A09918:142
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.
In expounding the other of the same, Moses, or rather testimony of the Lord, thou offendest in like sort, for the use of this Doctrine solely appertaineth to the Church, to whom alone the law is properly assigned, and the Gospel Preached. And there be divers dispositions of men, and there is a twofold nature in the very men regenerate, therefore is there added threatenings with the promises, that the flesh of them, and whatsoever is servile, may be restrained, but the spirit, and whatsoever is free and at liberty in these confirmed. Nor be these threatenings only vain scarecrows, (sayeth the Lord) eftsoons stayeth not in the words, but sharply correcteth even his own children, and tameth in their sight the adversaries with terrible wrath, yet in the mean time I grant that his mercy doth excel, but I affirm it, especially in his Church.
In expoundyng the other of the same, Moses, or rather testimonie of the Lorde, thou offendest in lyke sorte, for the vse of thys Doctrine solely apperteyneth to the Churche, to whome alone the lawe is properly assigned, and the Gospell Preached. And there bée diuers dispositions of menne, and there is a twofolde nature in the very men regenerate, therefore is there added threatnings with the promises, that the fleshe of them, and whatsoeuer is seruile, may be restreyned, but the spirite, and whatsoeuer is frée and at libertie in these confyrmed. Nor bée these threatnings onely vayne scarecrowes, (sayeth the Lorde) eftsoones stayeth not in the wordes, but sharpely correcteth euen hys owne chyldren, and tameth in theyr sight the aduersaries wyth terrible wrath, yet in the meane tyme I graunte that hys mercye dothe excell, but I affirme it, especially in his Churche.
But see how sottish thou art, who abusest these testimonies, to the end thou mayest avoid that eternal and secrete mystery of the divine decree. Why doest thou not rather abide in the next causes of destruction, and persist in the Apostles paths? for so should it come to pass, that thou shouldest rather reverence the loving kindness of GOD towards his enemies, then thou shouldest not yield him which is lawful ⟨p. 64⟩