A09918:180
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.
And that the very place doth sufficiently witness, in which ⟨p. 96⟩Paul admonisheth the Corinthians, that they use them well,1 seeing they are the gifts of God: for because, as he saith, no man can allege one word to the glory of Christ, except he that speaketh by the holy Ghost, from whom all good things proceed. And verily what appertaineth to good, let us willingly condescend ye it may be wholly attributed to God. But how will they show that evil cometh of God? where will they show that God stealeth in the thief? in the spoiler and murderer to slay the innocent? Therefore these pretences do not only not purge their blasphemies, but do vehemently increase them, and make them twice more grievous. OF the other consequence which followeth of that, God doth all things: that is, that no man ought to be moved any more with the •nscience of any thing. Chap xv. WE have showed before, that if all things are to be attributed to God, as the Libertines will, and man may be said to do nothing, it will come to pass that we shall be moved with the conscience of nothing. For that should not be to avoid sin, but rather to do again the work of God. Nor do I only say, that that may be gathered of their former speech, last we should contend in disputing whether that were there meaning or no: but I say, that self thing which themselves confess. And so much the rather they especially determine that thing with them selves, that they may bedazzle consciences, to the end that men void of all care, might accomplish whatsoever came in place, and whatsoever they desired, as if God had given his law in vain, whereby good might be discerned from evil. But I ask this one thing of them, whether we have not in the law the declaration of the Divine will? but by ⟨p. 97⟩that God hath pronounced that whoredom, theft, murder, and as it followeth, covetousness, hatred, envy, ambition, and others of like forte do displease him. Now if they may be said to be acceptable to him, is he not teproved of a lie? Moses witnesseth, that the law was given, that we might learn to serve God, to stick to him, and to obey his will, lest we provoke his wrath against us with our sins. These miserable men do endeavour this, that they may find out in us the like thoughts. And least we should conceive any thing, they bind up our eyes with this swathing band: