but yet these things satisfy thee not. Be it so, for what may satisfy such envy, such madness, and such lewdness, as this is? But yet indeed these things do (whether thou wilt or no) sufficiently show what wickedness it is, to dare object ye to any man, which he hath plainly testified, that he hateth as a most wicked blasphemy. But let us yet bring moe testimonies out of the same Book,1 least I be (sayeth he) too tedious. I verily perceive that to have bin accomplished that Augustine teacheth. And these be the words of Augustine. These be the great works of the Lord, sought out into all his wills, and so wisely sought out, that when the Angelical and humane creature had sinned, that is, had done not that which he would, but that it self would, even by the same will of the creature, whereby that was done which the Creator would not, he fulfilled that which he would, using well even the wicked as the chief good, to their damnation, whom he had predestinate to pain, and to their salvation, whom he lovingly predestinate to grace, for as much as appertaineth to themselves, they did that which God would not, but so much as appertaineth ⟨p. 71⟩to the omnipotency of GOD, they were by no means able to do it, surely even in that self thing which they did against the will of God, the will of God is done of them, for therefore the great works of the Lord, sought out into all his wills, that in a wonderful and unspeakable manner that be not done beside his will, which also is done against his will, because it should not be done if he did not suffer it, nor indeed doth he suffer against his will, but willingly. But also the said Augustine a little before sayeth, it is not to be doubted,2 that God doth well in suffering to be done, whatsoever is evil done, for he suffereth not this, but by his just judgement. Albeit therefore those things that be evil, in that they are evil, they are not good, yet that they be not only good, but evil, is good, for except this were good that they should even be evil, they should by no means be suffered to be of the omnipotent good, to whom without doubt, as it is easy to do what he will, so is like easy, not to suffer that he will not, except we believe this, the very beginning of our faith, whereby we profess our selves to believe in the Almighty God, is endangered.
but yet these things satisfye thée not. Be it so, for what may satisfye such enuie, suche madnesse, and such leawdenesse, as this is? But yet indéede these things do (whether thou wilt or no) sufficiently shew what wickednesse it is, to dare obiect ye to any man, whych he hath playnely testifyed, that he hateth as a most wicked blasphemie. But let vs yet bring moe testimonies out of the same Booke,1 least I be (sayeth he) too tedious. I veryly perceyue that to haue bin accomplished that Augustine teacheth. And these be the wordes of Augustine. These be the greate workes of the Lorde, sought out into all hys willes, and so wisely soughte out, that when the Angelicall and humane creature hadde sinned, that is, had done not that whyche he woulde, but that it selfe woulde, euen by the same wyll of the creature, whereby that was done whyche the Creator woulde not, he fulfilled that whyche he woulde, vsing well euen the wicked as the chiefe good, to their damnation, whome he had predestinate to payne, and to their saluation, whome he louingly predestinate to grace, for as much as apperteyneth to themselues, they did that which God would not, but so muche as apperteyneth ⟨p. 71⟩to the omnipotencie of GOD, they were by no meanes able to doe it, surely euen in that selfe thing whyche they dyd agaynste the will of God, the wyll of God is done of them, for therefore the greate workes of the Lorde, soughte out into all his willes, that in a wonderfull and vnspeakeable manner that be not done beside his wyll, whyche also is done againste his will, bycause it shoulde not be done if he did not suffer it, nor indéede dothe he suffer against his will, but willingly. But also the saide Augustine a little before sayeth, it is not to be doubted,2 that God doth well in suffering to be done, whatsoeuer is euill done, for he suffereth not this, but by hys iust iudgement. Albet therefore those things that be euill, in that they are euill, they are not good, yet that they be not only good, but euill, is good, for except this were good that they shoulde euen be euill, they shoulde by no meanes be suffered to be of the omnipotente good, to whome withoute doubte, as it is easie to doe what hée wyll, so is lyke easie, not to suffer that hée will not, excepte we beléeue this, the very begynning of oure fayth, whereby we professe oure selues to beléeue in the Almightie God, is indangered.
- 1•ucharid. 2d Lauren. Cap. •00.
- 2Ibid. c •. ••.
