A17684:78
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…
A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable. Translated out of Latin into English by Arthur Golding.A little booke of Iohn Caluines concernynge offences whereby at this daye diuers are feared, and many also quight withdrawen from the pure doctrine of the Gospell, a woorke very needefull and profitable. Translated out of Latine into Englishe by Arthur Goldinge.
London: printed by H. Wykes, 1567
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
some (to unworthily to speak of) defrauded God of his tenths and first fruits. Other some setting light, and neglecting the building of the Temple, were wholly occupied in making gay houses, & bestowed excessive costs thereabout. This was too to foul an unthankfulness, and such a one as every man must confess ought not to scape unpunished. And therefore, that they enjoyed not tranquillity and prosperous fortune any long time together, they themselves are in the fault. Now since the time that Christ the author of peace and of all good things showed himself to the world, men might assuredly have felt how certain and well founded the felicity of his eternal Kingdom is, if they would have suffered him to rest among them. ⟨image 39⟩But the world was never shaken with more cruel tempests of war, nor never drowned in so manifold & deep a sink of evils. The cause whereof is not hidden in such darkness, but that by searching it may easily be found out. At the time that Christ was borne, there was peace and singular quietness everywhere. Forty years after, or thereabouts, his Gospel was spread through divers coasts of the world. After it was published far and near, suddenly as though fortune had changed her copy, things began to be on a turmoil everywhere. And whereof came so sudden alteration, but that God for the contempt and refusal of his Gospel, how much the sooner, so much also the more manifestly, revenged so great unthankfulness. Therefore, when lewd men charged the name of Christ with whatsoever evil happened in those days, it was an easy matter for the godly teachers of the Church, to disprove their so trifling slanders. And why not? For when Kings and their people had despised the peace which God offered them, was it not right and reason, ⟨p. 28⟩that they should be set together by the ears, that one of them might wound another to the death? And what can continue in order among them, who refuse to submit themselves to God? I speak not only of the open enemies, which have wilfully strived against the wholesome doctrine of Godliness, but also of them that have professed them selves Christians, how coldly and disdainfully many of them, and with how false dissimulation othersome have kissed Christ.
some (to vnworthely to speake of) defrauded God of his tēthes and first fruites. Other some settinge light, and neglectyng the buildinge of the Temple, were wholy occupied in makinge gaye houses, & bestowed excessiue costes thereabout. This was too to foule an vnthankfulnesse, and suche a one as euery man must confesse ought not to scape vnpunished. And therfore, that they enioyed not tranquillitie and prosperous fortune any longe time togither, they themselues are in the faulte. Nowe since the time that Christe the author of peace and of all good thinges shewed himselfe to the worlde, men might assuredly haue felte how certaine and well fownded the felicitie of his eternall Kingedome is, if they would haue suffred him to reste amonge them.