A17684:88
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
And double unthankful were we, if we put a veil wilfully before our faces, to blemish the sight of Gods favour toward his Church, when as God himself setteth a clear mirror thereof before our eyes.
And double vnthankfull were we, if we put a veyle wilfully before our faces, to blemish the sight of Gods fauour toward his Church, whē as God himselfe setteth a cléere mirrour thereof before our eyes.
Now there cannot almost any deformity of the Church be feigned so ugly to the sight of the world, as the banishment of Babylon. The cruel sacking of all things, the foul destroying & wasting of the Country, the casting down and defacing of the City by fire and fury of the enemy, the horrible overthrow of the Temple, the unworthy spoiling of the holy furniture thereof, how great liberty of vaunting might they give to the enemies? And the things that I have now reckoned, do show how arrogantly the Chaldees behaved themselves. By all likelihood the worshipping of God was everywhere railed and scoffed at in all mens mouths. Howbeit these things were but as certain preparatives. The people being led to Babylon, was ⟨p. 36⟩like a dead carcass as it were laid into the grave: saving that this difference there was, that the torn members were scattered asunder, least they should grow together again. There was no house of God any more, there was no Sanctuary, no inkling of God's service, no solemn assemblies, no nor so much as the name of a Church. And to the intent there should want no spite that might be devised, the holy vessels were set out for a show in their proud and unpure feasts. Yea and the cruelty was so outrageous, that it became treason to call upon God. But this so excessive heaping together of all mischiefs, maketh the power of God to appear more manifest in restoring the welfare of his people. First of all, in that Daniel and his fellows were from bondage advanced to such preeminence, as hath seldom been seen, to the intent they might somewhat relieve their miserable oppressed brethren: It is by this example apparent, that the Church even when it seemeth utterly abandoned, is nevertheless cared for of God. In that the three holy men