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…

But I should take in hand as it were to lade out the Sea, if I would search out and rehearse in order, all causes of Offences, which wretched men make to them selves out of the doctrine of the Scripture, to their own destruction. For they stumble, not only through rashness when they meet with any difficult thing, but they make their vagaries ⟨p. 18⟩wilfully and of set purpose through all the rough places, as though they had none other pleasure, but to weary their wit about crabbed questions. What so ever hath any likelihood of absurdity be it never so little, that gather they busily and sift it narrowly, least they should seem over light of credit. Also if there be any likelihood of disagreement & contrariety, as there seemeth to be in many places of Scripture, that catch they hold on greedily, and heaping together all such manner of testimonies, they make a boasting of their own sharp wit. This kind of men are troubled with a disease almost incurable. For whereas they are ashamed to be ignorant in any thing, yet may they find in their harts to learn nothing. But forasmuch as with their bragging they many times wound the consciences of the simple, & such as otherwise would be apt enough to be taught, it is needful to touch this part of offending lightly in few words: not because they can be removed with few words, against whom a long volume would not suffice. But first & formest we ⟨image 30⟩are all to be warned, that in reading of Scriptures we keep that way, which the spirit of God showeth: which assuredly shall be plain and level unto such as aspire to Christewarde. Secondly that we covet not to be, or to seem to be witty, in writing knots of questions. Lastly, that we do not by and by caste it up, if we find any thing unknown or dark to us. This is a vice worthy no small rebuke, that the ignorance of many, makes them by and by to burst out into loathing. But surely he giveth small reverence unto God, which denieth it to be his word, whatsoever his wit doth not reach unto. For what else is this? than to measure Gods infinite wisdom by our small capacity of understanding, which were as much as to measure the whole world with one finger. But if we grant the Scripture to have proceeded from God, let us not marvel that many things are contained therein, which are far above our capacity.

But I should take in hande as it were to lade out the Sea, if I woulde searche out and reherse in order, all causes of Offences, whiche wretched men make to them selues out of the doctrine of the Scripture, to their owne destruction. For they stumble, not onely throughe rashnesse when they méete with any difficulte thinge, but they make their vagaries