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 if thou thinkest, that he suffereth something, because he would not it should be done, who will not think thee without common sense? for he would rather forbid that, than suffer it. And truly common reason telleth, as the only will of God sufficeth, that any thing be done, so also, that any thing be not done, it sufficeth, because GOD will not that it be done.

But if thou thinkest, that he suffereth something, bycause hée woulde not it shoulde be done, who will not thinke thée without common sense? for he woulde rather forbid that, than suffer it. And truely common reason telleth, as the onelye will of God sufficeth, that anye thyng be done, so also, that anye thing be not done, it sufficeth, bycause GOD will not that it be done.

There remaineth a third, that he suffer something to come to pass, which he willeth it be either done or not done, as that be careth not whether it be done or no. But who knoweth not that this doctrine is Epicurious? Furthermore, who I pray thee, besides thee alone, knoweth not, that the omnipotency of God standeth not only in this, that be can do what he list, but in this also, that all the power and strength of all inferior causes dependeth of him? But whence is this strength, but from a willing God? For neither can it be wrested from the beginning, neither proceed nor issue, as out of the hands of an idle God, that inferior causes should be enforced, not by his, but by their own determination. For I deny not, but that the instruments are in deed enforced, which are endued with will, according to their own liking, but because it is carried to the end ordained of God. For because (as Augustine hath excellently and truly written) the will of God is the necessity of things, nor that Stoical, which thou falsely objectest against us, but which taketh not away the voluntary moving of will, as the same writer hath plainly manifested in his books, entitled of the City of God. Therefore when thou sayest that God nilling,¹ but suffering, the limits may be passed which he hath set, thou either spoilest him of his omnipotency, or makest him light and inconstant, and finally, contrary to himself. But this thy blasphemy, even all dumb creatures do reprehend with open mouth, which have continued so many thousand years in their estate: & they plainly confess, that they cannot pass the breadth of a line, except he will and commandeth. The strength of I straell will not deceive, (saith Samuel) nor will be removed with repentance, seeing he is not a man, that he can repent. And Paul saith, it is not possible, that the word of God should fall away. But it must needs fall away in