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…

The Lord had pronounced a little before, that all things that he made was very good, whence therefore cometh this wickedness to man, that he should fall from his GOD? least it should he deemed to be by creation, God by his word approved whatsoever had proceeded from him, therefore his own malice corrupted the pure nature which he had received of the Lord, and by his fall, enforced all his posterity to destruction with him, wherefore, we shall rather see the apparent cause of damnation in the corrupt nature of man, than seek out the secrete, and wholly incomprehensible, in the predestination of God.

The Lorde hadde pronounced a little before, that all thyngs that hée made was very good, whence therefore commeth thys wickednesse to man, that he shoulde fall from hys GOD? least it shoulde hée déemed to bée by creation, God by hys worde approoued whatsoeuer hadde procéeded from hym, therefore hys owne malice corrupted the pure nature whiche hée hadde receyued of the Lorde, and by hys fall, inforced all hys posteritie to destruction wyth hym, wherefore, we shall rather sée the apparante cause of damnation in the corrupte nature of man, than séeke out the secrete, and wholly incomprehensible, in the predestination of God.

Nor let it grieve us thus far to submit our judgement to the immeasurable wisdom of God, that it saileth in many of his secretes, for if those things ⟨p. 68⟩which is not permitted or lawful to know, the ignorance is learned, the show of knowledge, is a kind of madness. These (Sycophant) be Calvins words, which alone shall plentifully suffice all governed wits, to deface thy slander. But we will also add these of abundance, that your impudency may more and more appear. There be (sayeth he) three things to be noted. First, the eternal predestination of God, to be firm and ratified, whereby he determined, what should come to pass of all mankind, & of every man before Adam fell. Then that Adam himself for the worthiness of his defection, is enthralled to death: and finally in his person being now desperate and a castaway, that all his progeny was so damned, that whom afterwards God did freely elect, he should dignify with the honour of Adoption. But also a little after in the same place, when (saith he) there is any speech had of Predestination. I have ever constantly taught, and this day do teach, that there they must begin, that all the reprobate which are cast away and damned in Adam, are worthily left in death, that they perish worthily, who are by nature the children of wrath, so that no man have cause to complain of Gods too much severity, seeing that all men carry the guiltiness shut up in themselves. If we return to the first man when he was created innocent, that he fell willingly, and thereby that it came to pass, that by his own fault, he brought upon him and his destruction. Now albeit that Adam fell no otherwayes than God knowing, and so ordaining, he lost both himself and his posterity, yet that maketh nothing either to the diminishing of his fault, or charging of God with the crime, for this is ever to be considered, that he deprived him self of that innocency which he received of GOD, he voluntarily vowed himself into the