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…

Both of them ran with might and main to assault the Gospel: but the Jews ran more furiously: whereby it might manifestly appear, that nothing is more spiteful than the Hypocrites. Of this Offence Christ him self speaketh generally: when he sayeth, that the children of this world do hate the light of the Gospel, least their evil works should appear. For were the Gospel put away, then as though the light were clearly quenched, ⟨p. 17⟩the deceitful and transitory wisdom of the flesh shineth in darkness, and reigneth like a Prince: and counterfeit holiness spreadeth her wings proudly every way about her. But as soon as Christ the only Sun of righteousness, with the brightness of his Gospel showeth him self, those things which heretofore occupied the chief room of honour, do not only vanish away, but are as little set by as dung. This verily is the ground of all their grief: This is that stumbling block, whereof Paul speaketh in another place, that going about to stablish their own righteousness, they have not been subject to the righteousness of God. Which thing also we see this day by experience. For ye shall see few that are puffed up with the persuasion of their own righteousness, but they be obstinate enemies of the truth. As for the Hypocrites, they rage against it like mad dogs, even to the death. And what other cause had Bunell to turn from the Gospel, but that being a man borne to ostentation, and standing to much in his own conceit, he could ill abide to ⟨image 29⟩be made fellowlike with his inferiors? This one man I have named for examples sake, would God he had not many like unto him. But what is there for us to do? Let us suffer them to fall against the stumbling stone, that the like may happen to them, that happened in times paste to the Jews: while they endeavour to stablish their own righteousness (saith S. Paul) they are exempted from the righteousness of God, and so it cometh to pass, that they perish in their own blindness. Let us, I say, offer our selves empty and naked unto Christ willingly, to the intent he may fill us with his goodness, and clothe us with his glory, & then shall this kind of stumbling block be abolished.

Both of thē ranne with might and mayne to assaulte the Gospell: but the Iewes ranne more furiously: whereby it might manifestly appere, that nothinge is more spightfull than the Hypocrites. Of this Offence Christ him selfe speaketh generally: whē he saieth, that the children of this world doo hate the light of the Gospell, least their euill woorkes should appere. For were the Gospell put awaye, then as though the light were cléerely quenched,