God suppress thee (Satan) who heapest together so many lies without all shame. We have plentifully proved, that men are inexcusable before the precept, that is, before the knowledge of the precept, as those which are borne the children of wrath. Where thou gatherest hence, that there is no need of the precept to make this inexcusableness, it is foolish and ridiculous. Why may not an evil estate be made worse? And thou art wonderfully deceived, if thou thinkest, that we judge all men to be alike inexcusable, when the Lord testifieth, that there be many,1 which shall be punished with a greater judgement, and beaten with moe stripes. Whereas thou sayest, that the rejected are wicked before they be, that is, from everlasting, it is not our doctrine, but the Apostles, who witnesseth, that Esau was hated (that is, was ordained to battered, as we have showed in his place) before be was born and had done any evil, and that God, as a Potter, maketh vessels of dishonour. Therefore this doctrine is true, if in deed thou considerest reprobation in the purpose of God: but if thou considerest it, in that it cometh forth already into act (as they speak) or in that the Lord beginneth now to execute his determination in effect, or foreknoweth the execution thereof, it is false that thou sayest. For God in effect rejecteth none, but those that are corrupted in Adam, and with whom therefore he is worthily displeased. Whereas thou sayest, that the reprobates sin of necessity, it is not truly said of thee. For the purpose of necessity is not the cause of that necessity, but Adams sin which issued forth upon all men. Whereas thou sayest, that the reprobates are damned before the precept, it is false in every respect: for there is no man ⟨p. 249⟩damned, except for sin. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. But the law given to Adam, and transgressed of him, made all men enthralled to the wrath of God, and therefore to just damnation. Whereas thou sayest, that God damneth men before offence, out of our doctrine it is altogether forged, and doth bewray thy gross ignorance. The Lord predestinate to life from everlasting whom he pleased, yet he saveth them not, except justified in Christ, otherwise he should be unjust.
God suppresse thée (Sathan) who heapest togither so manye lies without all shame. We haue plentifully proued, that men are inexcusable before the precept, that is, before the knowledge of the precept, as those whiche are borne the childrē of wrath. Where thou gatherest hence, that there is no néede of the precept to make this inexcusablenesse, it is foolish and ridiculous. Why maye not an euill estate be made worse? And thou arte wonderfullye deceiued, if thou thinkest, that we iudge al men to be alike inexcusable, when the Lorde testifyeth, that there be manye,1 which shall be punished with a greater iudgement, and beaten with moe stripes. Whereas thou sayste, that the reiected are wicked before they be, that is, from euerlasting, it is not our doctrine, but the Apostles, who witnesseth, that Esau was hated (that is, was ordained to batred, as we haue shewed in his place) before be was born and hadde done anye euill, and that God, as a Potter, maketh vessells of dishonoure. Therefore this doctrine is true, if in déed thou considerest reprobation in the purpose of God: but if thou considerest it, in that it commeth forth alreadie into acte (as they speake) or in that the Lord beginneth nowe to execute his determination in effecte, or foreknoweth the execution thereof, it is false that thou saiste. For God in effecte reiecteth none, but those that are corrupted in Adam, and with whome therefore hée is worthily displeased. Whereas thou saiste, that the reprobates sinne of necessitie, it is not truly said of thée. For the purpose of necessitie is not the cause of that necessitie, but Adams sinne which issued forth vppon all men. Whereas thou saiste, that the reprobates are damned before the precepte, it is false in euerie respecte: for there is no man ⟨p. 249⟩damned, excepte for sinne. And where there is no lawe, there is no transgression. But the lawe giuen to Adam, and transgressed of him, made all men inthralled to the wrath of God, and therefore to iust damnation. Whereas thou sayst, that God damneth men before offence, out of our doctrine it is altogither forged, and dothe bewray thy grose ignorance. The Lorde predestinat to life from euerlasting whome he pleased, yet he saueth them not, except iustifyed in Christ, otherwise he should be vniust.
- 1Mar. 12.40. Luc. 12.48.
