Thou indeed opposest thy self against Gods trueth like a brazen rock, but the spirit of the Lord shall also devour thee, and that stone which is cut without hands shall crush thee. If we are borne the children of wrath, are we not, I pray thee, inexcusable before the precept? I pray not for the world, (saith Christ.) But doest thou by the name of World, only understand them which when they can believe the Gospel, yet nevertheless will not? If the blind lead the blind, they fall both into the ditch: but thinkest thou that none be borne blind, when on the contrary part man is nothing else but a most palpable darkness? The Apostle witnesseth, that man is so enthralled to sin, that he is not apt, so much as to think any good: but is he to thee excusable, except of himself he can not only will, but also work? But it may be thou wilt say, that all in some sort are borne blind, but God gineth ⟨p. 245⟩this grace to all, that they may open their eyes if they will. But who will grant thee this? where death reigneth, there verily doth sin reign: and death beareth sway even upon very infants: where is then that thine universal grace? As though in deed men were not borne by their own nature sufficiently inexcusable in Adam, except also there approach a new divorce of grace. Again, dost thou think that there is any grace, which indeed properly belongeth unto life without Christ, that can be derived unto men? But how may they obtain any grace by Christ, which are not comprehended within the covenant, nor ever heard any thing of Christ, so far is it off, that they have embraced him by faith? For Faith cometh by hearing. And if thou denyest, that there have ever bin an infinite number of such in the world, the truth it self, which every one seeth, will sufficiently convince thee. And to what purpose is this? that is, that all confess, that by their own nature they are inexcusable, albeit they are borne concluded under the necessity of sin. For necessity doth not take away will, as which albeit necessary, yet not enforced, but of it self and willingly should not be drawn unwilling, but might be carried witting, and willing, unto wickedness. But yet thou wilt say, there is no man so wretched, that he would desire evil.
Thou indéede opposest thy selfe against Gods trueth like a brasen rocke, but the spirite of the Lorde shall also deuoure thée, and that stone which is cut without hands shall crushe thée. If we are borne the children of wrathe, are we not, I pray thée, inexcusable before the precept? I pray not for the world, (sayth Christ.) But doest thou by the name of World, only vnderstande them which when they can beléeue the Gospell, yet neuerthelesse will not? If the blinde leade the blinde, they fall both into the ditch: but thinkest thou that none be borne blinde, whē on the contrarie parte manne is nothing else but a moste palpable darkenesse? The Apostle wytnesseth, that manne is so inthralled to sinne, that hée is not apte, so muche as to thinke anye good: but is he to thée excuseable, excepte of himselfe he can not onely will, but also worke? But it may be thou wilte say, that all in some sorte are borne blinde, but God gineth ⟨p. 245⟩this grace to all, that they maye open their eies if they will. But who wil grant thée this? where death raigneth, there verily doth sinne raigne: and death beareth sway enen vppon verye infants: where is then that thine vniuersall grace? As thoughe in déede men were not borne by their owne nature sufficiently inexcusable in Adam, except also there approch a newe diuorse of grace. Againe, dost thou thinke that there is anye grace, whiche indéede properly belongeth vnto life without Christe, that can be deriued vnto men? But how may they obtaine any grace by Christe, which are not comprehended within the couenaunt, nor euer heard any thing of Christe, so sarre is it off, that they haue embraced him by faith? For Faith cō meth by hearing. And if thou denyest, that there haue euer bin an infinite number of such in the world, the truth it selfe, whiche euerie one séeth, wil sufficiently conuince thée. And to what purpose is this? that is, that al confesse, that by their own nature they are inexcusable, albeit they are borne concluded vnder the necessitie of sinne. For necessitie doth not take awaye will, as whiche albeit necessarie, yet not enforced, but of it selfe and willingly shoulde not be drawne vnwilling, but might be carried witting, and willing, vnto wickednesse. But yet thou wilte saye, there is no manne so wretched, that he would desire euil.
