This therefore is the sum of that he goeth about, namely, that hereby it doeth appear, the ingratitude of men towards GOD is inexcusable: because by sure testimonies they show forth the fierce wrath of GOD against them. For they should never have been plunged in so filthy lusts after the manner of beasts, unless the Majesty of God had been marvellously displeased and provoked against them. Wherefore, seeing they every where abounded in most detestable abominations, he gathereth that the testimonies of Gods wrath were extant in them.1 Now if this wrath of GOD never rage against any temerously or unjustly, but always it holdeth fast the moderation of equity: hereby he showeth it is a plain case that no less just then sure destruction hangeth over all men. Of the manner how God doeth give men over unto wickedness, it is not necessary I should make any large discourse in this place. For it is ⟨p. 16⟩certain he doeth permit men to fall, not only by suffering and winking at them: but also by his just judgement he so ordaineth it that they should be led and carried both of their own concupiscence and the Devil into such madness. Therefore he useth the word delivered, according to the perpetual manner of the Scripture: which word they rack too violently who think we are carried unto sin only by the sufferance of God. For as Satan is the minister of Gods wrath and as it were his tormentor, so he is armed against us not by the dissembling or sufferance, but by the commandment of the Judge.2 And yet is neither God cruel, nor we innocent, seeing Paul declareth plainly, that we are not otherwise delivered under his power, then if we have deserved such punishment. This only we except, that the cause of sin cometh not from God:3 seeing the roots thereof remain still in the sinner. For this must alway be true: Destruction is thine O Israel, thy help is only in me. When he joineth the lusts of mans heart with uncleanness,4 privily he giveth us to understand what fruit our heart bringeth forth when it is once left unto it self. This clause between them selves, hath his Emphasis or force, for it expresseth more significantly how deep and uncurable notes of infamy they had printed in their bodies.
This therefore is the summe of that hee goeth about, namelye, that heereby it doeth appeare, the ingratitude of menne towardes GOD is inexcusable: because by sure testimonyes they shewe foorth the fierce wrath of GOD agaynst them. For they shoulde neuer haue beene plunged in so filthye lustes after the manner of beastes, vnlesse the Maiestye of God had beene maruellouslye displeased and prouoked agaynst them. Wherefore, seeyng they euerye where abounded in moste detestable abhominations, hee gathereth that the testimonies of Gods wrath were extante in them.1 Nowe if this wrath of GOD neuer rage agaynst any temerously or vniustlye, but alwayes it holdeth faste the moderation of equitye: heereby hee sheweth it is a playne case that no lesse iuste then sure destruction hangeth ouer all menne. Of the manner howe God doeth giue menne ouer vnto wickednesse, it is not necessarye I shoulde make anye large discourse in this place. For it is ⟨p. 16⟩certayne he doeth permitte menne to fall, not onelye by suffering and winking at them: but also by his iust iudgemente hee so ordeyneth it that they shoulde bee ledde and carried both of their owne concupiscence and the Diuell into suche madnesse. Therefore hee vseth the woorde deliuered, according to the perpetuall manner of the Scripture: whiche woorde they racke too violentlye who thinke wee are carried vnto sinne onely by the sufferaunce of God. For as Sathan is the minister of Gods wrath and as it were his tormentoure, so hee is armed agaynst vs not by the dissembling or sufferaunce, but by the commaundement of the Iudge.2 And yet is neyther God cruell, nor wee innocent, seeyng Paule declareth plainlye, that wee are not otherwise deliuered vnder his power, then if we haue deserued suche punishment. This onelye wee excepte, that the cause of sinne commeth not from God:3 seeyng the rootes thereof remayne still in the sinner. For this muste alwaye be true: Destruction is thine O Israell, thy helpe is onelye in me. When he ioyneth the lustes of mans hearte with vncleannesse,4 priuily hee giueth vs to vnderstande what fruite our hearte bringeth foorth when it is once lefte vnto it selfe. This clause betweene them selues, hath his Emphasis or force, for it expresseth more significantlye howe deepe and vncurable notes of infamye they had printed in their bodies.
- 1Gods wrath alway just.Gods wrath alway iust.
- 2Satan is the minister of Gods wrath.Sathan is the minister of Gods wrath.
- 3The roots of sin remain in the sinner.The rootes of sinne remayne in the sinner.
- 4Osce 13.9.
