An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

Now to y• further declaration aswell of or mind as of your shameless malice, I shall recite some sentences of master Calvin, as doth that godly and learned man Theodorus Beze against the crafty surmise of your master Castalio. ⟨p. 24⟩I say (faith John Calvin) with Augustin, that of God they were created whom without doubt he fore knew to go to perdition: and that was so done because so he would. Why he would, it appertaineth not to us to inquire, who can not comprehend it: neither yet is it convenient, that the will of God shall descend and come down to be decided by us. Of the which so oft as mention is made under the name of it, is the supreme and most hie rule of justice nominated. And further we affirm, that which the scripture clearly showeth, to wit, that God did once by his eternal and immutable counsel appoint, whom somty me he should take to salvation, and also whom he should condemn to destruction.¹ We affirm those whom he judgeth worthy of participation of salvation to be adoptate and chosen of his free mercy for no respect of their own dignity: but whom he giveth to condemnation, to the same he shuteth up the entries to life by his incomprehensible judgement. But yet by that judgement, that neither can not may be reproved. And in another work.² If we be not ashamed sayeth he of the Gospel, it behoveth us to confess that which therein is manifestly taught, that is, that God of his eternal good pleasure, whose cause dependeth upon none other, hath destinate to salvation whom it pleased him, the rest being rejected And whom he hath honoured with his free adoption, those he illuminateth by his Spirit, that they may receive the life offered in Christ: Others by their own will so remaining unfaithful, that being destitute of the light of faith, they continue in darkness. Also that which saint Augustine writeth: So is the will of God the highest rule of justice,³ that what so ever he will in so far as he willeth it, it is to be holden just. Therefore when the question is why did God so? It is to be answered: Because so he would. But if thou proceed asking, why he would, thou seekest a thing greater and more hie then Gods will, which can not be found. And after sayeth he: We must ever return to the pleasure of his will, the cause whereof is hid within him self.