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…

Also I abhor the consequent and consecution• but least any device seem to annoy the readers, but that every rudesbi• may know it to be true that I say. Therefore, if in the bones of Christ thou consider nature, they were brittle, but if thou consider the decree which was manifested in his time, they were no more endangered to breaking, than the Angels to the miseries of men. But now seeing it standeth us on to behold the order of nature disposed from above, I do in no sort reject casualty, as it appertaineth to our sense. These saith Calvin, so in deed plainly and evidently, that he which can stagger in these, may seek a fault where none is. But least thou shouldest any way complain of our obscureness, because there in scarce any slander which they have more usually in mouth, and which men do more impudently lay to our charge, namely the ignorant, than this of the necessity ⟨p. 233⟩of the Stoical destiny, I will at once that it be plentifully and evidently made plain, what we think of these things, and that not with my words, but of the most learned and by many degrees most excellent man P. Martyr, who albeit he hath not published those things which I am to describe, that were taken out of his lectures: yet this also, I trust, he will grant to his Beza, not unwilling, that his help being gotten, it may every where be used to the putting down of a lye. Thus therefore thought P. Martyr, when he first should expound in the most excellent Church at Tigurine the first book of Samuel, many very godly & learned men being present & approving it. The question is (saith he) whether Gods providence be inchangeable. Why not? For it is the rule of all things ye are done. I am the Lord, (saith he) and am not changed, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration. And in the Prou••. There be many thoughts in the heart of man, but the Lords counsel standeth.¹ Isaiah 46. I say the word, and my counsel abideth, and I do all things whatsoever I will. For seeing the providence is the will and knowledge of God,² and these appertain to the essence of God, it cannot fail except God himself should be changed. In deed, the second causes, seeing they are divers, they oft times hinder themselves, which we see doth come in use in the passages of Heaven, that some be hindered of others. But the will of God can be hindered by no force.