An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

The examples of the man of Inde, and of the Cat of the mountain, can in no wise receive your interpretation. for the impossibility of the one, and of the other, experience of long continuance hath taught us. for we see that although the Moorian change the region where he was born, yet keepeth he his natural blackness: nether yet can any art utterly remove the spots of that beast, which the Prophet in that place calleth the ••opard. how impossible it is that they be changed, none can be ignorant, except such as have not seen or do not know the beast, nor her nature. And therefore upon these two things to nature impossible did the Prophet conclude, that no more could the citizens of Jerusalem, being exercised in all iniquity leave the same, and so was it impossible, impossible I say to them selves and to their own power. for what the Spirit of God worketh in the conversion of sinners, ought not to be attributed unto mans power.

The examples of the man of Inde, and of the Cat of the mounteine, can in no wise receaue your interpretation. for the impossibilitie of the one, and of the other, experience of long continuance hath taught vs. for we se that althogh the Moorian change the regiō where he was born, yet kepeth he his naturall blacknes: nether yet can any art vtterly remoue the spottes of that beast, which the Prophete in that place calleth the ••opard. how impossible it is that they be changed, none can be ignorant, except such as haue not sene or do not know the beast, nor her nature. And therefor vpon these two thinges to nature impossible did the Prophete conclude, that no more could the citezeins of Ierusalē, being excercised in all iniquitie leaue the same, and so was it impossible, impossible I say to them selues and to their own power. for what the Spirit of God worketh in the conuersion of sinners, oght not to be attributed vnto mans power.

And thus I say that those things, which the holy Ghost pronounced to be impossible, remain impossible. And therefore it is not only a hard and a difficile thing that the elect of God, who follow the lamb where ever he goeth, be so deceived that finally they perish, but also it is impossible: and that because the true pastor conducteth them, leadeth them forth to the wholesome pastures, and waters of lief, illuminateth them by the presence of his light: and finally doth sanctify and confirm them in his eternal verity by the power of his holy Spirit