Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the…Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the…

And the reason of this is, not the abridgement or shortening of his power, (for be it far from mortal men, to presume in any thing, though never so little, to restrain the eternal power of the immortal God) but because his will and power (I mean of the same, as they are revealed to us by his word, and particularly by his promises made unto us therein concerning the same) be in respect of us, so conjoined and knit together, that look whatsoever he will do, that he can do, and look whatsoever he can do, that he will do. Oh how unreasonable is this, that we will give earthly Potentates leave, because of their high callings and excellent wisdom, that we suppose to be in them now and then, to hedge in the bounds of their power and authority, ⟨p. 215⟩by their words at their own pleasure, and will not grant or yield so much to the Almighty? Surely there is very great and good reason to the contrary, for as for men, by reason of the blindness and ignorance of their own hearts they can not well tell when it is good, either to straiten or enlarge themselves, whereas GOD, by reason of the fullness of goodness that is in him can not choose but do good, whether he enlarge or abridge himself. But to make all this plain, by one or two examples in stead of many, we are all persuaded, that God can not drown the world any more, with the waters of an universal flood, because we know by his word he will not, for the more certain and assured sealing up of the same in our hearts, and not for any discredit unto him, or shortening of his arm and power, he hath not only given us his comfortable and sweet word of promise, but hath set his bow in the clouds, ¹to be a most effectual pledge of the same unto us. Again, we all do know and believe, that though GOD, in respect both of himself, and his almighty ⟨p. 216⟩power, with whom all things, yea, the most hardest, are possible, can if he would save all men, yet we fear not to say and affirm, that in respect of us he can not save all men, because we know by his revealed will in his word, that he will not save them all.

And the reason of this is, not the abridgement or shortening of his power, (for be it farre from mortall men, to presume in any thing, though neuer so litle, to restrain the eternal power of the immortall God) but because his will and power (I meane of the same, as they are reuealed to vs by his woorde, and particularlie by his promises made vnto vs therin concerning the same) be in respect of vs, so conioyned and knit together, that looke whatsoeuer hee will doo, that hee can doo, and looke whatsoeuer he can do, that hee will doo. Oh howe vnreasonable is this, that wee will giue earthlie Potentates leaue, because of their high callings and excellent wisedome, that wee suppose to bee in them nowe and then, to hedge in the boundes of their power and authoritie,