An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

The creatures are to be esteemed but as instruments in his hand which he applieth to the work, even as pleaseth him. The scripture doeth often make mention of this universal providence, that we may learn in all his works to give glory unto God. But chiefly in us doeth God commend this his power, that we shall know it in our selves, to the end that we may be purged of arrogance, which suddenly useth to arise in us, how son we forget our selves to be in his hands. Hereunto appertaineth that, which Paul said to those of Athens: It is he in whom we live, are moved, and have our being. By the which he would admonish us, that except God up hold us by his hand that unable it is for us to stand the least moment of time. for even as the soul dispersing her strength through the hole body, moveth the members, so are we quickened of God, form whom only we obtain what so ever strength or power we have. But this universal operation of God impedeth not, but ⟨p. 158⟩that every creature in heaven and in earth retain their own nature and quality, and also do follow their own inclination. The second manner by the which God worketh in his creatures is that he appointeth them in obedience of his goodness, justice, and judgement, sometimes to help his servants sometimes to punish the wicked, and sometimes to examine the patience of his servants, or to correct §2and chasten them with a fatherly affection: as when he will give us abundance of fruits he giveth rain in his time, he sendeth heat by the son, and bright and clear days, as also he useth all other natural means as instruments of his liberality. But when he pulleth back his hand, the heaven is made like brass, the earth is iron, and so it is he that sendeth thunder, frost, hale: and also it is he that is the cause of sterility and barrenness. Therefore what so ever the Ethnics and ignorant did attribute to fortune, we assign to the providence of God. Not only to that universal operation, of the which we have before spoken: but to his especial ordinance by the which he governeth all, as he knoweth it to be most expedient and profitable: and this he teacheth when by his Prophets he sayeth that he created darkness and light, that he sendeth death and lief, that neither good nor evil can chance but from his hand. In so much that he sayeth that he doeth govern and direct the lots:

The creatures are to be estemed but as instruments in his hād which he applieth to the work, euen as pleaseth him. The scripture doeth often make mention of this vniuersall prouidence, that we may learn in all his workes to giue glorie vnto God. But chiefly in vs doeth God commēd this his power, that we shall know it in our selues, to the end that we may be purged of arrogancie, which sodanly vseth to arise in vs, how son we forgett our selues to be in his hādes. Hereunto apperteineth that, which Paul said to those of Athenes: It is he in whom we liue, are moued, and haue our being. By the which he wold admonish vs, that except God vp hold vs by his hand that vnable it is for vs to stand the least moment of time. for euen as the soule dispersing her strēgthe throughe the hole bodie, moueth the mēbres, so are we qwickened of God, form whome onely we obtein what so euer strength or power we haue. But this vniuersall operation of God impedeth not, but