An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

And he sayeth, that every good and perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of light, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadowing by turning, he hath (sayeth he) of his own will begotten us by the word of verity. If with God, as he affirmeth, there be no variableness, then must his counsel be immutable. If in him there be not, now darkness and now light, but that as he dwelleth in the light which is inaccessible, so are and ever have ben all things present in his sight. Then in his eternal counsel there falleth neither ignorance nor repentance: and so what he once decreed, that he faithfully will perform to the praise of his own glory. But if ye will not admit my reasons, then must I bring unto you plain scriptures. That God hath chosen before the foundations of the world, that he hath predestinate, purposed, and decreed, to adoptate us in children, is before proved. The Prophet I saiah from the forty chapter of his prophecy to the end of the same, entreateth chiefly these two arguments, upon the one part to comfort the afflicted, and despised church (which then was sore oppressed and after was to be led captive to Babylon.) Upon the other part to threaten just vengeance aswell upon the contemners of grace offered, as also upon the ⟨p. 31⟩cruel enemy. The estate of the church was such, that all hope of liberty, redemption, and comfort was taken from them. They were as dead carrions, buried in desperation, against the which the Prophet continually fighteth, calling them from the contemplation of the present miseries, and from the sight of such impediments as to them appeared to stop their liberty, to the infallible promise of God, and to his counsel, which he affirmeth to be constant, and to his love which is immutable. And therefore so often doeth he repeat. It is I the eternal, who hath created the heavens, and hath laid the foundations of the earth: It is I, It is I, that will do it for my own names sake▪ I will establish the word of my servant (he meaneth, of Isaiah and of his other Prophets, who in his name promised deliverance to the people.) and I will perform the counsel of my messengers.¹ I say to Jerusalem be thou inhabited, and to the walls of Zion be you builded.

And he saieth, that euery good and perfect gift is frome aboue, discending from the Father of light, with whom there is no variablenes, neither shaddowing by turning, he hath (saieth he) of his owne will begotten vs by the worde of veritie. If with God, as he affirmeth, there be no variablenes, then must his counsell be immutable. If in him there be not, now dareknes and now light, but that as he dwelleth in the light which is inaccessible, so are and euer haue ben all thinges present in his sight. Then in his eternall counsell there falleth neither ignorance nor repentance: and so what he once decreed, that he faithfully will perfourme to the praise of his own glorie. But if ye will not admit my reasons, then must I bring vnto you plain scriptures. That God hath chosen before the foundations of the world, that he hath predestinate, purposed, and decreed, to adoptate vs in childrē, is befor proued. The Prophet I saiah from the fortie chapter of his prophecie to the ēd of the same, intreateth chefely these two argumētes, vpon the one part to cōfort the afflicted, and dispised church (which then was sore oppressed and after was to be led captiue to Babylon.) Vpon the other part to threaten iust vengeance aswell vpon the contemners of grace offered, as also vpon the