He sendeth them then, that they should preach the glad tidings of salvation to some one whole Country, but he reserveth to himself in his secret counsels, in whom he will have the preaching of the Gospel to be effectual, and at what time: and again, whom he hath decreed by the same preaching to blind and harden. What is therefore the office of Ministers? ⟨p. 192⟩verily, to call all indifferently to salvation, to do good to all, to allure all with words and benefits. For they leave the secret judgements of God, till he make them manifest. Hence is that appearance of odds, between God and his ministers, seeing they eftsoons labour to gather together those, whom they knew not to appertain. Here be those daily mournings and complaints of Ministers, which see those resist, who ought least: of which kind also, is this complaint of Christ which thou bringest. But yet, in the show of discord, we have showed before,1 that there is no contrariety. But yet, if thou please to attribute this saying of Christ, as to God, not as to the Minister of GOD, in what sort it is certain, that, albeit he be free from all sin, yet some ignorance hath place in him, knowest thou not, that the Lord, that he may allure his children with his loving kindness, doeth sometimes male as children with us? He complaineth, that he is deceived of his Vineyard, wherein,2 in stead of sweet Grapes, he found wild Grapes. But wil•e thou gather hence, that the Lord can be deceived? He saith elsewhere, taking advisement of sending his son to the husbandmen, after that his servants were stain,3 it may be, they will reverence my son. Wilt thou gather hence, that, as men are wont, he was doubtful in mind, & that contrary to his expectation, it fell out, that his son was slain, seeing it is said elsewhere, to have delivered his son to the Jews, to be crucified, and that be spared not his son? Therefore, seeing that out of this place also thou gatherest, that God dissenteth from himself, or that the people of Jerusalem could infringe the counsel and will of God,4 (as thou fearest not to say in another place) or, that, they perished against the will of God, what else doest thou bewray, but thy wonderful ignorance.
Hée sendeth them then, that they should preach the glad tydinges of saluation to some one whole Countrey, but he reserueth to himselfe in his secreate counselles, in whome he will haue the preaching of the Gospell to bée effectuall, and at what time: and agayne, whome hée hathe decréed by the same preaching to blynde and harden. What is therefore the office of Ministers? ⟨p. 192⟩verily, to call all indifferently to saluation, to doe good to all, to allure all with wordes and benefites. For they leaue the secreate iudgementes of God, till he make them manifeste. Hence is that appearaunce of odds, betwéene God and his ministers, seeing they eftsoones laboure to gather togi•her those, whome they knewe not to appertaine. Here be those dayly mournings and complaints of Ministers, whiche sée those resiste, who oughte leaste: of whiche kinde also, is this complaint of Christe whiche thou bringest. But yet, in the shew of discorde, we haue shewed before,1 that there is no contrariety. But yet, if thou please to attribute this saying of Christe, as to God, not as to the Minister of GOD, in what sorte it is certaine, that, albeit he be frée from all sin, yet some ignorance hath place in him, knowest thou not, that the Lord, that he maye allure his children with his louing kindenesse, doeth sometimes massle as children with vs? He complaineth, that he is deceiued of his Vineyard, wherein,2 in stéede of swéete Grapes, he founde wilde Grapes. But wil•e thou gather hence, that the Lord can be deceiued? He saith elsewhere, taking aduisement of sending his sonne to the husbandmen, after that his seruants were staine,3 it may be, they wil reuerence my sonne. Wilt thou gather hence, that, as men are wont, he was doubtfull in mind, & that contrarie to his expectation, it fel out, that his son was slaine, séeing it is said elsewhere, to haue deliuered his son to the Iewes, to be crucified, and that be spared not his son? Therefore, séeing that out of this place also thou gatherest, that God dissenteth from himselfe, or that the people of Ierusalem coulde infringe the counsell and will of God,4 (as thou fearest not to saye in another place) or, that, they perished against the wil of God, what else doest thou bewroye, but thy wonderfull ignorance.
- 1Mat. •3.32.
- 2Isai. 5.2.4.
- 3Luc. 20 13.
- 4Act. 2.23. Rom. 8.32.
