Those ends in deed thou thinkest cannot be removed without unspeakable wickedness: I think thou art taken convict of double blasphemy,1 when thou sayest this. For I grant, that if they might be avoided, that he which doeth this, were guilty of sacrilege, and he seemeth guilty of offending the divine Majesty: but that GOD permitteth any thing to be done against that he hath decreed, I deny, because he should disagree from himself. Again this I deny, that it is not in any mans power, to pass those ends which God hath set and determined. He that shall deny these, I say, is guilty of sacrilege, is blasphemous, wicked, and a mad man. For what manner of God shall we esteem him, whose sentence is not firm, and ratified, and whose decree and will should depend upon second causes. ⟨p. 143⟩For, whereas thou supposest, that thou canst escape these inconveniences, when thou sayest, that the ends, which GOD hath prescribed, cannot be passed, except he suffering, but not willing it, that is, lest his will seem inconstant, doth evidently prone thy foolishness. For if he suffer against his will, it followeth, that some thing is dono, which God would not should be done. Where then is his omnipotency? For, if thou doest except, that he would not it should be done, but that he did not let it, and therefore his omnipotency not to be imperilled, which could, but would not oppose it self: neither in deed shall this help thee,2 but from Sulla thou runnest headlong to Charybdis. For so it should come to pass, that to suffer should signify all one thing, as not to hinder: as if one suffer a stream to run headlong down a hill, which he can stay. But if God do not let any thing, therefore he letteth it not, because that either he would it should be done, or of the contrary, that he would it should not be done, or finally, that he careth not whether that thing be done or not. Choose which of these pleaseth thee best. If thou say, that GOD will have that done, which he suffereth, thou makest with us, or rather with the LORD himself, who testifieth that even the Sparrows, fall not to the ground without the Heavenly fathers will: nor therefore is there danger, lest thou make GOD the Author of Sin, as we have plentifully made plain before.
Those endes in déede thou thinkest cannot be remoued without vnspeakeable wickednesse: I thinke thou arte taken conuict of double blasphemie,1 when thou saiest this. For I graunte, that if they might be auoyded, that hée whyche doeth this, were guiltie of sacriledge, and hée séemeth guiltie of offending the diuine Maiestie: but that GOD permitteth anye thing to be done againste that he hathe decréed, I denye, bycause hée shoulde disagrée from himselfe. Againe this I deny, that it is not in anye mans power, to passe those endes whyche God hath sette and determined. He that shall deny these, I say, is guiltie of sacriledge, is blasphemous, wicked, and a madde manne. For what maner of God shal we estéeme him, whose sentence is not firme, and ratified, and whose decrée and will shoulde depende vppon seconde causes. ⟨p. 143⟩For, whereas thou supposest, that thou canste escape these inconueniences, when thou sayest, that the endes, which GOD hathe prescribed, cannot be passed, excepte hée suffering, but not willing it, that is, leaste his wil séeme inconstant, doth euidently prone thy foolishnesse. For if he suffer againste his will, it followeth, that some thing is dono, whiche God woulde not shoulde be done. Where then is his omnipotencie? For, if thou doest except, that he woulde not it shoulde be done, but that he did not lette it, and therefore his omnipotencie not to be imperiled, whiche coulde, but woulde not oppose it selfe: neither in déede shall this helpe thée,2 but from Silla thou runnest headlong to Charibdis. For so it shoulde come to passe, that to suffer shoulde signifye all one thing, as not to hinder: as if one suffer a streame to runne headlong downe a hill, whiche he can stay. But if God doe not let any thing, therefore he letteth it not, bycause that either he woulde it should be done, or of the contrarie, that he would it should not be done, or finally, that he careth not whether that thing be done or not. Choose whiche of these pleaseth thée beste. If thou saye, that GOD will haue that done, whiche hée suffereth, thou makest with vs, or rather with the LORDE hymselfe, who testifyeth that euen the Sparrowes, fall not to the grounde wythoute the Heauenlye fathers will: nor therefore is there daunger, leaste thou make GOD the Authour of Sinne, as wée haue plentifullye made plaine before.
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- 2From one danger to a greate•
