An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

THE ADVERSARY.

THE ADVERSARIE.

Now must we declare the saying of S. Luke so many as were ordained unto life did believe,¹ where we must understand, that as they that will not obey the trueth, are called in the scriptures ordained to damnation, as is sufficiently proved before, so they which willingly receive the trueth, and couple the word with faith, working by charity are called, ordained to life. Where ye §1do reply so: predestination is without any condition, I grant predestination to lief, is the very free gift of God, without any condition.§2 Notwithstanding, we can not come to life, but by the way which leadeth unto life. As he which received the one talent of his master, received it of a free gift without his deserving, but because §3he did not walk in the way appointed by his master, his talent was taken from him again. And as afore by the free benefit §4of his master he was chosen unto life, so now because he did not walk in the way, which leadeth unto life he is ordained to damnation. The prodigal son is received of his father, not for •his deserving, but of the free goodness and benevolence of his father, •et is it required of him, that he walk hereafter as an obedient ⟨p. 186⟩son which if he did not, the latter fall should be worse then the first. Predestination therefore is the mere gift of God, afore the §5foundation of the world, at the which time nothing could be commanded unto us, yea afore we either have faith, orals by hearing of the word we may have faith, no spiritual commandment is given us but when by hearing we may receive faith then is the way of salvation opened unto us, in which we must walk, if we will be saved. And yet followeth it not, we must walk in the way which leadeth unto salvation, Ergo for walking the way of salvation, we are