An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

For if God had not purposed in him self to establish this battle and so to make a difference perpetual,¹ why did he not holy restore man again to honour to purity, and innocency? Why did he not stay the fountain of sin in our first father? why did he suffer his first corruption by propagation to come to his posterity? was it because he lacked power? or was it not rather as the Apostle doeth teach us, that he wrapped all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all? that he might she • mercy to whom he would, and harden also whom he would? If these things do displease you, remember first that they are the voices of the holy Ghost, and secondarily call to your mind the condition of mankind, to wit that both you and we (compared with that sovereign majesty) be but worms here creeping on the earth, and therefore can we not clim up to the •e•uē ▪ and so reason or plead with the almighty. Call to mind I say that question of the Apostle, calling man to the consideration of him self in the same ma•er, Saying, O man •hat art thou that thou maest answer in contrary to God? that is, contend or plead with him? This sentence I sa• ought to humble us, and make us rather to tremble at the remembrance of his judgements then rashly, and with proud stomachs to damn that, which we are not ⟨p. 51⟩able to apprehend. But let us yet prosecute this matter further, to the end that we may see if that this hath been and is the constant will of God, and that plainly declared by his word that this former difference be kept in all ages.

For if God had not purposed in him self to establish this battel and so to make a difference perpetuall,¹ why did he not holy restore man agane to honour to puretie, and innocencie? Why did he not stay the fountaine of sinne in our first father? why did he suffer his first corruption by propagation to come to his posteritie? was it because he lacked power? or was it not rather as the Apostle doeth teach vs, that he wrapped all in vnbeleif, that he might haue mercie vpon all? tha he might she mercie to whō he wold, and harden also whom he wold? If these thinges do displease you, remember first that they are the voices of the holie Gost, and secondarely call to your mynd the condition of mankynd, to witt that bothe you and we (compared with that soueraigne maiestie) be but wormes here creping on the earth, and therefor can we not clim vp to the euē and so reason or pled wt the almightie. Call to minde I say that question of the Apostle, calling man to the cōsideration of him self in the same maer, Saing, O man hat art thow that thow maest answer in cōtrarie to God? that is, contend or plead with him? This sentence I sa ought to humble vs, and make vs rather to tremble at the remembrance of his iudgementes then rashly, and with proude stomockes to damne that, which we are not