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…

Anon after followed the bondage in Egypt, which had smally differed from an universal shipwreck, but that God put too his helping hand in time. I will omit the reproach & over grievous burdens that were laid upon them, in that they were kept like slaves to most vile and filthy works: and that they were oppressed with such excessive miseries, that they had much ado to take breathe. But when Pharaoh had commanded all that issue male to be utterly destroyed, who would not have said that the matter lay a bleeding? The Midwives lied, to the intent they would not become furtherers of the kings cruelty. Finally Moses himself who afterward should be the deliverer of the people, was put in a wicker basket, and cast at the bank of the river. The welfare of the whole Nation lay in despair, and the very name of them seemed to be utterly blotted out. Howe wonderful then shall we judge this miracle of God, that they which might have ⟨image 44⟩been ten times consumed, do not only remain safe, but also do accomplish those incredible proceedings whereof Moses maketh report. But here the lewdness of man showeth it self to malicious, in regarding the works of God. For if they hear of any thing greater than they can conceive, done by God for the help of his Church, they reject it as a Fable. What so ever is common and otherwise customable, they despise it, affirming it either to have happened by chance, or at leastwise to have been brought to pass by mans power and policy. If the state of the Church be less prosperous & joyful than they look for, by & by they take occasion thereat to be offended. And therefore because Moses reporteth that the grievous and slavish work of brickmaking was laid upon the wretched Jews as it had been upon brute beasts: that their issue male was from the mothers womb delivered, cruelly called for to be slain to death: that they fled privily away by […] out of order with Jewels that they had borrowed, like a sort of rascals: all this seemeth unto many an ⟨p. 33⟩uncomely thing and against the honour of the Church.

Anon after followed the bondage in Egipt, whiche had smally differed from an vniuersall shipwrecke, but that God put too his helpinge hande in time. I will omitte the reproche & ouer grieuous burdens that were layed vppon them, in that they were kepte like slaues to moste vile and filthie woorkes: and that they were oppressed with suche excessiue miseries, that they had muche adoo to take breathe. But when Pharao had cōmaunded all yt issue male to be vtterly destroyed, who would not haue saide that ye matter lay a bléeding? The Midwiues lied, to the entēt they would not become furtherers of the kinges crueltie. Finally Moyses himself who afterwarde should be the deliuerer of ye people, was put in a wicker basket, and cast at the banke of the riuer. The welfare of the whole Nation lay in despayre, and the very name of them séemed to be vtterly blotted out. Howe wonderfull then shall we iudge this miracle of God, that they which might haue