☞Eusebius. I do not demand (O Temporiser) what thing thou wilt do, having known the truth, but whereto thou art presently inclined? I demand not of the thing to come, but what the intention of thine heart is now. It is two things, to say what thou purposest to do, and to say what thou shalt do. As touching things to come: It behoveth him that hath a good will and is already inclined to godliness, to ask the grace of God for the performance of the same. But where as there is no will, nor determined ⟨image 22⟩purpose, to do the things that are godly: it behoveth him first of all to desire God to give him a will to do well, who only (as witnesseth the Apostle) accomplisheth and worketh in us as well the will, as the deed. Protest and express therefore here (O Temporiser) what will thou hast presently, to the end that I knowing and understanding the same, may wade in this matter accordingly. I pray thee Ireneus, is not this my request reasonable? Ireneus.
I cannot deny it. For who is so much a beast that doeth not well perceive the great folly that resteth in him that is sick, who continually calleth for the physician, and when he hath him, will not follow his counsel? Temporiser.
Yet I cannot express, what I have purposed to do, so much am I perplexed in my mind, which is as yet inclined hither and thither, without any resolved determination. God peradventure will settle my mind to some good end, after that I am advertised and resolved of the truth: & therefore I pray the (O Eusebie) proceed unto the matter. Eusebius.
The condition of mans mind is very miserable, when that only we know not what we shall do hereafter, but that least is, we are ignorant of that we will presently. But go to my friend Temporiser, forasmuch as thou art not able to make declaration of thy will, at least ways declare unto us, what it is that thou desirest withal thy hart: thou shalt find divers that do complain that they cannot feel in themselves no determined purpose & will: ⟨image 23⟩and therefore do unfeignedly wish and desire, that they may have such a purposed will as they do not as yet feel in their hearts.
☞Eusebius. I do not demaund (O Temporisour) what thing thou wylt do, hauing knowen the truth, but wherto thou art presently inclyned? I demaund not of the thing to come, but what the intencion of thyne harte is nowe. It is two thinges, to say what thou purposest to do, and to say what thou shalt do. As touchīg thinges to come: It behoueth him that hath a good wil and is already inclined to godlines, to aske the grace of God for the performaūce of the same. But where as there is no wyl, nor determined ⟨image 22⟩purpose, to do the thinges that are godli: it behoueth him fyrste of all to desyre God to geue him a wyll to do well, who onelye (as witnesseth the Apostle) accomplisheth and worketh in vs as well the wyl, as the dede. Protest and expresse therfore here (O Temporisour) what wyl thou hast presently, to thend that I knowing and vnderstanding the same, may wade in this matter accordingly. I pray thee Ireneus, is not this my request reasonable? Ireneus.
I cānot denye it. For who is so much a beast that doeth not well perceyue the great follye yt resteth in him that is sycke, who continuallye calleth for the phisition, and whē he hath him, wyl not folow his counsayl? Temporisour.
Yet I cannot expresse, what I haue purposed to do, so much am I perplexed in my mind, which is as yet inclyned hether and thether, without any resolued determinatiō. God peraduenture wyll settle my mynde to some good ende, after that I am aduertysed and resolued of the truth: & therfore I pray the (O Eusebie) proceade vnto the matter. Eusebius.
The condition of mans mynde is very miserable, when that onely we knowe not what we shall do hereafter, but that least is, we are ignoraunt of that we wyll presentlye. But go to my frende Temporisour, for asmuche as thou art not able to make declaration of thy wyl, at least wayes declare vnto vs, what it is that yu desyrest withall thy hart: thou shalt fynde dyuers that do complayne that they cannot feale in themselues no determyned purpose & wyll: ⟨image 23⟩and therfore do vnfaynedly wishe and desyre, that they maye haue suche a purposed wyll as they do not as yet feale in theyr hartes.
