A09918:411
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,
There wants somewhat in this thy writing, but it is his fault, to whom thou committedst thy book to be written. For otherwise in deed with great trustiness all things are printed out of that very copy which thou sentest to Paris, to be printed there by stealth. But to the matter: Why (I pray thee) makest thou mention of these things? For, do we say, that there is another rule of good and evil, of just and unjust, than the law of God? Do we show another way of salvation, than the Gospel of the son of God, so as it remaineth written? Or do we say it shall come to pass, that God shall judge the world by any other prescription than by his word? Or rather are not we the men which not only have avouched the authority of the word of God, for our uttermost against the Papists, but also against thy self three years ago, when thou biddest, that new revelations be looked for, because the word of God, such as is delivered us by the Prophets & Apostles, sufficeth not to decide the controversies of the Churches? But art not thou the very man which in thy Commentaries upon the first Epistle to the Corinthians, affirmest, that Paul hath but only taught us the rudiments of religion, and that he had an other more perfect doctrine which he communicated with certain his perfect Scholars. Howe is it therefore, that being so suddenly changed, thou risest against us, as if we rested not in the only words of God? Is it that thou mayest show, that thou haste repented? But truly we be the same men we were, nor have we learned at any time to rest any where, but in the only word of God. God shall judge the world by the Gospel, that is, whosoever he shall find embracing Christ by faith, which indeed will appear by their fruits, be will forgive & declare them Coheirs with Christ, the rest being worthily condemned, ⟨p. 221⟩he shall give over to be tormented in eternal flames. By this will of the heavenly father, I say, Christ shall judge the quick and the dead. But what madness is this, to gather of that, that all the counsels or judgements, or all the justice and will of God are manifest to us, that is, whatsoever he doeth, is manifest unto us, and whatsoever he hath decreed of every one, and in every one from everlasting?