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…

and finally that he could not otherwise abide in the world alive, except he departed out of the world. When God had after a sort renewed the world, now putting up the head out of the flood, there followed within a while after a greater and more noisome flood ⟨p. 31⟩of ungodliness, which overwhelmed all Nations. Neither was this of ten months: but raging a long continuance of years, it gathered such strength, that the very household of Shem the holy treasurehouse of God, had like to have been swallowed up, but that Melchizedek with a few other retaining the pure worshipping of God, stood upright and not deceived among innumerable waves: which was the only way for him to swim to land. God to the intent to save Abraham, was fain to lead him out of the deep whirlpool of Idolatry. Moreover being brought into the land which was appointed for his inheritance, he so wandered in it, that one while he was driven to make contention for water, and another while he was fain to remove otherwhere for the famine. In the Courts of two Kings, he could find none other shift to avoid the danger of death, than by setting as it were to the spoil, his own wife more dear to him than his life. The same, and also more sharp troubles, did his Son and his Sons Son endure daily ⟨image 43⟩among cruel and savage people, as it were among wild beasts, not without peril of their lives. Certainly he must be worse than stark blind, that doth not plainly behold the hand of God, in the defence of their welfare. And it is not without cause, that David giveth a singular commendation to this aid of God, whereby they were in faulfgarde: when he saith, that Kings were forbidden to hurt the Lords anointed, or to trouble his Prophets. They were few in number: they were aliens and unknown men: they wandered like Pilgrims from place to place, they were environed round about with falsehearted and outrageous people: they had no moment of time free from some new kind of danger. I confess this was a disdainful sight for proud men, and almost shameful to. How be it as I said before, In this disdainfulness as it had been in a Glass, did better appear God's extraordinary defending his Church.

and finally that he coulde not otherwise abide in the worlde aliue, except he departed out of the worlde. When God had after a sort renewed the worlde, nowe putting vp the head out of the floud, there followed within a while after a greater and more noysome floud