Doctrine of the Gospel.
The woorke of Iohn Caluine concerning Offences, whereby in these daies diuers are feared, & many also quight withdravven from the pure Doctrine of the Gospell.
After that the Lord had by many arguments proved him self to be the very same that should come to save the Godly, he did not without cause knit up his saying with this sentence: Blessed is he that is not offended in me. Certainly, he not only knew, that many things were contained in the profession of his Gospel, from which mans nature doth utterly abhor, but also he foresaw, that forthwith by the subtle working of Satan, should spring up all kind of lets and hinderances, that might bring it either in hatred or suspicion of the world. And surely it must needs be fulfilled which the holy Ghost hath spoken of him, ⟨image 13⟩that he should be the rock of offence and the stone to stumble at: Not because there is in him any just cause to be offended at, as we shall anon see. But what skills it? For this is (as it were) his fatal condition, that as often as he offereth him self to men, many of them do stumble at him. The which thing if ever it happened heretofore, we find at this day to be true, by examples almost innumerable. Wherefore we ought so much the rather to call continually to our remembrance, his former warning, to the intent it may stick fast in our minds: least through the stops which the Devil will cast in our way, we being turned from him, might also be deprived of that blessedness which he promiseth to those that are his. But how few are there that think hereupon? And on the contrary part, how many are to be found, which under the colour of offences, do either shone the Gospel altogether as it were some rock: or after they have embraced it, yea and somewhat profited in it, do afterward turn back again? Forasmuch then, as there was no one matter (in my judgement,) ⟨p. 2⟩