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…

The Scripture must needs be ⟨p. 6⟩fulfilled, which hath told before that it should come so to pass. And I do not look that this my travel should work any other effect, than that their rage should be more and more inflamed. But I have respect to the weaklings, whose faith, as the wicked sort go about to shake down. so it behoveth us (as it were by putting under our hands) to stay it up. As concerning them that be desperate, it sufficeth me if I may repress their malapertness, or at leastwise if I may bring to pass, that the infection of their poison may spread it self no further.

The Scripture muste néedes be ⟨p. 6⟩fulfilled, which hath tolde before that it shuld come so to passe. And I doo not looke that this my trauell shoulde woorke any other effect, than that their rage shoulde be more and more inflamed. But I haue respect to the weakelings, whose faith, as the wicked sort goe about to shake down. so it behoueth vs (as it were by puttinge vnder our handes) to stay it vp. As cōcerninge them that be desperate, it sufficeth me if I may represse their malapertnesse, or at leastwise if I may brynge to passe, that the infection of their poyson maye spred it selfe no further.

And forasmuch as what matter so ever a man entreateth of, distinctions are wont to give great light unto it, I will here make a brief distinction between the chief kinds of Offences, which have both troubled the course of the Gospel from the beginning, and also do hinder it at this day. Therefore of Offences, (if it seem good) let us call some inward, which (at leastwise as men suppose) spring of the Gospel it self: or although they grow otherwise, yet are they almost ever annexed unto it. And let us call other some ⟨image 18⟩outward, as springing out of heads altogether strange and removed from the Gospel. Of the first kind are those, that have their beginning as it were enclosed in the very doctrine of the Gospel. Paul sayeth, that the Gospel is foolishness to the worldly wise men. The which is true: not only because the homely and unpainted simplicity thereof is had in derision by them, but also because many things are therein contained, which to mans judgement are not only very absurd, but also very toys to laugh at. For whereas it is preached that the Son of God, who is eternal life, did take our flesh upon him, & became a mortal man: and that by his death was purchased unto us life, by his condemnation our righteousness, by his curse our salvation: it abhorreth so much from the common sense of men, that the sharper witted any man is, the sooner he casteth it of. And now seeing the Gospel spoileth us of all praise of wisdom, virtue, and righteousness, leaving nothing to us of our own but utter shame, it cannot otherwise be, but it must greatly offend us. For such is