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…

Now, in that safe-conduct is given by the King, that the Temple is builded again at the Kings cost, that men were forbidden to do the Jews wrong by proclamations under grievous penalties, we may be ashamed not to acknowledge God the author of these things, seeing they were miracles to so many unbelievers. It is not to be said how much the consideration hereof may avail to the furtherance & increase of our Faith. Whereby is convinced the unthankfulness of them, that in so well ordered a Theatre of the glory of God, do make to themselves a stumbling block to pitch upon. Moreover at their return ⟨p. 37⟩into their country, suddenly they were increased by wonderful means, as well in number of men as also in Riches. This also is no obscure miracle of Gods power, specially forasmuch as their enemies gave them no respite to recover. For we know they were besieged with so many enemylike hosts, as there were nations bordering round about them. But to the intent that under the Cross the extraordinary defence of God might shine the brighter, within a while after they were so trodden underfoot and forworn with continual mischiefs one in another's neck, that their utter destruction was apparent. Under the Empire of the Persians, albeit that their state was tolerable, yet notwithstanding like sheep appointed to the slaughter, they were now and then at the point to go to the shambles. Least Alexander should pour out his outrageous wrath upon them, he was restrained by warning from Heaven. But when he was dead, & the Kings of Syria and Egypt, like savage beasts burning in madness tare one another a pieces, and that there ⟨image 49⟩was no end of their outrage and cruelty one against another, who would have hoped that a nation lying in the midst between them, & set open to the lust of them both, should have continued long? And surely it could not have stand, being brought underfoot with so many and so great mischances, onlesse it had had God to keep it, & had been stayed up with his hand. At length under the cursed tyranny of Antiochus, being as it were drowned into a deep whirlpool, it had not so much as a sparkle more of light in all the whole world. All the country swimmed in innocent blood: Jerusalem was covered with horrible heaps of Carcasses, as it had been with pavement: In the temple was placed an abominable Idol:

Nowe, in that saulfe-conduct is giuen by the Kinge, that the Temple is builded againe at the Kinges coste, that men were forbidden to doo the Iewes wronge by proclamacions vnder greuous penalties, we may be ashamed not to acknowledge God the authour of these thinges, seinge they were miracles to so many vnbeleuers. It is not to be saide how much the consideration hereof may auaile to the furtherance & encrease of our Faith. Wherby is conuinced the vnthankefulnesse of them, that in so well ordered a Theatre of the glorie of God, doo make to thēselues a stumblingblocke to pitch vpon. Moreouer at their returne