I trust ye be never able to prove that any of us, hath affirmed that he who had received of the free gift of God ⟨p. 242⟩a true unfeigned and lively faith, is not the elect of God, and that faith we know do gods children, which cum to age and discretion receive in this life, as Peter did: against the which, did Christ pronounce, that the gates and ports of hell should not prevail. But it appeareth to me that your doubt, is ether to wit, whether God bestoweth his great and rich talents upon the reprobate. for if so he should do, ye affirm that he bestoweth them in vain, meaning, to receive no fruit of them. That God bestoweth great talents upon the very reprobate, the scriptures manifestly do witness, to speak nothing of lief, reason, corporal health, richesse, and honours, which the reprobate in greatest abundance do possess, doth not Christ witness; that many shall cry, Lord in thy name we have prophesied, we have cast out devils, and in thy name have we done many wondrous works? And yet shall Christ answer I never knew you. Doth not Paul affirm that albeit he knew all mysteries, had all prophecy, and knowledge, and all faith (such he meaneth, as by the which miracles are wrought) yet without he had charity he were nothing? But yet I pray you, do prophecy, knowledge, the gift of tongues and of miracles cease to be the good and rich talents of God? ye cry yet are they bestowed without hope of fruit to be received, & in vain, if they be bestowed upon the reprobate. That of you is boldly and most blasphemously affirmed. for God knoweth the fruit which his Church shall receive, not only of those spiritual talents how wicked that ever they be (to whose dispensation, they are committed) but also of the corporal and temporal benefit, yea of very tyranny, doth his wisdom and goodness cause a fruit and commodity come, and spring out to his Church. By the tyranny of Nebuchadnezzar, he punished the proud contemners, and tried, and partly purged his children, who before were slothful, and negligent. by that great conquest and victory, which he gave to Cyrus, he procured the deliverance ⟨p. 243⟩of his people from bondage. By the great abundance of victuals, given in the days of Pharaoh, were Jacob and his children sustained. And think you that with out fruit and all together in vain, were these and the like benefits bestowed?
I trust ye be neuer able to proue that any of vs, hath affirmed that he who had receaued of the fre gift of God ⟨p. 242⟩a true vnfeined and liuelie faith, is not the elect of God, and that faith we knowe do gods children, which cum to aige and discretion receaue in this life, as Peter did: against the which, did Christ pronounce, that the gates and portes of hell should not preuaile. But it appereth to me that your doubt, is ether to witt, whether God bestoweth his great and riche talentes vpon the reprobate. for if so he should do, ye asffirme yt he bestoweth them in vaine, meaning, to receaue no frute of them. That God bestoweth great talentes vpon the verie reprobate, the scriptures manifestly do witnes, to speake nothing of lief, reason, corporall health, richesse, and honors, which the reprobate in greatest abundance do possesse, doth not Christ witnes; that many shall cry, Lord in thy name we haue prophecied, we haue cast owt deuils, and in thy name haue we done many wonderous workes? And yet shall Christ answer I neuer knew you. Doth not Paule affirme that albeit he knew all mysteries, had all prophecie, and knowledge, and all faith (suche he meaneth, as by the which miracles are wroght) yet without he had charitie he were nothing? But yet I pray you, do prophecie, knowledge, the gift of tōgues and of miracles cease to be the good and riche talētes of God? ye crie yet are they bestowed without hope of frute to be receaued, & in vaine, if they be bestowed vpon the reprobate. That of you is boldly and most blasphemously affirmed. for God knoweth the frute which his Churche shall receaue, not onely of those spiritual talentes how wicked that euer they be (to whose dispensation, they are committed) but also of the corporall and temporall benefit, yea of very tyranny, doth his wisedom and goodnes cause a frute and commoditie com, and spring out to his Churche. By the tyranny of Nabuchadnezer, he punished the proude contemners, and tried, and partly purged his children, who before were slothfull, and negligent. by that great conquest and victorie, whiche he gaue to Cyrus, he procured the dedeliuerāce ⟨p. 243⟩of his people from bondage. By the great abundāce of victuales, giuen in the daies of Pharao, were Iacob and his children susteined. And think you that with out frute and all togither in vaine, were these and the like benefites bestowed?
