Indeed this is the pillar and foundation of thy goodly disputation against Predestination, which thou hast inserted in thy Annotations of the ninth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans: which, how firm it is, let us see. I pray thee therefore, (Good man) who ever, besides thee alone, made blind by the just judgement of God, was so senseless and mad, that when the highest cause is assigned, he would suppose the inferiors to be moved, or not rather to be established? Make to your selves a new heart,1 and a new spirit, (saith the Lord.) Wilt thou gather thereof, that it is not the Lord, that should give a new heart, and create a clean spirit? which should take away the stony heart and give a heart of flesh?2 If thou do these things, (saith Paul) writing to Timothy, thou shalt save thy self. Wilt thou gather of this, that we are not saved of God by Christ? Fathers of families are said to feed their families, and he that liveth by his labour, is said to nourish himself: also, bread and meat are said, to nourish us. Doeth not therefore God feed us? yea, all these as [Greek or Hebrew] things set in their order, do very well accord. For being converted of God, we convert: being urged of God, we do: & God blessing us, we live by ⟨p. 197⟩our endeavour. Seest thou therefore Ass, that they are foolish and ridiculous whatsoever thou hast imagined, that thou mightest discountenance the truth? for neither (as he saith) is there any counsel against the Lord, and so useth the just judge to besot them, which do not stay themselves in his word. Induration therefore is the just work of God, who hardeneth whom he pleaseth, and yet not otherwise than justly hated, seeing they be corrupt. Induration is also the work of Satan, by whom in deed the Lord worketh in the hearts of infidels, as it is written, The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,3 and an evil spirit sent from the Lord did trouble him. It is also the work of the false Prophets whom themselves also the Lord seduceth by Satan, that one may enforce another into just condemnation, as it is written, If a Prophet deceived speak the word, I the Lord have deceived that Prophet,4 as also it appeared in the Magical Egyptians, and in Sedechia the false Prophet.
Indéede this is the piller and foundation of thy goodlye disputation againste Predestination, whiche thou hast inserted in thy Annotations of the ninth Chapiter of the Epistle to the Romanes: whiche, howe firme it is, lette us sée. I praye thée therefore, (Good man) who euer, besides thée alone, made blinde by the iuste indgement of God, was so senselesse and madde, that when the highest cause is assigned, he woulde suppose the inferiors to be moued, or not rather to be established? Make to your selues a new hearte,1 and a newe spirite, (saith the Lord.) Wilt thou gather thereof, that it is not the Lord, that should giue a new harte, and create a cleane spirite? whiche shoulde take awaye the stony hearte and giue a heart of fleshe?2 If thou doe these things, (saith Paule) writing to Timothie, thou shalte saue thy selfe. Wilte thou gather of this, that wée are not saued of God by Christe? Fathers of families are saide to féede their families, and he that liueth by his laboure, is said to nourish himselfe: also, breade and meate are saide, to nourish vs. Doeth not therefore God féed vs? yea, al these as 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 things sette in theyr order, doe very wel accorde. For being cōuerted of God, we conuert: being urged of God, we do: & God blessing vs, wée liue by ⟨p. 197⟩our endeuor. Séest thou therefore Asse, yt they are foolish and ridiculous whatsoeuer thou hast imagined, that thou mightest discountenance the truth? for neyther (as he sayth) is there any councell againste the Lord, and so vseth the iust iudge to besotte them, whiche doe not stay themselues in his worde. Induration therefore is the iust worke of God, who hardneth whome he pleaseth, and yet not otherwise than iustly hated, séeing they bée corrupt. Induration is also the worke of Sathan, by whome in déede the Lord worketh in the heartes of infidels, as it is written, The Spirite of the Lorde departed from Saule,3 and an euill spirit sente from the Lorde dyd trouble him. It is also the worke of the false Prophetes whome themselues also the Lorde seduceth by Sathan, that one may inforce another into iust condemnation, as it is written, If a Prophet deceyued speake the worde, I the Lorde haue deceyued that Prophet,4 as also it appeared in the Magicall Egiptians, and in Sedechia the false Prophet.
- 1Ezeck. 18.31.
- 21. Tim, 4.19.
- 31. Samu. 16.14.
- 4Ezec. 14.9. 1. Reg. 22.23.
