A16580:337
Godly meditations upon the Lords prayer, the belief, and ten commandments with other comfortable…Godlie meditations vpon the Lordes prayer, the beleefe, and ten commaundementes with other comfortable…
Godly meditations upon the Lords prayer, the belief, and ten commandments with other comfortable meditations, prayers and exercises. Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternal election and predestination, gathered by the constant martyr of God John Bradford in the time of his imprisonment. The contents whereof appear in the page next following.Godlie meditations vpon the Lordes prayer, the beleefe, and ten commaundementes with other comfortable meditations, praiers and exercises. Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternall election and predestination, gathered by the constant martyr of God Iohn Bradford in the tyme of his imprisonment. The contentes wherof appeare in the page nexte folovvyng.
London : Now first printed by Rouland Hall, dwelling in gutter lane at the sign of the half Eagle and key, the .12. of October 1562London : Nowe fyrst prynted by Rouland Hall, dwellyng in gutter lane at the signe of the halfe Egle and key, the .12. of October 1562
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First the Stoics opinion is to be condemned as concerning fatal 1necessity, for that it tieth and bindeth god to the second causes, and maketh him, which is a most free agent, bound and tied, so that he cannot work but as the second cause moveth him. For they did Imagine a perpetual connection and knitting together of causes by a perpetual order which is contained in nature, where as we should certainly know that it is God which is the ruler and arbiter of all things, which of his wisdom hath foreseen and determined all things that he will do, and now of his power doeth in his time put the same in execution, according as he hath decreed with him self. Herein to tarry any longer I need not, for that I think there be none now which be of this opinion, to attribute things to fortune, a word unseemly for Christians.
Fyrste the Stoikes opynion is to be condemned as concerninge fatall 1necessitie, for that it tyeth and byndeth god to the seconde causes, and maketh hym, which is a most free agente, bounde and tyed, so that he cannot worke but as the seconde cause mouethe hym. For they did Imagyne a perpetuall connexion and knyttinge together of causses by a perpetuall order whiche is contayned in nature, where as we shoulde certaynelye knowe that it is God whyche is the ruler and arbyter of all thynges, whyche of hys wysedome hathe foresene and determyned all thynges that he wyll doe, and nowe of hys power doeth in hys tyme putte the same in executyon, accordinge as he hathe decreed wyth hym selfe. Herein to tarye anye longer I nede not, for that I thinke there be none nowe whiche bee of this opynyon, to attrybute thinges to fortune, a word vnsemly for Christians.
- 1Against the Stoics fatal necessity.Against the Stoikes fatall necessitie.
Secondly, that all things are done by coaction or compulsion, is false and out of God's providence and predestination cannot be gathered or maintained, for there must be a difference put between necessity and constraint. All things that have been done, be or shall be, in consideration of gods providence, as it is with god, are of necessity, but yet not of compulsion or constraint: As for example you shall see that necessity is one thing and constraint is an other thing. God is good of necessity, but who now will say then that he is so by coaction or enforced thereto? The devil is naught of necessity, but not by coaction. Good men do well of necessity, but not by compulsion. Wicked men do evil of necessity, but not of constraint. A thing y is done willingly, is not to be said to be done by constraint. God is good willingly, but not by compulsion. The devil is naught willingly, but not of enforcing. Good men do good willingly, but not constrainedly. Wicked men do transgress willingly, but not