A09918:404
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.
Thou in deed (as I think) wouldest yield over thy self to all nations, not so much to be derided, as to be held execrable when thou wrotest these things. For how ridiculous, yea, how profane is this consequence, when God will be praised of all nations, that there is no argument of praise left, except of those things which may be approved by the common judgement of all nations? But Paul saith that he preacheth the Gospel, which to the Jews is a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles is held for foolishness. Whom shalt thou easily persuade, that salvation is to be looked for from him, who of all men shall he most miserable? Doest thou not hear how Pauls teaching was accepted at Athens? Doest thou not hear Paul crying out, that the natural man conceiveth not those things which are of God? What sayest thou to these goodman? For indeed so the matter standeth. The Lord communicated the benefit of the Gospel, with all people, whom therefore the Prophet calleth upon to advance the glory of God. For neither will the Lord be praised ⟨p. 218⟩of every one, but only of the Saints, as it is written: O ye righteous rejoice in the Lord,1 it becometh well the just to be thankful. And in an other place, God said to the ungodly man, why doest thou make mention of mine ordinances, and takest my laws in thy mouth? It is therefore necessary, that that thanksgiving which is acceptable and pleasant to God, proceed from saith, seeing that without saith nothing can please God. And faith comprehendeth God, not such as we conceive him by our common sense (for as John saith, darkness doth not comprehend the light) but such as he hath set forth himself to be beholden and looked upon in his word, in whose hearts the day star hath shined. But seeing now by almost infinite testimonies of both testaments, we have so manifestly proved, that not all things universally but even every thing is governed by the providence and eternal decree of God, even so much that God willeth justly, and accomplisheth also those things justly, which both Satan, and men, will iniustly and perform unjustly, and that no infection of the movings or actions may reach unto the first cause, but because it proceedeth from the depraved beginnings of the instruments, there also it remaineth: