A09918:355
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…
An evident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianism Wherein is mightily cleared the sovereign truth of Gods eternal predestination, the staid groundwork of our most assured safety by Christ. Written in Latin by that reverend father, master Theodore Beza, and now lately Englished by VV.H. preacher of the Gospel.An euident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianisme Wherein is mightelie cleared the soueraigne truth of Gods eternall predestination, the stayd groundworke of oure most assured safetie by Christ. Written in Latin by that reuerend father, mayster Theodore Beza, and now lately Englished by VV.H. preacher of the Gospell.
London: printed by Ralph Newberie, 1578
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE REFUTATION.
THE REFVTATION.
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,