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…

Wherefore let not their astonishment be a stumbling block to us, but rather let us be carried from the human nature of Christ, to the glory of his Godhead, which may turn all curious questions into admiration: let us de directed from the death of Christ, to his glorious Resurrection, which may wipe away all the slander of his Cross: let us pass from the weakness of the flesh to the pour of the Spirit, which may swallow up all foolish thoughts. Sure it is that Paul was endowed with such an understanding, when he said thus: I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the pour of God to the salvation of them that believe. For by these words he meaneth that none are ⟨p. 15⟩ashamed of the Gospel, but such as take not hold of the healthful power thereof: moreover he declareth by and by after, that it cannot otherwise be taken hold of, than when the wrath of God is made manifest to our destruction. Who can now marvel, that meat hath no favour with them, that have no taste? For who so ever is so astonied, ye he sleepeth soundly being touched with no revelation of the wrath of God, he differeth nothing in the acknowledging of Christ, from such as in discerning of savours, have their taste taken from them. As for such men, we are not wont to pass so much of them, that any of us would therefore loth our meat, because they refuse it. But this kind of Offence, which riseth likewise out of the doctrine, is more violent and more common: because that whereas of Nature we like well of our selves, and would have all our own things to be had in high estimation: we find nothing left unto us there, saving utter poverty of all good things. For there all the wisdom of men is condemned of folly, and their righteousness & virtue is brought ⟨image 27⟩to a thing of naught. Now this thing seemeth so intolerable to our proud flesh, that for very spite they gnash their teeth, as many as have not learned to deny them selves. For men are ever desirous to keep somewhat of their own: & albeit that in some behalf, they give place to God against their wills, yet they can by no means abide, that all should be taken from them at ones. At the beginning they seem very wise: they are puffed up with trust in their own power: & they like well of their own righteousness. Afterward being admonished by God:

Wherefore let not their astonishment be a stumblinge blocke to vs, but rather let vs be carried from the humaine nature of Christe, to the glorie of his Godhead, whiche maye turne all curious questions into admiration: let vs de directed from the death of Christe, to his glorious Resurrection, whiche may wipe away all the slaunder of his Crosse: lette vs passe from the weakenesse of the fleshe to the poure of the Spirite, whiche may swallow vp all foolishe thoughtes. Sure it is that Paule was endewed with suche an vnderstandinge, when he saide thus: I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christe, for it is the poure of God to the saluation of them that beléeue. For by these woordes he meaneth that none are