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…

For such unto whom neither the stable wherein Christ was borne, nor the Cross whereon he hung, is a let to worship him as their King: they shall never despise the lowly state of his Church. All men confess in word, and of necessity must confess, that it is most agreeable to reason, that in the form of the Church, as it were in a Glass, should appear the lively Image of Christ. And when Paul reasoneth of the similitude of the head and the members in the sufferance of the Cross, all men agree ⟨image 34⟩thereto. When he sayeth we must all die with Christ, that we may be partakers of his life, no man speaketh against him. When all the whole Scripture compareth this present life to a warfare, and teacheth that it is full of divers sorts of conflicts, they consent that all this is true and right: and therefore the name of the Militant Church is so commonly known, that ye shall hear it even in children's mouths. But as soon as it cometh to the pith of the matter, as though they had forgotten all things, they shun the image of Christ, as it were some monster that they never heard of. Howbeit, if their longing should be granted them, that the Church should by all means enjoy prosperity, that it should flourish in wealth and power, that it should have continual peace, and finally that it should want nothing that might make the state thereof most fortunate and happy, should it not appear to be an earthly kingdom? And then the Spiritual kingdom of Christ were to be sought for else where. Or rather the Church should be utterly separated from the head. ⟨p. 23⟩But let us remember, that the outward show of the Church is so contemptible, to the intent her beauty should shine inwardly: & that it wavereth so on earth, to the intent it should have a steadfast seat in Heaven: and that it lieth so torn and ruinous before the world, to the intent it should stand sound and flourish before God and his Angels: and that it is so miserable in the flesh, to the intent it should the rather have her felicity laid up in the spirit. In this wise when Christ lay despised in the Ox stall, the Angels song his excellency in the clouds: the Star in Heaven bare witness of his glory: the wise men perceived his power in a country far of.

For suche vnto whome neyther the stable wherein Christe was borne, nor the Crosse whereon he hunge, is a lette to woorshippe him as their Kinge: they shall neuer despise the lowly state of his Churche. All menne confesse in woorde, and of necessitie muste confesse, that it is moste agreable to reason, that in the forme of the Churche, as it were in a Glasse, shoulde appeare the liuelie Image of Christe. And when Paule reasoneth of the similitude of the head and the members in the sufferance of the Crosse, all men agrée