yea, even Satan himself, that lying and unclean spirit, doth reprove thee, in whom, when there wanteth not a thousand ways to do mischief, and is so great wickedness, as we cannot possibly think, yet he is so straightly bridled, that he cannot even hiss again, except the Lord with his voice excite him: and is so straitly fettered, that he cannot move so much as his finger, but by the Lords assignment. He, even he, I say, doeth confute thee, and, albeit against his will, yet he confesseth against the testimony of his own conscience, that thou art enforced of him, that thou mightest break out into these blasphemies. For he acknowledgeth, that, except power be obtained of the Lord, he cannot hurt any, be it never so little: and then when it is granted him of the Lord, to hurt (for the Lord giveth him this power of his own good will, either, that he may punish the wicked, or allure, recall, try, and correct his own, as we have showed before) so oft he feeleth himself constrained to remain within the determined bounds,1 as appeareth by the story of Job, Ahab, and other testimonies. Therefore, that I may at the last come to the very place of Zechariah, that the enemies of the Jews, did more grievously afflict them, than the wrath of Gods displeasure could bear, yet they could not pass the decree of God, no not the breadth of a nail. For Gods decree dependeth further than his displeasure. And it is showed in these words of the Prophet, that there is no cause why the people should measure the wrath of God, by ⟨p. 146⟩the multitude of calamities which they suffered. For that the Lord sent them a great part thereof, not as being angry, he would destroy them, but contrarily, as though a loving father should correct them, that they might return themselves to good life. The Lord therefore after his manner, as it were some most loving father maffling with his children, testifieth, that he is angry with their frowardness and cruelty, to whom he had given his children to be corrected, but not destroyed, that is, that the Executioners dealt more cruelly with them, than his displeasure could bear. But all these are no otherwise to be expounded by [Greek or Hebrew] humane affection than when we read, that God hath bin angry, or repented, of which matter we will speak anon.
yea, euen Sathan himselfe, that lying and vncleane spirite, doth reproue thée, in whom, when there wanteth not a thousand waies to do mischief, and is so great wickednesse, as we cānot possibly thinke, yet he is so straightly bridled, that he cannot euen hisse againe, excepte the Lord with his voice excite him: and is so straightlye fettered, that he cannot moue so muche as his finger, but by the Lordes assignement. He, euen hée, I saye, doeth confute thée, and, albeit againste his will, yet he confesseth againste the testimonie of his owne conscience, that thou arte enforced of him, that thou mightest breake out into these blasphemies. For he acknowlegeth, that, excepte power bée obtayned of the Lord, he cannot hurt any, be it neuer so little: and then when it is granted him of the Lorde, to hurte (for the Lorde giueth hym this power of his owne good will, either, that he may punish the wicked, or allure, recall, trie, and correct his own, as we haue shewed before) so ofte he féeleth himselfe constrained to remaine within the determined boundes,1 as appeareth by the storie of Iob, Achab, and other testimonies. Therefore, that I maye at the last come to the verye place of Zacharie, that the enimies of the Iewes, did more grieunously afflict them, than the wrath of Gods displeasure coulde beare, yet they coulde not passe the decrée of God, no not the breadth of a naile. For Gods decrée dependeth further than his displeasure. And it is shewed in these wordes of the Prophet, that there is no cause why the people shoulde measure the wrath of God, by ⟨p. 146⟩the multitude of calamities which they suffered. For that the Lorde sent them a greate parte thereof, not as being angry, he woulde destroy them, but contrarily, as thoughe a louing father shoulde correct them, that they might retourne themselues to good life. The Lorde therefore after his maner, as it were some moste louing father maffling with his children, testifieth, that he is angrye with their frowardnesse and crueltie, to whom he hadde giuen his children to be corrected, but not destroyed, that is, that the Executioners dealte more cruellye with them, than his displeasure could beare. But all these are no otherwise to be expoūded by 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 humane affectiō than when we reade, that God hath bin angry, or repented, of which matter we will speake anone.
- 1Job. 1.12. &. 2.5.6 1. Kin. 22.22 Apoc. 6.4.8., & 7.2.3, and. 9.4.Iob. 1.12. &. 2.5.6 1. Kin. 22.22 Apoc. 6.4.8., & 7.2.3, and. 9.4.
