An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

And the fountain of this induration and hardness I confess to have been borne with him, and that to rage against gods people he needed no impulsion of gods part, but rather a bridle to impede his fury. But yet the question is not resolved as before I have noted. for still we ask why was not that fountain shut up? why was not the natural venom purged and his heart mollified? search where you list, ye shall find none other reason nor cause, for the which the subsequent induration of Pharaoh did principally proceed but that God in his eternal counsel for causes known to ⟨p. 317⟩his wisdom alone had most justly denied to communicate his graces effectually with him, but had raised him up to have his power showed forth in him. And so God did harden Pharaoh's heart, not by permission only but willingly withdrew his Spirit from him as before is said.¹ Wonder it is that amongest the ancient doctors ye will seek patrocinie or defence in this matter: seeing it is a statute amongest you, that ye will believe nor admit the words nor authority of no writer, in any matter of con troversie, but all things you will have decided by the plain scripture. And truly I am not contrary to your mind in that case, so that you understand, that ye will not admit the authority of man against gods plain trueth, nether yet that you will believe man any further than that he proveth his sentence by gods evident scriptures. If you had produced any doctor who had confirmed his interpretation by the plain word of God, of reason, I ought to have answered, ether by the same, or by some other doctor of equal authority, or else to have improved his interpretation by the plain scriptures. but seeing that ye produce none, ye leave me at greater liberty. and yet I will show you the mind of one doctor comparable to any that ever wrote before him, ether in the latin or in the greek Church, I mean of Augustine,² who writing against Julian the apostate, and against Manacheus who did affirm the self same thing that you do, to wit that God was a passive God, that is, he did suffer all evil, and that against his will, but he did work none. Against him (I say) he thus writeth:

And ye foūteine of this induration and hardnes I confesse to haue bene borne with him, and that to raige against gods people he neded no impulsion of gods parte, but rather a brydle to impede his fury. But yet the question is not resolued as before I haue noted. for still we ask why was not that fountein shutte vp? why was not the naturall venim purged and his heart mollified? searche where you list, ye shall fynd none other reason nor cause, for the which the subsequent induration of Pharao did principallie procede but yt God in his eternall counsell for causes knowen to