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…

The ordinances of God being abolished, the Heathenish & unkindly ceremonies & customs of the Gentiles usurped the Sovereignty: all the holy books were thrown into the fire, to the intent that the truth of God should utterly pass out of the remembrance of men. Who durst ones open his lips? Nay, whosoever did but sigh for sorrow, and not rather defile himself with traitorous ⟨p. 38⟩dissimulation, he was forthwith drawn to the Butchery. The Maccabees with a handful that they had gathered together of themselves, lurked in caves of mountains, wandering in penury among the wild beasts. Notwithstanding, in that in so great an afterdeale, there remained yet a remnant of godly men which should afterward come abroad again, who can say but that they were preserved by the wonderful providence of God. In that the books of Moses & the Prophets escaped unhurt out of those flames, who can impute it to mans keeping? Finally the History of those times doth much more certainly testify unto us the providence of God in defending his Church, than if he had gloriously & stoutly triumphed over all people in the world. Other turmoils also that happened afterward, do set the same thing before our eyes to behold. For although that even to the coming of Christ, sometime by outward wars, sometime by inward discord, and sometime by the wickedness of Barbarous Princes, the Jews were continually vexed and racked as it had ⟨image 50⟩been upon a wheel: Yet notwithstanding it came to pass through the singular benefit of God, that the Church held her own still among these troublous turnings. Here may come to our remembrance so many holy men, yea and women, who were fain to swallow up the unworthy miseries that I have reckoned. Some that lived till they were very old, were driven of necessity to trace the long and manifold mazes of evils, and at the last to die sorrowfully, when they saw no end of them. Surely these were stumbling blocks that might put them out of the right race, and yet travelling through by faith, they followed constantly their vocation. Now therefore ought their hearty courage to be unto us not only as a wagon to ease us of our weariness, but also in stead of wings wherewith we may fly over the high rocks, and the bushy and cumbersome woods, and also all other steep & rough places.

The ordināces of God beyng abolished, ye Heathenish & vnkindely ceremonies & customes of the Gētiles vsurped the Soueraintie: al the holy bookes were throwen into the fire, to ye intent yt the truth of God should vtterly passe out of the remembraunce of men. Who durste ones open his lippes? Nay, whosoeuer did but sigh for sorrow, and not rather defile himself with traiterous