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…

I answer, that there is in GOD altogether one and the self same will, but that he foresaw from everlasting what was convenient for divers times. Augustine sayeth to Marcellinus, That the husbandman doeth at one time sow, and at another time ⟨p. 234⟩mow, at an other time dung his land, & yet that the trade of Husbandry is not therefore changeable. Vinditianus, (saith he) a certain Physician, gave to a sick man a potion, and recovered him He after many years being fallen again into the same disease• the Physician not knowing of it, took the same potion••. But when he felt himself worse, he came to the physician, he showed him the matter, and began to complain of the potion. Then Vinditianus, it is no marvel (saith he) for I gave thee not that. Here when others marvelled, and thought that he had used to add some magical force, there is (saith he) no such thing: he is of another age, & hath other humours, than who I did first give him that potion. But for that cause shall the Physic be inconstant: So utterly God, albeit he foreseeth all things, yet he hath not decreed, that all things shall be done at one time. Now let us come to the matter it self, if the providence of God be certain, may it suffer any chance: Here first I will use two distinctions, and then I will answer. There is one simple necessity, an other by supposition. For whom we say, that there is a God, that God is wise and i•ste, we understand, that that is simply and absolutely necessary. Other things he necessary by supposition, as that which is taught in Schools, that which is, insomuch as it is, is necessary. Christ and the Prophets preach, that Jerusalem shall be destroyed, therefore it shall be destroyed of necessity: not because that necessity is in the nature of the City, but because Christ and the Prophets have foretold it, which could not be deceived. There must be heresies (saith Paul.) And Christ saith, It is necessary that offence come. For, these causes being set, that is, the corrupt wits of men, and the devils hatred against mankind, & the end being set also, that the elect shall be tried, by supposition it is necessary, that these things come. Also things may be considered two ways, either as they are secret in the causes, as ⟨p. 235⟩they stand out in act, & so they have the reason of necessity.