A17684:97
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A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are feared, and many also quite withdrawn from the pure doctrine of the Gospel, a work very needful and profitable.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.
We have seen in one nation more ungodly and wicked backslidings from Christ, within two years space, than the histories of all times and all nations make mention of else where. How unuincible the strength of faith is where the hearts are sustained by the virtue of the spirit, it is made manifest in others. The Heroical haughtiness of heart which the Lord hath set forth to be seen of all ages in one man being vanquished and taken prisoner, would never have been believed but by such trial of the Cross. Certain other ⟨image 55⟩notable examples of the same sort which I could readily rehearse, I pass over for the nonce. But let every man weigh with himself these and innumerable such others. They say that now women are led unto death, to the intent that not only men, but also whole peoples should have the less pardon, who for the gain of a small interest of transitory peace in the world, have not sticked to deny the Son of God the author of eternal life, and to deprive themselves of his heavenly kingdom. Finally, the Lord himself knows best how much those things shall profit them, which now are commonly counted for great evils. It is our duty to take with stout courages what so ever calamities happen, hoping for such issue as is to be wished for at the Lords hand: and always to ground our selves upon this point, that how so ever the Church is pressed for a time, our most dear Father which taketh singular care thereof, will never suffer that it be overwhelmed and decay. If Christ must bear rule in the midst of his enemies, (as by ⟨p. 44⟩the witness of the holy Ghost is testified long ago,) his kingdom cannot be among us without a kind of warfare and continual strife. If we be like sheep, appointed to the slaughter, and that our adversaries burn in woodness like Wolves: Let that precept of the Lord come to our remembrance, that we must possess our souls in patience, until such time as he may make perfect his strength in our weakness. Surely the Apostles were in no happier case, when they cried out boldly, why do the Heathen so furiously rage, and why do the people imagine vain things?
We haue seene in one nation mo vngodly and wicked backeslidinges from Christe, within two yéeres space, than the histories of all times and all nations make mention of els where. How vnuincible the strength of faith is where the hartes are susteined by the vertue of the spirit, it is made manifest in others. The Heroicall haultenesse of harte whiche the Lorde hath set foorth to be séene of all ages in one man beynge vanquished and taken prisoner, woulde neuer haue bene beleued but by such triall of the Crosse. Certaine other