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, to the intent we may proceed to the curing of Offences of this sort, is it meet I should frame a new proving from point to point, of the opinions which are not delightful to mans reason? In good faith that were an endless matter, seeing those things may be fetched both out of mine and out of other men's travels. And besides that, it were an unprofitable labour, to allege the testimonies of the Scriptures for this purpose. For what shall it avail me to declare the divinity of Christ plainly out of the Scripture, to such kind of men. Verily they will boldly reject what so ever I shall bring. Yea rather this is a cause why they reject all the whole Scripture, by reason that in their opinion, it seemeth to be an absurdity, as often as they meet with any thing that liketh them not. And therefore they seem then most wise in their own conceits, when they laugh our simplicity to scorn, in that by assured faith we embrace those things, which not only want proof to the outward ⟨p. 11⟩senses, but are also to mans judgement incredible. What idiot (say they) would suffer himself to be persuaded, where he seeth no reason to lead him. To foolish were I, if I would stand in contention with them, by such reasons as the sharpness of mans wit attaineth too. For whereas we believe that Christ was manifested to be God in the flesh: Paul confesseth the same to be a mystery, far removed from all perseverance of man. What then if they would object unto us that it were an absurdity, and that we out of hand did readily wash our hands of it, in such sort that they should be compelled to stand dumb, onlesse they would impudently bark against us: yet could I not bring to pass, but that they would count us more dull headed than any Idiots, that would hang only upon the bare Scriptures, in the debating of so weighty matters. Wherefore I will turn me to those that are tempted with such kind of stumbling blocks, but are nevertheless as yet curable.

Now, to the intent we may procéede to the curing of Offences of this sorte, is it méete I should frame a newe prouinge from point to point, of the opiniōs which are not delightfull to mans reason? In good faith that were an endlesse matter, seinge those thinges may be fetched both out of mine and out of othermēs trauels. And besides that, it were an vnprofitable labour, to alledge the testimonies of the Scriptures for this purpose. For what shall it auayle me to declare the diuinitie of Christe plainely out of the Scripture, to suche kinde of men. Uerely they will boldely reiect what so euer I shall bryng. Yea rather this is a cause why they reiect all the whole Scripture, by reason that in their opinion, it semeth to be an absurditie, as often as they méete with any thinge that liketh them not. And therfore they séeme then moste wise in their owne conceites, when they laughe our simplicitie to skorne, in that by assured faith we embrace those thinges, whiche not onely wante proofe to the outwarde