A09918:129
An evident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianism Wherein is mightily cleared the…An euident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianisme Wherein is mightelie cleared the…
An evident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianism Wherein is mightily cleared the sovereign truth of Gods eternal predestination, the staid groundwork of our most assured safety by Christ. Written in Latin by that reverend father, master Theodore Beza, and now lately Englished by VV.H. preacher of the Gospel.An euident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianisme Wherein is mightelie cleared the soueraigne truth of Gods eternall predestination, the stayd groundworke of oure most assured safetie by Christ. Written in Latin by that reuerend father, mayster Theodore Beza, and now lately Englished by VV.H. preacher of the Gospell.
London: printed by Ralph Newberie, 1578
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
REFUTATION.
REFVTATION.
THOU art the same thou waste wont to be, and indeed thou doest that which Heretics be wont, when with evil conscience, they patch together the pieces of Scripture, that they may urge them upon the simple and unskilful. Peter in that place which thou wrestest after thy manner, strengthening the elect against certain scoffers, who, (as to many at this day) did deride whatsoever was spoken of the supreme judgement. Beloved, saith he, be not ignorant in this one point, that a thousand years with the Lord are as one day, and one day as a thousand years: that is, as I take it, that the Lord after the manner of men is not bound to any moments of time, which is to strictly observed of some. Then he addeth, the Lord that promised is not slack, as many account this slackness, but he is long suffering to us ward not willing that any should ⟨p. 57⟩perish but that all thould come to repentance. And it is even as much as if Peter should have said, There be many of you who think the Lord deferreth his other coming beyond equity, who in deed do think far otherwayes of God, then convenient. For first let us weigh who he is that hath promised to come, that he might utterly deliver his. In very deed he is God. But may he then defer his promise even one moment, whose word is most sure, and who hath prefixed appointed seasons to his promise? Then see how some by impatience do sinisterly esteem this sufferance. For they think that the Lord doth after a sort despise his Church, or that he doth not esteem it so much as is requisite, when of the contrary part, the Lord would not defer that his coming, except he should use great patience and lenity towards us. For he only deferreth his coming till he shall have gathered his people, whereof he will not that one should perish, but rather that by true repentance they should all be saved. It is proved by many reasons, that this is the simple, plain, and apparent meaning of the words of Peter. To this end he endeavoureth, that he may confirm the faithful against Epicures: whence it is that he allegeth those things which solely belong to the faithful, that in deed he might recall them to the promises.