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…

But by the way is to be noted, that we have choice and will by nature, but because both of them are depraved with sin, the Lord doth reform them, and of evil doth make them good, therefore because we are apt to discern, for that we will, for that we do this or that, it is a natural gift, but in that we can make choice of desire, or do no other thing but evil, that is by the corruption of sin. In that we desire to do well, and be endued with power to perform it, that cometh by supernatural grace, whereby we are regenerate to a better, and indeed divine life. Behold therefore what God worketh ⟨p. 95⟩in his children, that is, taking away their crooked nature, he directeth them with his Spirit, to the performance of his will. But these frantic fellows, crying out with force, that God doth all things, do make him the author of evil, and then as though the nature of evil were changed, whilst it is covered under this veil of the name of God, they affirm it to be good, wherein they do more violent and wicked slander against God, than if they should transfer his power and justice some other where, for seeing there is nothing more proper to God than his goodness, it must needs be that he be denied of himself, and be changed into a Devil, that he might work wickedness, which thing is attributed unto him of these. And in deed there God is an Idol, which is more execrable to us, than the Idols of the Gentiles. But (as they say) they suppose they have well washed their hands, when they answer, that they affirm all things to be well, seeing they are done of GOD, as though it were in their power to change black into white. In deed they have done worthily, if, after they have called God spoiler, thief, and whoremonger, they add, that there is utterly in these none evil. But who hath condemned murder, whoredom, robberies, and thefts, except GOD? So truly of us he must be reproved of a lye, that we might excuse his works. But the Scripture (say they) doth universally pronounce, that GOD worketh all in all. I answer, that they lewdly and falsely apply the Scripture to that, for when Paul useth this sentence, he only speaketh of the graces of the holy Ghost.

But by the way is to be noted, that wée haue choyce and wyll by nature, but bycause both of them are depraued wyth sinne, the Lorde dothe reforme them, and of euill dothe make them good, therefore bycause we are apte to discerne, for that we will, for that we doe thys or that, it is a naturall gifte, but in that we can make choyse of desire, or doe no other thing but euill, that is by the corruption of sinne. In that wée desyre to doe well, and be indued wyth power to performe it, that commeth by supernaturall grace, whereby we are regenerate te a better, and indéede diuine lyfe. Beholde therefore what God worketh