& the creatures, which be inferior causes, be only instruments which he hath in use to execute his will, and therefore, that he useth them as he pleaseth, turneth them which way soever he will, and bringeth them to that point, that it may altogether be performed that he hath determined. These be Calvins words, which if thou takest, as if he said, that God were the author of wicked acts, or willeth sin, thou certainly exceedest all impudency, seeing Calvin in those places confuteth that same blasphemy. And because many, that they may dissolve the Argument of the Libertines, do rush out into another error, not much less to be reproved, as those which determine an idle sufferance of God in most matters for the action, therefore before all things he hath thought this error to be refuted. He teacheth therefore, that God ⟨p. 170⟩executeth his work, no less by evil instruments than by good and therefore, seeing he always worketh as [Greek or Hebrew] all sufficient of himself, not as an idle beholder, nor only the governor of the very end, but to come in betwixt as the very author: the author, I say, not of the work, which evil instruments do wickedly: (for this thou hast added of thine own store Sycophant) but of that work which God doth most fustly by them, then also when they do most wickedly. Calvin doeth not teach, that wicked acts are committed, God either being willing or the author of them: but he teacheth that which is most true, albeit the evil instrument sin by cause he worketh with a depraved will, yet God doth nothing less than sin, when he worketh well by an evil instrument, and that he is the author of this his most holy work. So by Satan and the wicked, he continually exerciseth and confirmeth his Church. So, so oft as he pleaseth, he revengeth the wicked, by the hands of the wicked. So he chastised his people by the Assyrians. So he would by Absalom punish the adultery of David, when David himself was saved. So by Josephs brethren, he prepared a place of refuge for his Church. If thou denyest these, I call thee to the testimony of the Scriptures, which indeed almost infinite we have cited in the depelling of the third slander, that I may omit those things which we have so often described word for word out of Augustine and Calvin upon the same matter.
& the creatures, which be inferiour causes, be only instrumēts whyche he hath in vse to execute his will, and therefore, that he vseth them as he pleaseth, turneth them whyche waye soeuer he will, and bringeth them to that poynte, that it may altogyther be performed that he hath determyned. These be Caluins words, whiche if thou takese, as if he sayd, that God were the authour of wicked acts, or willeth sinne, thou certainely excéedest all impudency, séeing Caluine in those places confuteth that same blasphemie. And byeause manye, that they maye disolue the Argument of the Lybertines, do rushe out into another error, not muche lesse to be reproued, as those whiche determyne an idle sufferaunce of God in most matters for the action, therefore before all things he hath thoughte this error to be refuted. He teacheth therefore, that God ⟨p. 170⟩executeth his worke, no lesse by euil instruments than by goodtand therefore, séeing he alwayes worketh as 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 al sufficient of himselfe, not as an idle beholder, nor only the geuernour of the verye ende, but to come in betwixt as the very authour: the author, I say, not of the worke, whiche euill instruments do wickedlye: (for thys thou hast added of thine owne store Sycophant) but of that worke whyche God doth most fustly by them, then also when they doe moste wickedlye. Caluine doeth not teache, that wicked actes are committed, God eyther being willing or the author of them: but he teacheth that whiche is moste true, albeit the euil instrument sinne by cause he worketh with a depraued will, yet God doth nothing lesse than sinne, when he worketh well by an euill instrumente, and that he is the authour of this hys moste holy worke. So by Satan and the wicked, he continually exerciseth and confirmeth his Churche. So, so ofte as he pleaseth, he reuengeth the wicked, by the hands of the wicked. So he chastized his people by the Assyrians. So he woulde by Absolom punish the adulterie of Dauid, when Dauid himselfe was saued. So by Iosephs bréethren, he prepared a place of refuge for hys Church. If thou denyest these, I call thée to the testimonie of the Scriptures, which indéede almost infinite we haue cited in the depelling of the thirde sclaunder, that I may omitte those things whiche we haue so often described word for word out of Augustine and Caluine vppon the same matter.
