These propositions I say, you be never able to show in our writings, nether yet to prove that our doctrine did or doth tend to that end. for we constantly affirm that God revealed unto us his most holy and most just will in his plain and holy scriptures, which do assure us, that a separation shall be made betwixt the goats, and the lambs, that the one shall receive the kingdom prepared unto them before all beginning, and that the other shall be adjudged to the fire which never shall be quenched. That God stirred and raised up Pharaoh, that his power might be declared in him, that these words God plainly spoke to Moses: I know that Pharaoh shall not permit the people to depart, therefore have I hardened his heart,1 that I may multiply my wonders upon him: that David did repress the fury of Abisai, and of his servants who would have killed Shimei,2 saying: suffer him to curse, for the Lord hath commanded him the Lord perchance shall behold my affliction, and shall reward me with good for his cursing this day. That Joseph said to his brethren,3 be you not moved with sorrow, y• ye have sold me, for the Lord hath sent me for conservation of a great multitude, it is not therefore you that have sent me hither, but God, who hath made me father to Pharaoh, and Lord over his hole house. None of all these I say do we cast upon gods secrete will, as ye falsely accuse us: but we do constantly affirm that his will, is so plainly revealed in these matters that such as shall deny any of them to have been gods will, can not escape abnegation of his eternal verity. And ⟨p. 291⟩further we say that the fall of man, is plainly revealed unto us, not only by experience, but even by that same law which was imposed to him shortly after his creation, the transgression whereof made Adam and all his posterity criminal and guilty to gods justice: & that nether against gods will revealed, nether yet against his secrete will. for by his will revealed can no man further conclude, but this, that in what day soever Adam should eat of the fruit forbidden, that he should die the death. But Adam against gods command ement did eat: and therefore did he justly underlie the sentence of death. And thus do we refer to gods will manifestly revealed, what soever ye imagine, that we ascribe to his secret will.
These propositions I say, you be neuer able to shew in our writinges, nether yet to proue that our doctrine did or doth tend to that end. for we constantly affirme that God reueled vnto vs his most holie and most iust wil in his plaine and holie scriptures, which do assure vs, that a separation shalbe made betwext the goates, and the lambes, that the one shal receaue the kingdom propared vnto them before all beginning, and that the other shalbe adiudged to the fyre which neuer shalbe quenched. That God stirred and raised vp Pharao, that his power might be declared in him, that these wordes God plainely spoke to Moises: I know that Pharao shal not permitte the people to depart, therefore haue I hardened his heart,1 that I may multiplie my wōders vpon him: that Dauid did represse the furie of Abisai, and of his seruantes who wolde haue killed Semei,2 saying: suffre him to curse, for the Lord hath commanded him the Lord perchance shal behold my affliction, and shal reward me with good for his cursing this day. That Ioseph said to his bretheren,3 be you not moued with sorow, y• ye haue solde me, for the Lord hath sent me for conseruation of a great multitude, it is not therefore you that haue sent me hither, but God, who hath made me father to Pharao, and Lord ouer his hole house. None of all these I say do we cast vpon gods secrete will, as ye falsly accuse vs: but we do constantly affirme that his will, is so plainely reueled in these maters that such as shall denie any of them to haue bene gods wil, can not escape abnegation of his eternall veritie. And ⟨p. 291⟩further we say that the fall of man, is plainely reueled vnto vs, not onely by experience, but euen by that same law which was imposed to him shortly after his creation, the transgression whereof made Adam and all his posteritie criminall and giltie to gods iustice: & that nether against gods wil reueled, nether yet against his secrete wil. for by his will reueled can no man further conclude, but this, that in what day soeuer Adā should eate of the frute forbiddē, that he should die the death. But Adam against gods command ement did eat: and therefor did he iustly vnderly the sentence of death. And thus do we referre to gods will manifestly reueled, what soeuer ye imagin, that we ascribe to his secret will.
- 1Eu•. 9.
- 22 King. 16.
- 3Gen•. 45
