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…

We also if we understood what that saying meaneth, to see God in Heaven, whensoever he giveth the ungodly bridle, we being furnished with the same confidence that the Apostles were, shall carelessly laugh all the world to scorn, although they were in harness.

We also if we vnderstoode what that sayinge meaneth, to sée God in Heauen, whensoeuer he giueth the vngodly bridle, we beinge furnished with the same confidence that the Apostles were, shall carelesly laugh all the worlde to scorne, although they were in harnesse.

There follow Offences which the common people believe again to proceed of the doctrine: but in very deed are the proper & natural issue, either of lewdness, or of unskilfulness, or else of curiousness. ⟨image 56⟩The Scripture teacheth us in this wise of the corruption of our nature, that we bring with us a native viciousness and malice from our mothers womb: whereby it cometh to pass, that an evil tree cannot bring forth other than evil fruit, until we be new grafted again by the grace of Christ. Here mans reason gathereth, that men themselves are not only faultless while they sin, but also that the fault is justly to be ascribed to God, who createth them such, that they seem to be borne to sin. Let every man examine his own conscience, and he shall out of hand hold his peace. For there we shall find that which the Scripture so often testifieth, how that the lewdness which cleaveth in us, is the wellspring of all vices: and that we therefore commit all evils, because we do covet that which displeaseth God. How cometh it then to pass that they whom their own conscience findeth guilty within, do busily seek here and there for vain excuses to acquit themselves and others from the gilt? & not so content neither, do make God also accessory to their offence? If ⟨p. 45⟩they were not minded to deceive themselves wilfully to their own destruction, would they not condemn the vice which they see in themselves, rather than lay the fault thereof upon another body? But go to: forasmuch as they seek after a sort to have some cloak (such as it is) to hide their blasphemies with, let us show them at one word that they do shamelessly without any colour say evil. Shall he boast himself to be innocent, whom it is manifest to sin with his good will? when they have said all that they can, in the end we come to this point, that nothing is imputed unto them of God, save that which they do willingly. And what man under the Sun would quit them in wilful misdeeds. Now shall it not be free for God to condemn, that which men do lawfully condemn? But they stand in altercation with God, because he hath not given them a better mind & a uprighter hart: as who should say he had not given them so at the beginning. For the lewdness that reigneth in us, our learning imputeth not to Gods creation, but to the corruption of