that he is a God that would not iniquity, but rather in ordaining the fall of man, his end and purpose was good and most right,1 from the which the name of sin abhorreth. howbeit I say that so he hath ordained the fall of man that I utterly deny him to be the author of sin. Let the indifferent reader judge with equity: if justly we be accused of that blasphemy, which so openly we abhor. but yet in the same book he bringeth forth a testimony of Augustine who thus writeth, These be the great works of God (sayeth Augustine) brought to pass in all his wills,2 and so wisely brought to pass that while the nature of Angel and man had sinned, that is, had done not that which he that is God would, but that which the self (meaning the creature) would: yet not the less by the same will of the creature, by the which that was done, which the creator would not, did he fulfil that which he would, he being infinitely good, using well those things that were evil, to the damnation of them, whom he justly had appointed to pain, and to the salvation of those whom mercifully he had predestinate to grace. In so far as to them pertained they did the thing which God wo•d not: but as appertaining to gods omnipotency they might by no means have done that, for even in that, that they did against the will of God, the will of God was done in them, and therefore great are the ⟨p. 156⟩works of the Lord (brought to pass in all his wills) that by a wondrous and unspeakable manner, that thing should not be done without his will, that yet is don against his will. fo• it should not be done if he did not suffer it. And of a trueth he suffered it not unwillingly, but willingly. And a little before saint Augustin sayeth, it is not to be doubted, but that God doeth well, permitting those things to be done which are evil. for he suffered not this, but in his just judgement. Albeit therefore that these things which be evil in so far as they are evil, are not good, yet nevertheless it is good, that not only good things, but also that evil things be. for if that this were not good that evil things should be, by no means should they be permitted to be by the omnipotent good, to whom no doubt, it is a like easy not to suffer the thing which he will not to be, as to do that thing which he will:
that he is a God that wold not iniquitie, but rather in ordeining the fall of mā, his ēd and purpose was good and most right,1 frome the which the name of sinne abhorreth. howbeit I say that so he hath ordeined the fall of man that I vtterly denie him to be the author of sinne. Let the indifferent reader iudge with equitie: if iustly we be accused of that blasphemie, which so openlie we abhorre. but yet in the same book he bringeh furth a testimonie of Augustine who thus writeth, These be the great workes of God (saieth Augustine) broght to passe in all his willes,2 and so wisely broght to passe that whill the nature of Angell and man had sinned, that is, had done not that which he that is God wold, but that which the self (meaning the creature) wold: yet not the les by the same will of the creature, by the which that was done, which the creator wold not, did he fulfill that which he wold, he being infinitely good, vsing well those thīges that were euil, to the damnation of them, whom he iustly had appointed to paine, and to the saluation of those whom mercifully he had predestinate to grace. In so far as to them perteined they did the thing which God wo•d not: but as apperteining to gods omnipotencie they might by no meanes haue done that, for euen in that, that they did against the will of God, the will of God was done in them, and therefor great are the ⟨p. 156⟩workes of the Lord (broght to passe in all his willes) that by a wōderous and vnspeakable maner, that thing should not be done without his will, that yet is don agaīst his will. fo• it should not be done if he did not suffer it. And of a trueth he suffered it not vnwilingly, but willingly. And a litil before saint Augustin saieth, it is not to be doubted, but that God doeth well, permitting those thinges to be done which are euil. for he suffered not this, but in his iust iudgement. Albeit therefor that these thinges which be euill in so far as they ar euill, are not good, yet neuertheles it is good, that not onely good thinges, but also that euill thinges be. for if that this were not good that euil thinges should be, by no meanes should they be permited to be by the omnipotēt good, to whom no doubt, it is a like easie not to suffer the thing which he will not to be, as to do that thing which he will:
- 1The purpose of god in mans fall.The purpose of god in mannes fall.
- 2Enchi. ad Lauren. cap. 1
