Albeit that ye be so blinded that ye can put no difference betwixt the foreknowledge,1 will, and power of God, which all are perfect in him self, as is his eternal God head, and the foreknowledge, will, and power of man or creatures which he imperfect and weak by reason of mans corruption, yet I doubt n•t but that all reasonable men shall suddenly espy your vanity, who dare be so bold as to affirm that because your knowledge was not the cause that Paul was a persecutor, that therefore the foreknowledge of God, his eternal purpose counsel and will which we, never separate, did no more in that matter, then did your bare knowledge. by the same reason ye may conclude • t God wrought no more with Paul in preaching to the Gentiles, than did your knowledge, for the reason is a like strong. But he him self, will not be so unthankful, but will confess that from his mothers womb he set him a part,2 and called him by his grace to the end that he might reveal his Son Christ Jesus by him:3 for the which he unfeignedly thanked the goodness of God, who made him strong in Christ Jesus to be faithful in that office,4 and ministry, I am not ignorant that other ways doeth God work in the hearts of his elect, the work of their salvation, and other ways in the reprobate. for in the hearts of his elect effectually and by the power of his spirit doeth he so work in them the motions that be agreeable to his holy commandments, that they strive and contend against their natural corruption: but justly leaving the reprobate to them selves and to satan their father, they willingly follow without all violence or compulsion of gods part, iniquity ⟨p. 121⟩and sin: and so finally the way of perdition to the which •hey naturally are inclined. But yet if any will affirm that therefore gods fore knowledge doeth but Idly behold that they will do, and that in his eternal purpose, counsel and will, he will one thing, and they will an other, so that their will prevail against his, he shall not escape the crime of horrible blasphemy, as before I have said, and here §2after also must more largely entreat. Of your knowledge what shall come in Julie and of your liberty to write I only answer this: that albeit God did not compel you to write, for there to your wicked will was bent:
Albeit that ye be so blinded that ye can put no difference betwext the foreknowledge,1 will, and power of God, which all are perfect in him self, as is his eternall God head, and the foreknowledge, will, and power of man or creatures which he imperfect and weak by reason of mā nes corruption, yet I doubt n•t but that all reasonable men shall sodanly espie your vanitie, who dare be so bold as to affirme that because your knowledge was not the cause that Paul was a persecutor, that therefor the foreknowledge of God, his eternal purpose coūsell and will wc we, neuer seperate, did no more in that mater, then did your bare knowledge. by the same reason ye may conclude • t God wroght no more wt Paule in preaching to the Gentiles, thē did your knowledge, for ye reasō is a lik strōg. But he him self, will not be so vn•hankfull, but will confesse that from his mothers wombe he set him a parte,2 and called him by his grace to the end that he might reuele his Sonne Christ Iesus by him:3 for the which he vnfeanedly thanked the goodnes of God, who made him strong in Christ Iesus to be faithfull in that office,4 and ministerie, I am not ignorāt that other waies doeth God worke in the heartes of his elect, the work of their saluation, and other waies in the reproba•e. for in the heartes of his elect effectually and by the power of his spirit doeth he so worke in them the motions that be aggreable to his holie commandments, that they striue and contend against their natural corruption: but iustly leauing the reprobate to them selues and to sathā their father, they willingly folow without all violence or compulsion of gods parte, iniquitie ⟨p. 121⟩and sinne: and so finally the way of perdition to the which •hey naturally are inclyned. But yet if any will affirme that therefor gods fore knowledge doeth but Idly behold that they will do, and that in his eternall purpose, counsell and will, he will one thing, ād they will an other, so that their will preuale against his, he shall not escap the cryme of horrible blasphemy, as before I haue said, ād here §2
- 1To the 1.
- 2Galat. 1.
- 31 Tim. 1
- 4God worketh both in his elect, and in the reprobate but in diu•rse manner.God worketh both in his elect, and in the reprobate but in diu•rse maner.
