An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

In whom we have redemption and by his blood remission of sin according to his abundant grace, of the which he hath plentifully poured upon us all wisdom and prudence, opening to us the secrete of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him self to the dispensation of the fullness of times, summarily to restore all things by Christ both those that be in the heavens, and those that be in the earth, by whom we are chosen in a portion or lot, predestinate according to the purpose of him by whose power are all things made, according to the decree of his will, that we should be to the praise of his glory. Here the holy Ghost as it were of set purpose, foreseeing mans unthankfulness useth words not only most proper, but also most vehement, and often repeateth the same, to beat down all pride and arrogance of man presuming to arrogate any thing to him self in the matter of his salvation. He first sayeth: God hath predestinate. And lest that some might have thought as you following the Papists, do now blasphemously affirm that so he did in respect of our worthiness, of works, or faith, in one sentence he secludeth all which is without Christ Jesus and without him self, saying: he hath predestinate us to adoptate us in children by Christ Jesus in him self, according to the good pleasure of his will. If Christ Jesus, yea if God the Father, his eternal counsel, his decree and purpose, be other then our worthiness, our faith, our quality, or our good works, then neither for ⟨p. 30⟩them nor in respect of any of them were we chosen to life. For plainly he affirmeth that by Christ in him self according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in him self, were we adoptate to be children yea and that according to the purpose and decree of his will. Here have you the same and more words then we used. For here are those words: the purpose of his good will, that he hath purposed in him self to predestinate and adoptate us in children ▪ which words do most lively express that which we affirm. But yet perchance ye lack the proof of this part, that God in his immutable counsel hath once chosen. For after, I perceive, that this doeth much offend you. I trust ye will not reject the testimony of S. James, for ye seem upon his words much to lean.

In whom we haue redemption and by his blood remission of sinne according to his aboundant grace, of the which he hath plentifully poured vpon vs all wisdom and prudence, opening to vs the secrete of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him self to the dispēsation of the fulnes of tymes, summarely to restore all things by Christe bothe those that be in the heauens, and those that be in the earth, by whom we are chosen in a portion or lott, predestinate according to the purpose of him by whose power are all thinges made, according to the decree of his will, that we should be to the praise of his glorie. Here the holie Goste as it were of set purpose, forseing mannes vnthankfulnes vseth wordes not only moste propre, but also most vehement, and often repeteth the same, to beat doune all pryde and arrogancie of man presuming to arrogate any thing to him self in the mater of his saluation. He first saieth: God hath prdestinate. And lest yt som might haue thoght as you folowīg the Papistes, do now blasphemously affirme that so he did in respecte of our worthines, of workes, or faith, in one sentence he secludeth all which is without Christe Iesus and without him self, sayeng: he hath predestinate vs to adoptate vs in children by Christe Iesus in him self, according to the good pleasure of his will. If Christ Iesus, yea if God the Father, his aeternall coūsel, his decree and purpose, be other then our worthines, our faith, our qualitie, or our good workes, then neither for