A17684:79
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
Such as are offended at the examples of Gods severity in this behalf, would be as ready to find fault with him, if he should hold his hand. But onlesse it grieve us to open our eyes, to whomsoever God at any time manifested himself, we shall see that they only were the let that their own felicity was not placed in safety to endure a long time and of great continuance: and that they became miserable through no other means, save their own fault. We know that Jerusalem was the Fountain from whence Salvation flowed into the uttermost bounds of the Earth. ⟨image 40⟩All the sayings of the Prophets had promised to it full instauration at the coming of Christ. Nevertheless it fell out far otherwise. For whereas it retained scarce a thin shadow of the ancient worthiness, it not only within a while after lost that that remained, but was utterly caste down also and made a waste wilderness. What is the reason that no man travelleth in seeking the cause of so monstrous a ruin, but that the desperate wickedness of that nation, doth openly cry out that the same was the cause thereof? Rome was never plagued with so many cruel slaughters in so short a time, as it hath been since the Gospel came thither. Howe came it to pass that the kingdom of Christ could have no steadfast continuance in that City, wherein the lawless lust of the commonalty had borne swing so long time? wherein wicked partakings had reigned? and at length also intolerable Tyrants had borne authority? Undoubtedly because that when God brought the Medicine of his Gospel thither, as the uttermost remedy against so many deadly ⟨p. 29⟩diseases, they like persons that had sworn their own destruction, proudly rejecting it, ceased not to fall from worse to worse. The very self same thing, we may mark in this our age. Within these few years when the Church being as it were new borne again, had had a glorious beginning, we saw it soon after slide down and carried back again. Howbeit before the Lord laid this punishment upon us, we saw the Gospel divers and sundry ways everywhere filthily abused: in so much that the sudden turning up of things that happened, is not so greatly to be wondered at, as Gods long sufferance in bearing with the prodigious wickedness of our time.
Suche as are offended at the examples of Gods seueritie in this behalfe, woulde be as readie to finde faulte with him, if he shoulde holde his hande. But onlesse it grieue vs to open our eies, to whomesoeuer God at any time manifested himselfe, we shall sée that they onely were the let that their own felicitie was not placed in saulftie to endure a longe time and of great continuance: and that they became miserable through no other meanes, saue their owne faulte. We knowe that Ierusalem was the Fountaine from whence Saluation flowed into the vttermoste boundes of the Earth.