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…

Dost thou hear yt name [Greek or Hebrew] of ⟨p. 124⟩will? But what sayeth Paul, where be handleth the same arguments? Those (saith he) whom he knew before, he predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son.¹ Now therefore we perceive, that the Predestination and will of God did come betwixt in the afflictions of the Saints. Peter also in another place, disputing of the Cross of Christ (which place we have oftentimes already cited) maketh mention of [Greek or Hebrew] the determinate counsel,² and foreknowledge of God.³ And in another place, the whole Church at Jerusalem maketh mention of the hand and counsel of God, but doth God allow the wickedness of them that persecute the Church? no in deed, but the wicked which persecute the Church shall at the last suffer deserved torments. But God doth daily try out, and perfect his Church by that same thing, which he worthily revengeth in his enemies: and in this respect, the will, counsel, ratified and determined decree, and finally, the very work of the most just and most wise God, doth no less come betwixt, than when he useth choice and holy instruments, to the accomplishment of things of themselves most good and excellent. If this consolation be taken from us, as in deed it is, if we believe the dreaming I can not tell of what idle sufferance, besides the will and decree of God in such as these, how shall we ever remain firm and constant? nor doth he say all things, which thinketh that the end & issue of all such matters are governed of God. But this ought especially to be believed, that Satan, or Satan's instruments, can not practise against us, be it never so little, that y• our good father hath not from everlasting decreed & determined for our commodity, that our consolation might be full & firm. But it may be that in this kind of evil, whereby the godly are afflicted, thou wilt deny, that Peter, Paul, & the other holy writers, when they make mention of the will, counsel, decree, & ⟨p. 125⟩hand of God, do not intend those that persecute the church, but them rather which suffer these things. But it I shall remove this objection, I fear least some may think, that I do you an open injury, who should suppose that it were possible that you should broach such foolish questions.