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…

Of the Offence that springeth of the sharpness & painfulness of the Cross, and the severity of the doctrine, our Lord speaketh in the Parable, where he likeneth the Gospel unto sowing of corn. For, such as fail when persecution approacheth, he likeneth to the corn that sprang up, but had no root. And those in whom the doctrine is choked with cares of this world, he likened to corn grown up among thorns, which hinder his fruitfulness and ripping. These kinds of Offences do somewhat differ: howbeit for avoiding tediousness, I comprehend them both under one kind. We hear Christ tell all his Disciples, that every of them must take up his cross. We hear him exhorting them to abide all kind of hatred, dangers, and reproaches for his names sake: We hear him give warning, that it cannot otherwise come to pass, but that we shall be hated of the ungodly, and that afflictions must follow us continually in this world. We hear him declaring, that all they are blessed, which suffer persecution for the truths sake. This is the greatest stumbling block ⟨image 31⟩that may be to flesh and blood. For of nature, we fear the Cross all of us. And therefore many for this cause do start back, who else would willingly embrace the Son of God, if they could sever him from the Cross. But whereof cometh this Offence, but of our own tenderness? Christ commandeth us to die with him, that we might be partakers of his life: by accompanying him in his Passions, he is minded to bring us to his glory. It is no unequal condition, if there were any equity in us. But many would fain have Christ, to be a glorious Christ, burying the mention of his Cross, which cannot be. And yet not contented therewith, they lay the fault which is in them selves, upon the pure Doctrine. So in times paste, the Capernaites cried out that the saying of Christ was hard, when the hardness was in themselves and not in the saying: Do we marvel if the Son of God would have his Disciples hearty, and not meycockes and womanlike? Do we marvel if he would have his Antesignes ⟨p. 20⟩carried by them, and command them to fight under his banner? Next cousin unto this disease, is that other whereof I have spoken.

Of the Offence that springeth of the sharpenesse & painefulnesse of the Crosse, and the seueritie of the doctrine, our Lord speaketh in the Parable, where he likeneth the Gospell vnto sowynge of corne. For, suche as fayle when persecution approcheth, he likeneth to the corne that sprange vp, but had no roote. And those in whome the doctrine is choked with cares of this worlde, he likened to corne growē vp amonge thornes, whiche hinder his fruitefulnesse and ripinge. These kindes of Offences doo somewhat differ: howbeit for auoiding tediousnes, I comprehende them both vnder one kinde. We heare Christe tell all his Disciples, that euery of thē must take vp his crosse. We heare him exhortinge them to abide all kinde of hatred, daungers, and reproches for his names sake: We heare him giue warninge, that it cannot otherwise come to passe, but that we shalbe hated of the vngodly, and that afflictiōs muste follow vs continually in this world. We heare him declaryng, that all they are blissed, which suffer persecution for the truthes sake. This is the greatest stumblinge blocke