I set this saying of Augustine against all thy Slanders, in that the wicked sin (saith he) it is their own, in that they do this or that in saying it is of the power of God, dividing the darkness as it pleaseth him. Seest thou Slanderer, with how little force they lye in the dust, whatsoever thou hast bent against us? For all these things are false which thou attributest to us, and here also thou fightest against thine own shadow. But go too, let us hear Calvin himself speaking, that even children may judge of thine impudency. These verily be Calvins words. Those that are but meanly exercised in Scripture, will not call into controversy, but that continually God doth govern the hands of men, now holdeth them bound, now bendeth them hither and thither, to the executing of that which he hath determined. Yea almost it is received in the common judgement of all men, that whatsoever men go about, the issue lieth in the hand of God, but because ⟨p. 227⟩in so thick darkness of mans mind, that knowledge is marvellous slender and inconstant, the Scripture erecteth to us higher sight, whereout we shall behold God so governing all the works of men, that h•eacute;e may apply them to that end which he hath determined. And the sum tendeth to this purpose, albeit men like wild beasts run riot, restrained with no bounds, that yet they are governed with the secrete bridle, that they can not so much as move their finger, but to the executing of Gods work, more than their own. This last saying of Calvin, thou Slanderer hast snatched, that thou mightest persuade men, that Calvin hath foredone even all difference of good and evil, or maketh God the author of wickedness. But how impudently thou gatherest these, appeareth by these things, which Calvin hath adjoined to the forgoing, but thou, because thou hast made Shipwreck of all shame long ago, hast secretly overpassed: for (sayeth Calvin,) the faithful which yield unto him a willing obedience, are to be thought his hand no otherwayes than the Angels: wherefore I chiefly make mention here of them, who determine nothing less, than to have any thing allied to the counsel of God, or agreeable to his will.
I set this saying of Augustine agaynst all thy Sclaunders, in that the wicked sinne (sayth he) it is theyr owne, in that they doe thys or that in saying it is of the power of God, deuiding the darkenesse as it pleaseth him. Séeff thou Sclaunderer, wyth howe little force they lye in the dust, whatsoeuer thou hast bent agaynst us? For all these thyngs are false which thou attributest to vs, and here also thou fightest agaynste thyne owne shadowe. But go too, lette us heare Caluine hymselfe speakyng, that euen children maye iudge of thyne impudencie. These verilie bée Caluines wordes. Those that are but meanelie exercised in Scripture, wyll not call into controuersie, but that continuallie God dothe gouerne the handes of menne, nowe holdeth them bounde, nowe bendeth them hyther and thyther, to the executing of that whych he hathe determined. Yea almost it is receyued in the common iudgement of all menne, that whatsoeuer men goe aboute, the issue lyeth in the hande of God, but bycause ⟨p. 227⟩in so thicke darkenesse of mans mynde, that knowledge is maruellous slender and inconstant, the Scripture erecteth to us hygher sighte, whereout we shall beholde God so gouerning all the workes of men, that h•eacute;e maye applye them to that ende whyche he hath determined. And the summe tendeth to this purpose, albeit men like wilde beastes run ryot, restreined with no boundes, that yet they are gouerned with the secrete bridle, that they can not so much as moue theyr finger, but to the executing of Gods worke, more than theyr owne. This last saying of Caluine, thou Sclaunderer hast snatched, that thou myghtest persuade menne, that Caluine hathe foredone euen all difference of good and euill, or maketh God the authoure of wickednesse. But how impudently thou gatherest these, appeareth by these thynges, whyche Caluine hathe adioyned to the forgoyng, but thou, bycause thou hast made Shipwracke of all shame long agoe, hast secretely ouerpassed: for (sayeth Caluine,) the faythfull whyche yéelde unto hym a willing obedyence, are to be thought hys hande no otherwayes than the Angels: wherefore I chiefely make mention héere of them, who determine nothing lesse, than to haue any thyng allyed to the councell of God, or agréeable to his will.
