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…

HOW false this slander is it shall appear by the very self writing of Calvin. For thus he saith. I say (saith he) with Augustine, that the Lord created some whom he undoubtedly foreknew should be damned, and that it was so, because he would so. But wherefore he would so, it appertaineth not to us to enquire, who are not able to ⟨p. 9⟩comprehend it: nor is it lawful that the divine will should be called in question of us: whereof so oft as any mention is made, the very sovereign rule of Justice is under that title named. Again,¹ because (saith he) the scripture doth plainly show it, we say that the Lord in his eternal, and unchangeable counsel, hath once determined whom in their time he would receive unto life, & whom also he would give over unto death. Those to whom he vouchsafeth eternal life, we say to be adopted by his free mercy, & in no respect of their own worthiness. Whom he giveth over unto death, those truly in his just and irreprehensible, but that also incomprehensible justice, he abridgeth the way of life. Again,² if we (saith he) are not ashamed of the gospel, it is requisite that we acknowledge whatsoever is therein manifestly set down: that God in his eternal decree, whose cause dependeth upon none other, refusing others, hath ordained whom he saw good to eternal life, and whom by his free adoption he vouchsafeth to lighten with his holy spirit, that they may receive eternal life offered in Christ: that others being of themselves unbelieving, destitute of the eyes of faith may remain in darkness. Again, as Augustine writeth,³ so far forth (saith he) the will of God is the very sovereign rule of Justice, that whatsoever he will, even in that he will it is to be holden righteous. Therefore when soever it is demanded why the Lord hath done so, it is to be answered because he will: but if thou proceedest in asking why he will so, thou seekest some greater or higher thing than the will of God which cannot be found.⁴ Also we must ever return (saith he) to the alone determination of his will, the cause whereof is secrete in himself. Again the Apostle sought not starting holes, as if he were taken tardy, but showed that the consideration of Gods Divine justice is more sovereign than that it may either be measured after any humane