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…

Is the Lord therefore cruel? to you in deed, as I see, when a certain fellow even of thy familiars, in a little book which he published three years past, of the Largeness of the Mercy of God, had rather defend that they are nevertheless saved by Christ, to whom the Gospel was not preached, than think that so many men are enthralled to eternal torments. But we verily have learned, not to place health any other where than in Christ, nor Christ elsewhere but in the faithful and the faithfuls house: so far is it off that therefore we should accuse God of any cruelty, that of the contrary we say not, that he is cruel, if he had rejected even all to one, seeing we are all by nature the children of wrath. Let us also proceed further.

Is the Lorde therefore cruell? to you in déede, as I sée, when a certaine felowe euen of thy familiars, in a little booke whiche he published thrée yeares past, of the Largenesse of the Mercie of God, had rather defende that they are neuerthelesse saned by Christe, to whome the Gospell was not preached, than thinke that so manye menne are inthralled to eternall tormentes. But we veryly haue learned, not to place healthe anye other where than in Christe, nor Christe elsewhere but in the faythfull and the faythfuls house: so farre is it off that therefore we shoulde accuse God of anye cueltye, that of the contrarie we say not, that hée is cruell, if he hadde reiected euen all to one, séeing we are all by nature the children of wrath. Let vs also procéede further.

For albeit we should not be borne the children of wrath, yet if it should be the will of God, for the declaring ⟨p. 264⟩of his power and wrath sake, to create all to destruction, let us rest silent, as it is right, in that will, as in the sovereign and alone rule of Justice. For what is more just, than, that men judge that to be truly just and good which God doeth, albeit they cannot comprehend his judgements. But if be damn moe than he doeth sane, he doeth not therefore seem to us, more ready to wrath, than to mercy, because the mercy of God by Christ, is so great, that albeit it should appertain to one man only: yet, for that it belongeth to us, this goodness of God shall be greater by many degrees, than his just wrath against the rest. For whereas he is angry with sins, he seemeth after a sort, to do it of necessity: and whereas even for the safeguard of one man, he made himself man, that in very deed seemeth after a sort more infinite, than infiniteness it self. It remaineth, that we consider that most sweet voice of Christ: Come to me all ye that labour. Thou thinkest that it belongeth to all men, as if Christ had invited every one to him. But I except many things. First I say, that Christ speaketh as a Minister. And this is the office of a Minister, that because he knoweth not the secret counsels of God, he teach indifferently those that are committed to his charge, and bid them to the Lord, and so much the more, so much as in him lieth, to will, that they may be saved. But if thou gatherest thereof, that all belong to the Lords flock, or that especial grace to be given in like sort to all, thou art wonderfully deceived. For the Lord will, that the Gospel be preached to many blind, to many deaf, and to many proud people, that they may more and more be blinded, made deaf, & hardened: nor yet is God therefore an Hypocrite, as we have proved in his place. Then if this voice of Christ appertain to every one without exception, to what end