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…

The care of this present world carrieth thee away: and that is because thou hast no taste of the world to come. Covetousness burneth thee: verily because thou knowest not yet, which are the true riches. Thou art drowned with ambition: because undoubtedly thou knowest not to glory in the Lord. Gluttony, fleshly lust, pomp, or other vain delights entice thee to forget thy God: and that cometh to pass, because as yet thou art ignorant of that sweetness, which the Prophet testifieth to be laid up for them that fear God. Finally, it is no marvel though there be few true Christians to be found, because there are few that have learned that Christ is so much worth, that all things else are to be counted as dung. But another place ⟨image 33⟩will serve better for exhortations. Here I must so entreat of Offences, that it may appear to whom they ought of right to be imputed. But why do I make such a disputing of every mans private miseries, seeing the state of the universal Church doth contain in it far greater occasion of Offence? First, it never shineth with such outward beauty, that the senses of men may discern therein the kingdom of God. Secondly, if it happen at any time to grow to some mean state, by and by it is either oppressed with the violence of Tyrants, or it decayeth of the own accord: so that it continueth but a very small time. Hereupon it cometh to pass, that in all ages proud men did either despise, or slanderously misreport the true Religion. We see how arrogantly Cicero taunteth the law of God, because the Jews had so ill success. By this one man ye may give judgement at all. And to the intent I digress not to far, what is the cause that many at this day abhor the sincere profession of the Gospel? but that they see us to be few in number, and of small authority, ⟨p. 22⟩and of no power at all: whereas they wonder to see all things contrary on the behalf of our adversaries. And surely as the world goeth now a days, it is no marvel though the state of the Church being so misordered as it is, do fear them away: and that the gloriousness that shineth in our adversaries do dazzle their eyes. But none other do stumble at this Stone, neither doth this stumbling block keep any back, saving such as acknowledge not the kingdom of Christ to be Spiritual.

The care of this present worlde carrieth thée away: and that is bicause thou hast no taste of the worlde to come. Couetousnesse burneth thée: verely bicause thou knowest not yet, which are the true riches. Thou arte drowned with ambition: bicause vndoubtedly thou knowest not to glorie in the Lorde. Gluttonie, fleashly luste, pompe, or other vaine delightes entice thée to forget thy God: and that cometh to passe, bicause as yet thou art ignorant of that swéetenesse, whiche the Prophete testifieth to be layed vp for them that feare God. Finally, it is no maruell though there be fewe true Christians to be founde, bicause there are few that haue learned that Christe is so much woorthe, that all thinges els are to be counted as dunge. But another place