A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Now when men have spilt ⟨p. 408⟩blood, defiled the marriage bed, provoked heaven with rapes, treasons, depopulations, blasphemies; what, have they then done the will of God? Indeed, in respect of his hidden purpose they have done his will, spite of all their malicious […] sworn contradictions. For De his qui faciunt quae non vult, facit ipse quae vult. Upon them that will not do as he would have it, he will do himself as he would […] it. But in respect of themselves the wicked have done what God willed not, for […] commanded the contrary; and hath expressed that will in his word.

Now when men have spilt ⟨p. 408⟩bloud, defiled the marriage bed, provoked heaven with rapes, treasons, depopulations, blasphemies; what, have they then done the will of God? Indeed, in respe•t of his hidden purpose they have done his will, spight of all their malicious 〈…〉 sworne contradictions. For De his qui faciunt quae non vult, facit ipse quae vult. Vpon them that will not doe as he would have it, he will doe himselfe as he would 〈…〉 it. But in respect of themselves the wicked have done what God willed not, for 〈…〉 commanded the contrary; and hath expressed that will in his word.

But yet he wills their destruction, therefore they bring it not on themselves? G•• found them revolted to sin, indisposed to believe, and so he leaves them: he […] not give them faith, he needs not, he is not bound to it. This is Gods hardening Nolle emollire, when he will not soften. His making blind is Nolle illuminare, whe• he will not enlighten. His casting off is Nolle vocare, when he will not call ho Neither is this only a mere permission; for their is a degree of some forwarder disposition in God concerning the actions of unrighteous men, than a bare toleration There is great difference between these speeches; Non vult, and Vult non: between he hath not a will to do it; and, he hath a will not to do it. The former arg […] careless neglect, this a bent and resolved decree. A poor man asketh alms, so are not willing to relieve him, as not weighing his necessity: another hath a will not […] do it, a determinate refusal of mercy. This is then the conclusion; Multi […] laberentur detenti, nulli ut laberentur impulsi: God lifteth many up, there are […] whom he properly casteth down. Ab illo est quòd statur, a nobis quòd ruitur: b him we stand, we fall off our selves. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy self; if the be any help, it is in me. Indeed it is my hand of justice that strikes, but thou by thy wickedness didst draw out the sword, and put the arrow into my bended bow: thy pestilent and stinking sins have conflated the plague wherewith I strike thee. Go would have spared them, they would not be spared; Accelerant sibi; They bring destruction on themselves; and still Thou continuest holy, Oh thou worship of Israel.