Albeit Satan and Infidels can not execute, be it never so little, either against the godly, or ungodly, except God decree it, will it, and permit it. Yet it followeth not, that the sin which they do, they should do it by the will of God. For albeit God willeth that same thing which Satan & Infidels will, yet he willeth not after the same forte, and in that respect, as Satan and Infidels will. For God willeth justly, and worketh by them justly, that which these both will and do wickedly: by cause they are so enforced of God, that yet they do their own parts, that is, with counsel and will depraved. There is therefore great dissension, where there seemeth to be greatest agreement, and of the contrary great agreement, where there seemeth to be much discord. Of the which matter I think good to add that excellent place of Augustine, that thy slander may be the better seen.1 So therefore he writing to Laurentius saith, which place Calvin hath aptly cited, and adorned with excellent examples. Sometimes, ⟨p. 173⟩(sayeth he) man willeth that with good will, which God will not, yea, he with good will much more, and much more certain: as if a good son would his father should live, whom God with good will will have to dye. And again, it may be, that Man will that with an evil will, which God willeth with good will, as if an evil son would his father should die, also God willeth it: the other truly willeth that which God willeth not: but this willeth that which God willeth, and yet the godliness of the other, albeit willing an other thing, is rather consonant to the good will of God, than the ungodliness of this, who willeth the same thing. So much it differeth what man willeth, and what be agreeable to God, and to what ends every one refer his will, that either it be approved or improved. For God performeth certain his wills, and that good, by the evil wills of wicked men, as by the evil willing Jews, by the good will of the father Christ is stain for us, which was so great a good, that the Apostle Peter, when he would not it should be done of him that would be stain, be was called Satanas. Howe good appeared the good wills of the godly faithful, which would not that the Apostle Paul should go up to Jerusalem, least he should suffer those evils there, which Agabus the prophet had foretold?
ALbeit Satan and Infidels can not execute, be it neuer so little, eyther against the godly, or vngodlye, excepte God decrée it, will it, and permitte it. Yet it followeth not, that the sinne which they do, they should do it by the wil of God. For albeit God willeth that same thing which Satan & Insidels will, yet he willeth not after the same forte, and in that respect, as Satan and Infidels will. For God wylleth iustly, and worketh by them iustly, that which these both will and do wickedly: by cause they are so enforced of God, that yet they do theyr owne partes, that is, with counsell and will depraued. There is therefore greate dissention, where there séemeth to be greatest agréement, and of the contrarie greate agréemente, where there séemeth to be much discorde. Of the which matter I thinke good to adde that excellent place of Augustine, that thy slaunder may be the better séene.1 So therefore he writing to Laurentius saith, whiche place Caluine hath aptlye cited, and adorned with excellent examples. Sometimes, ⟨p. 173⟩(sayeth he) man willeth that with good will, whiche God will not, yea, he with good will muche more, and muche more certaine: as if a good sonne woulde his father should liue, whome God with good will will haue to dye. And againe, it may be, that Man will that with an euill wil, whiche God willeth with good will, as if an eutil sonne woulde his father should die, also God willeth it: the other truely willeth that which God willeth not: but this willeth that whiche God willeth, and yet the godlinesse of the other, albeit willing an other thing, is rather consonant to the good will of God, than the vngodlinesse of this, who willeth the same thing. So much it differeth what manne willeth, and what be agréeable to God, and to what ends euerye one referre his will, that either it be approued or improued. For God performeth certaine his willes, and that good, by the euill willes of wicked menne, as by the auill willing Iewes, by the good will of the father Christ is staine for vs, which was so great a good, that the Apostle Peter, when he woulde not it shoulde be done of hym that woulde be staine, be was called Satanas. Howe good appeared the goodwils of the godly faithfull, which would not that the Apostle Paule shoulde goe vp to Ierusalem, least he should suffer those euills there, whiche Agabus ye ꝓhet hadde foretolde?
- 1In his Enchiridion to Lawrenrtus. Cap. 100.In his Enchiridion to Lavvrērtus. Cap. 100.
