Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…

besides that, they forbid the people the reading of it, they bear the world in hand, that they have observed so many and so many faults, when all men of learning and judgement know that the time wherein their errors were most palpable & rife, all kind of good learning was worn out, the knowledge of tongues decreased, they whom they most spited were the lighters of their Candles before all the world. For to themselves Hebrew letters though (as they say) ⟨image 4⟩they were as big as Oaks, yet they were Pitchforks and staples: and as for Greek, they were so far from understanding of it, that not one amongest a thousand could read it. I speak not of the latter times, for now good learning being brought to light, with the knowledge of the Gospel many of them have tinded their Candles at our lights, and many (thanks be to God) are converted, and more should be, had not God in his justice for their wicked Rebellion made the means fruitless, reserving them to a farther judgement.

besides that, they forbidde the people the reading of it, they beare the worlde in hande, that they haue obserued so manye and so manye faultes, when all men of learning and iudgement knowe that the time wherin their errors were most palpable & rife, all kind of good learning was worne out, the knowledge of tongues decreased, they whom they most spited were the lighters of their Candles before all the world. For to themselues Hebrewe letters though (as they say) ⟨image 4⟩they were as bigge as Okes, yet they were Pitchforkes and staples: and as for Greeke, they were so farre from vnderstanding of it, that not one amongest a thousande coulde reade it. I speake not of the latter times, for now good learning beeing brought to light, with the knowledge of the Gospel many of them haue tinded their Candles at our lights, and many (thankes be to God) are conuerted, and more should be, had not God in his iustice for their wicked Rebellion made the meanes fruitlesse, reseruing them to a farther iudgement.

But let us see, where they ever amended any thing they blamed. Their common translation hath bin amended by us, to which yet so obstinate they are, that all upon pain of the black curse in their conspiracy of Trent, must be bound only to hold them selves: when as in many places for their lives, they are not able to make any construction or sense of it. But the obscurer it was, the better liked of them, and the more to their profit: and therefore they kept it under & forbade the reading of it, lest the light thereof should discover their faults and filthy corruptions. And this is the principal cause that Calvin and such notable men are so ill liked, and with such violence condemned amongst them. But what should good men look for other of these blind Balamites, but such condemnation? The other sort are those, that having once tasted of the sweet doctrine of the Gospel, are yet through an indisciplinate kind of life, being also devoid of true humility, carried away from the sincerity of the trueth, some slugging still in dark ignorance, and foding them selves in their own persuasions, believing nothing but that which they can compass, & receiving nothing but that which standeth to the liking of their humours & gravelled consciences, following like Swine their own beastly and carnal appetites. These men would be awakened. And when the Lord shall open their eyes, they shall see that the profession