But why shouldest thou not do this, who art not ashamed to write that that Paul which confesseth ⟨p. 61⟩himself to know nothing but Jesus Christ crucified, and who hath set forth unto the world so mightily, all the riches of the Gospel, that he hath delivered to the world the rudiments of Religion, and that he had a certain, more perfect, and more secrete doctrine which he hath taught to certain his more perfect Scholars, I imagine nothing herein, or slander as thou doest? Thine annotations upon the first Epistle to the Corinthians are extant, wherein thou speakest so plainly and so apparently, that thou canst not deny this blasphemy, therefore I marvel not that the mercy of God in Christ crucified is so esteemed as nothing of thee, that thou darest compare with his severity, who hadst rather believe thy self than the Apostle, and openly transformest the Christian religion into Jewish or Anabaptisticall babbling. And that which appertaineth to the twofold 1testimony of Moses, thou also too impudently wrestest the either of them: for what if I should except, that God did there manifest what a one he would show himself to his Church? Truly I should say as it is, as appeareth even in this one example. Let us compare the fact of Saul, with the offence of David. Saul contrary to the commandment of God, which seemed a grievous thing, did not by and by slay Agag the King that was taken captive, and keepeth the fatter Cattle by oblation, 2either for the Lords Sacrifices, or for himself by covetousness. And what did David that worthy Prophet, who had so often experienced the loving kindness of God? he defloureth another's wife, fostereth sin, he procureth a most worthy and valiant man to be slain, by most filthy surpassing treachery, and so much the rather, that he might yield to his cruel desire, he wittingly and willingly hazardeth the whole host to most evident peril, the Ark of covenant, and the name of God himself ⟨p. 62⟩to the scoffings of the enemies, but Saul is immediately rejected, nor can the Lord be entreated by any the tears of Samuel, and David is straight received to mercy, but why so? in deed the foreknowledge of sins will here do thee no good, but to this thou must come of necessity, that God pitieth, and hardeneth whom it pleaseth him.
But why shouldest thou not doe this, who arte not ashamed to wryte that that Paule whiche confesseth ⟨p. 61⟩himselfe to knowe nothing but Iesus Christe crucifyed, and who hath sette forth vnto the worlde so mightely, all the riches of the Gospell, that he hath deliuered to the world the rudiments of Religion, and that he had a certayne, more perfecte, and more secrete doctrine which he hath taught to certayne his more perfecte Schollers, I imagine nothing herein, or sclander as thou doest? Thine annotations vpon the first Epistle to ye Corinthians are extant, wherein thou speakest so playnely and so apparantly, that thou canst not denye this blasphemie, therefore I maruell not that the mercie of God in Christ crucifyed is so estéemed as nothing of thée, that thou darest compare with his seueritie, who hadst rather beléeue thy selfe than the Apostle, and openly transformest the Christian religion into Iewishe or Anabaptisticall babling. And that whiche apperteyneth to the twofold 1testimonie of Moses, thou also too impudently wrestest the eyther of them: for what if I should except, that God did there manifest what a one he woulde shew himselfe to his Church? Truely I shoulde say as it is, as appeareth euen in this one example. Let vs compare the fact of Saule, with the offence of Dauid. Saule contrary to the commaundemente of God, whiche séemed a gréeuous thing, did not by and by sley Agag the King that was taken captiue, and kéepeth the fatter Cattell by oblation, 2eyther for the Lordes Sacrifices, or for himselfe by couetousnesse. And what did Dauid that worthy Prophet, who had so often experienced the louing kindnesse of God? he defloureth anothers wife, fostereth sinne, hée procureth a most worthy and valiante man to be slayne, by most filthy surpassing treacherie, and so muche the rather, that he might yéeld to his cruell desire, he wittingly and willingly hazzerdeth the whole host to most euident perill, the Arke of couenant, and the name of God hymselfe ⟨p. 62⟩to the scoffings of the enimies, but Saule is immediately reiected, nor can the Lord be intreated by any the teares of Samuell, and Dauid is streighte receyued to mercie, but why so? in déede the foreknowledge of sinnes will héere do thée no good, but to this thou must come of necessitie, that God pityeth, and hardneth whome it pleaseth him.
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