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 here again we affirm not that truytlesse and forged sufferance or leaving which you dream, but that the counsel, decree, will, and finally the action of God, did in deed come in between, and that most just and holy, both also when evil instruments work wickedly, which God doth most justly grant them, and executeth by them. What then? wilt thou deny that the good are stirred up of God to the ⟨p. 129⟩destruction of the wicked: I think not! But what is to be thought of evils committed among themselves, then also when one do injury the other, appeareth even by that place of Isaiah, where the Lord calleth the Medes and Persians,¹ whom he would stir up against the Babylonians, his holy ones, and the instruments of his wrath. But also in an other place, where there is mention of those kings which set themselves against Joshua.² This was done of the Lord (saith the holy Ghost) who had hardened their hearts that they should withstand Israel with battle, and that they might give them over to the slaughter, nor that any pity should he showed them, but they should utterly be destroyed, as the Lord had commanded Moses. But of hardening we shall see in his place. Now answer what it is to deceive a false Prophet. I know what thou wilt answer, that is, the same which thou art wont to brabble of leaving: of which matter let us hear, if thou wilt, Augustine's words, disputing against one Julianus,³ and plainly refuting that your separation of sufferance from will. What is it (saith Augustine to Julian) that thou sayest, when they are said to be given over to their own lusts, they are to be taken left by the Divine patience, and not enforced to sins by power? As if the same Apostle hath not set down these two at once, both Patience and Power, where he saith, what and if God would,⁴ to show his wrath, and make his power known, suffer with long patience the vessels of his wrath, prepared to destruction? Yet what sayest thou of those, that this that is written, And if a Prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing,⁵