IN another place thou definest, that to harden, declareth nothing else, but not to mollify. That definition I say, to be foolish and ridiculous. For seeing we all (as thou thy self art constrained to grant albeit a little after thou dissentest from thy self) carry flinty hearts, to harden, declareth not not to mollify, but to make something of hard, harder. ⟨p. 194⟩Seeing this hardness is from the birth in us, and is enlarged upon us, not by creation, but by corruption, and therefore God worthily detesteth it, and even by his ensue judgement doubleth it, how is it, that you fear to grant, that the hardening was the just work of God, the punisher and avenger? Verily, thou canst not deny, that the spirit of GOD doeth not speak otherwise. For in how many places is GOD said to harden, to blind, to shut up the ears, to make gross the ha•te, to hold the heart, to turn the heart, to give over into a reprobate sense, to send a strong delusion, and many like? Howe often do they come in reading? But of sufferance in these things, there is not indeed the least mention in the sacred Books, as much indeed, as I can call to mentorte,1 except in one only place, where it is said, that the Lord in times paste, suffered the Gentiles to walk in their own ways. But neither this-place, nor any like if it be so that thou findest any, do any whit relieve thee, seeing that in Sufferance, is necessarily included Will, much less, that these should be repugnant between themselves, as we have showed in his place. But it is labour-worth, to show the self words of Calvin, that here also thy lewdness may be manifested. These therefore be Calvins words, The heart of Pharaoh is hardened of God (saith Moses.) In vain here do they fly to sufferance, as if God may be said to have done, that be only hath suffered to be done. For Moses plainly affirmeth, that that hardness was the work of God: These saith Calvin. But thou most lewd Sycophant, writest, that the whole rebellion of Pharaoh, was by Calvins sentence, ascribed to God. As though indeed this thy lye cannot be convinced by that same slander, which thou adjoinedst by and by.
IN another place thou definest, that to harden, declareth nothing else, but not to mollific. That definition I say, to be foolishe and ridiculous. For séeing we al (as thou thy selfe arte constrained to graunte albeit a little after thou dissentest from thy selfe) carrye flintie heartes, to harden, declareth not not to mollifie, but to make something of harde, harder. ⟨p. 194⟩Séeing this hardenesse is from the birth in vs, and is enlarged vppon vs, not by creation, but by coruption, and therefore God worthily detesteth it, and euen by his ins•e iudgement dubleth it, howe is it, that you feare to graunte, that the hardening was the iust worke of God, the punisher and auenger? Verily, thou canste not denye, that the spirite of GOD doeth not speake otherwise. For in howe many places is GOD saide to harden, to blinde, to shutte vppe the eares, to make grosse the ha•te, to holde the hearte, to tourne the harte, to giue ouer into a reprobate sense, to sende a strong delusion, and manye like? Howe often do they come in reading? But of sufferaunce in these thinges, there is not indéede the least mention in the sacred Bookes, as muche indéede, as I can call to mentorte,1 except in one onely place, where it is saide, that the Lord in times paste, suffered the Gentiles to walke in their own wayes. But neither this-place, nor any like if it be so that thou findest anye, doe any whit relieue thée, séeing that in Sufferaunce, is necessarilye included Will, much lesse, that these shoulde be repugnant betwéene themselues, as we haue shewed in his place. But it is labor-worth, to shewe the selfe wordes of Caluine, that here also thy lewdnesse may be manifested. These therefore be Caluines wordes, The heart of Pharao is hardened of God (saith Moses.) In vaine here doe they flie to sufferaunce, as if God maye be saide to haue done, that be onely hathe suffered to be done. For Moses plainly affyrmeth, that that hardnesse was the worke of God: These saith Caluine. But thou moste lewde Sycophant, writest, that the whole rebellion of Pharao, was by Caluines sentence, ascribed to God. As thoughe indéede thys thy lye cannot be conuinced by that same sclaunder, which thou adioynedst by and by.
- 1Act. 14.16.
