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…

But in that a small number of the Godly, with invincible constancy of faith, hath overcome so great waves of persecutions, that the Church hath out stood all the Tyrants and Heretics▪ and left unto posterity the true doctrine of the faith: this is surely a plain witness of the power of God, which excelleth all the glories of the world. So in the present calamity of the Church, there shineth no such dignity as may represent to mens eyes the heavenly kingdom of God: For the utterest enemies thereof oppressing it in very deed, and yet garnishing themselves with the title of it as it were with ⟨image 53⟩a spoil, do no less cruelly than proudly tread it under foot. If any man dare be so bold never so little to stir against their wickedness, by and by like terrible tormentors, with fire, sword, and all kind of torments they go nigh to chase the true Church out of the Earth. And if it chance to find any lurking holes, somewhile it is so assaulted with force of arms, another while so vexed with reproaches, & another while so tossed & turmoiled with threatenings, and dreadful attempts: that it representeth nothing less than that kinglike beauty of Christ so greatly commended of the Prophets. But seeing that by this their dreadful threatening, & outrageous cruel dealing, the ungodly cannot so much prevail, but that the Church of God under the lowliness of the Cross standeth steadfastly upright: why do we not in this wonderful preservation of God, willingly embrace his glory? If any skilful man would consider with himself, how many things the wicked sort have practised these thirty years together, to destroy it, he shall be compelled to wonder that it was not a hundred times ⟨p. 42⟩utterly destroyed. And now, whereas with in these two years it hath been pitifully rent, & the torn pieces thereof are yet almost in the Lions mouth, although it breaketh the hearts of many, yet the faithful shall in the end perceive, that God doth it to a right good purpose, to the intent he may stretch out his hand more manifestly in delivering it. For we are not wont to acknowledge it to be preserved by him unless he deliver it out of very death.

But in that a small number of the Godly, with inuincible constancie of faith, hath ouercome so great waues of persecutiōs, that the Churche hath out stoode all the Tyrannes and Heretikes▪ and lefte vnto posteritie the true doctrine of the faith: this is surely a plaine witnesse of the power of God, which excelleth all the glories of the worlde. So in the present calamitie of the Churche, there shineth no suche dignitie as may represent to mennes eyes the heauenly kingedome of God: For the vtterest enemies therof oppressinge it in very déede, and yet garnishinge themselues with the title of it as it were with