WE have said in no place, either that man doth sin by the liking of God, as then doest expound, that is, so as sin doeth please him, or that sin is committed at adventure, than the which there can be nothing spoken more filthy. Those monsters be thine own, but that sins do proceed from the will of God, as they are sins, if it had but even come in our minds, that we should have said, or written, we would confess our selves worthy of all torments. But what punishment are thou worthy of, which doest thus Slander the faithful servant of God, and a set enemy to the Libertines? But of necessity what hath bin Augustine's judgement, which indeed we willingly embrace, as most agreeable to the word of God, appeareth by many places sufficiently. The will of God,1 (saith he) is the necessity of things. And again, So God hath created inferior causes, that that may be of them, whose causes they be, but is not of necessity, but the higher and removed he hath so kept secret in himself, that it is of necessity to be of them that he hath made by them that it might be. But that this doth not of necessity hinder the voluntary motion of will, the same Augustine teacheth thus.2 We say not that all things are done by Destiny, yea we say y• nothing is done by Destiny, because that where the name of Destiny is used to be put of those that speak it, that is, that in the constitution of Stars, whereby every one is conceived or borne, because the thing it self is avouched unprofitably, we show to be nothing worth, but we neither deny the order of causes, where the will of God availeth most, nor do we call it by the name of Destiny, least it might be that we understand the Fatum destiny, is named of Fando, ⟨p. 231⟩that is, of speaking, for we can not deny that it is written in the holy Scriptures, God spake once, for that it is said he spake once, it is understood irremovably, that is, he spake inchangeably, so as he inchangeably knew all things which should come to pass, and which he himself is to do. By this mean therefore we may call Fatum destiny, of Fando speaking, except this name is already wont to be understood in another matter, whereto we will not that the hearts of men be inclined.
WE haue sayde in no place, eyther that man dothe sinne by the liking of God, as then doest expounde, that is, so as sinne doeth please him, or that sinne is committed at aduenture, than the which there can be nothing spoken more filthie. Those mōsters be thine owne, but that sinnes do procéede from the will of God, as they are sinnes, if it had but euen come in our minds, that we should haue sayd, or written, we would confesse our selues worthy of all torments. But what punishmente are thou worthy of, whiche doest thus Sclaunder the faythfull seruaunt of God, and a sette enimie to the Lyhertines? But of necessitie what hath bin Augustines iudgement, which indéede we willingly embrace, as most agréeable to the word of God, appeareth by many places sufficiently. The will of God,1 (saith he) is the necessitie of things. And agayne, So God hath created inferioure causes, that that may be of them, whose causes they be, but is not of necessitie, but the higher and remoued he hath so kept secret in himselfe, that it is of necessitie to be of them that he hathe made by them that it might be. But that this doth not of necessitie hinder the voluntarie motion of will, the same Augustine teacheth thus.2 We say not that all things are done by Destinie, yea we say y• nothing is done by Destinie, bycause that wher the name of Destinie is vsed to be put of those that speake it, that is, that in the constitution of Starres, whereby euery one is conceyued or borne, bycause the thing it selfe is auouched unprofitably, wée shewe to be nothing worth, but we neither deny the order of causes, where the wyll of God auayleth most, nor doe we call it by the name of Destinie, least it myght be that we vnderstand ye Fatum destinie, is named of Fando, ⟨p. 231⟩that is, of speaking, for we can not denye that it is written in the holy Scriptures, God spake once, for that it is sayde hée spake once, it is vnderstoode irremoueably, that is, hée spake inchangeably, so as hée inchangeably knewe all thynges whyche shoulde come to passe, and whyche he himselfe is to do. By thys meane therefore we maye call Fatum destinie, of Fando speakyng, excepte thys name is alreadie wont to be understoode in another matter, whereto we will not that the heartes of men be enclined.
- 1Books six of Gen. ad Lut. Cap. 25. and. 18.Bookes sixe of Gen. ad Lut. Cap. 25. and. 18.
- 2Fist Book of the City of God. Cap. 9.Fist Booke of the Citie of God. Cap. 9.
