An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

Where ye reply with that it lieth not in mans will or running,¹ but in the mercy of God, I answer, by the same sentence that we may both will and run, which is contrary to your hole purpose and doctrine,§1 and yet sayeth the Apostle, our salvation dependeth of the mercy of God, for it is his free gift. The Gentiles which for their, wickedness were reject of God, in vain should they either will or run without God extended his mercy towards them, as he doeth now presently, Like as on the other side the Jews which for their sins be now abject, in vain should they either will or run without it pleased God to extend his mercy over them, as he shall do after that the fullness of the Gentiles become in, as witnesseth Paul▪ ²for there we must under stand that when it pleased God to offer us his mercy, yet without we ⟨p. 148⟩§2both will and run, we shall not obtain the reward, notwithstanding neither for our willing or running, are we worthy to receive salvation. for it is the free gift of God, which he giveth to us only §3for his own mercies sake. God offered salvation to Jerusalem not for the deserving, but of his mercy, yet obtained they not salvation, because they would neither will nor run. As Christ sayeth, how often would I have gathered thy children, as the hen doeth her chickens, and thou wouldest not, so the scribes and the