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…

Among so many thousand men as to outward appearance had very gladly denied the Pope, and professed themselves Gospellers: how few I beseech you, fell to amendment of their vices? Nay rather what did the greater part pretend, but that when the yoke of superstition was shaken of, they might more licentiously give themselves to all carnal liberty? Albeit therefore that they confessed ⟨image 41⟩the doctrine of the Gospel to be true, yet where was there one among a number, that submitted his neck under the awe thereof? Was not this as much in effect, as to tread under foot the inestimable treasure of our Salvation? And surely the sharpness of the punishment that ensued so wicked a contempt, ought rather to put us in remembrance of the preciousness thereof, than to engender in our minds absurd opinions of the casual afflictions of the Church. But rather it is to be wondered at, considering our so great unthankfulness, that any part of the work remaineth which God hath begun.

Amonge so many thousande men as to outward appearance had very gladly denied the Pope, and professed themselues Gospellers: how fewe I beseche you, fell to amendement of their vices? Nay rather what did the greater part pretende, but that when the yoke of superstition was shaken of, they might more licentiously giue themselues to all carnall libertie? Albeit therefore that they confessed ⟨image 41⟩the doctrine of the Gospell to be trew, yet where was there one amonge a number, that submitted his necke vnder the awe thereof? Was not this as muche in effecte, as to treade vnder foote the inestimable treasure of our Saluation? And surely the sharpnesse of the punishement that ensued so wicked a contempt, ought rather to put vs in remembraunce of the preciousnesse thereof, than to engendre in our mindes absurde opinions of the casuall afflictions of the Churche. But rather it is to be wondered at, considerynge our so great vnthankfulnesse, that any parte of the woorke remaineth which God hath begonne.

Now will I return to my purpose, from whence I have by little and little made digression: That God is hereby better known to be the keeper of this Church, because it hath always been miserably vexed, than if it had flourished among the greatest commodities, in peaceable joy and tranquillity. At such time as the name of God was begun to be called upon in the household of Seth, (as Moses declareth) no doubt but the Offspring