¶ Four Chapters gathered out of Calvins Book against the Libertines.
OF the opinion of the Libertines, whereby they think that the alone immortal Spirit doth all things, which poison lurketh under this sentence.
Chap. xiij.
After they have imagined the alone spirit, according to their own will, when they have destroyed and abolished the natures, both of Angels, of Devils, and also of souls, they say that this Spirit doth all things, not that they may signify that which the Scripture teacheth of him, saying, all creatures,1 as they do remain in him, that so they are governed of him, and are subject to his providence, and that every one in his order is obedient to his will, but that whatsoever is in the world, must directly be judged his ⟨p. 85⟩work. So they attribute no will unto man, as if he were a stone, and they take away all difference of good and evil, that by their judgement nothing can be done wickedly, seeing God is author of all things, but that the matter may be showed more apparently, I will set down some example of their jangling. When that Swine Quintinus once as it was came into a place, where one did lye slain, and a certain godly man was there present, who said for very horror, woe is me, who hath done this wicked act? he answered by and by in his Picardian tong, I, if thou wilt know, have done it. Then the other, as one astonished, said, hast thou, art thou so wicked? Quintinus answereth, I am not he, but it is God. How saith the other, are the offences to be imputed to God which he commandeth to be punished? Then began this filthy fellow the more to vomit out his poison, saying, so the matter standeth, thou thy self hast committed it, I have committed it, God hath committed it. For that which I and thou do, God doth, also what God doth we do, for he is in us. This being granted, this sin should be imputed to God: or it is to be concluded, that there is no sin done in the world, sith there is nothing which is not made of God, so all difference of good and evil is taken away, whereon it will follow that we may not reprove any thing as evil, seeing all be the works of God, and it shall be lawful for men, as it were with reins let loose, to do whatsoever cometh in their mind, not only because we are without the danger of sinning, but also because to restrain any desire, is to hinder God.
¶ Foure Chapters gathered out of Caluines Booke againste the Libertines.
OF the opinion of the Libertines, whereby they thinke that the alone immortall Spirite doth all things, which poyson lurketh vnder this sentence.
Chap. xiij.
AFter they haue ymagined the alone spirite, according to their owne will, when they haue destroyed and abolished the natures, both of Angels, of Deuils, and also of soules, they say that this Spirite doth all things, not that they may signifie that which the Scripture teacheth of him, saying, all creatures,1 as they do remayne in him, that so they are gouerned of him, and are subiect to his prouidence, and that euery one in his order is obediente to his will, but that whatsoeuer is in the world, must directly be iudged hys ⟨p. 85⟩worke. So they attribute no will vnto mā, as if he were a stone, and they take away all difference of good and euill, that by their iudgeniēt nothing can be done wickedly, séeing God is author of all things, but that the matter maye be shewed more apparantly, I will sette downe some example of their iangling. When that Swyne Quintinus once as it was came into a place, where one did lye slayne, and a certayne godly man was there present, who said for very horror, wo is me, who hathe done this wicked acte? he aunswered by and by in hys Picardian tong, I, if thou wilt know, haue done it. Then the other, as one astonished, said, hast thou, art thou so wicked? Quintinus aunswereth, I am not he, but it is God. How sayth ye other, are ye offences to be imputed to God which he cōmandeth to be punished? Then began this filthy fellow the more to vomit out his poison, saying, so ye matter standeth, thou thy selfe hast cōmitted it, I haue cōmitted it, God hath committed it. For that which I and thou do, God doth, also what God doth we do, for he is in vs. This being granted, this sinne should be imputed to God: or it is to be cōcluded, that there is no sinne done in the world, sith there is nothing which is not made of God, so all difference of good and euill is taken away, whereon it wyll followe that we may not reprooue any thing as euill, séeing all be the workes of God, and it shall be lawfull for men, as it were with reynes let loose, to doe whatsoeuer commeth in their mind, not only bycause we are without the dāger of sinning, but also bycause to restreyne any desire, is to hinder God.
- 1Ephes. 1.
