well let it be that all their stirs and brawls do issue forth of that fountain of zeal, and not from the slaughter-house of infidelity, and Paganism, yet saith the Apostle: All this1 zeal is blindness and damnable, as not being seasoned with the Salt of knowledge: woe be to him, (saith the Prophet) that for saketh God, to make flesh his right arm; Yea hear me not, saith our Saviour2 Christ because yea are not of God. Hereof it cometh, that the Lord doth complain by the month of the Prophet saying, I have nourished and brought up children, but they have rebelled against3 me, the ox knoweth his owner, and the Ass his Masters Crib, but Israel hath not known my ways.
But that we may better bethink us, and not so negligently pass over that ⟨p. 29⟩pure and unspotted, Romaine Catholic zeal, it is necessary that we call back the nature of mankind to her first creation. And then if it be demanded whether free-will were in mans nature at his first creation; I answer, (& yet not I) but the word of God) there was so, for I make no do […] free-will, be in God, then was there and free-will in man; who in that estate was the lively likeness and Image of God: but if it be demanded, whether in that nature, were any freewill, to deliberate on the evil part I deny it; for how could Adam debate upon the 4thing, that yet was not entered into the world, especially, seeing with the whole assent of his mind and body, he was disposed to obey the commandment of God: Furthermore, behold I pray you the gallant zeal of these Godly men: which will in no wise suffer y• Scripture, according to the wisdom of God, to transfer all the actions of men to the foreknowledge of5 God: & yet they themselves, will not only not cease with most hateful blasphemy, to prove him an outward consenter to all ungraciousness, but also more blasphemously go about to attaint the very nature of ⟨p. 30⟩God, of so much abomination, & wickedness, as by that general propagation, is descended from Adam, into his progeny. Here have I need to bestir me apace, for if I handle not the matter right nimbly, this bold challenge, shall quickly bring more fists about mine ears, then mine own; but it is no matter, I fear not the quarrel, & therefore must I now make it good, though I seem to stand in briers up to y• chin, or else cry creak, like a dastard craven:
well let it bee that all their sturres and bra•les do issue forth of that fountaine of zeale, and not from the slaughter-house of infidelity, and Pagamsme, yet saith the Apostle: All this1 zeale is blindnesse and damnable, as not being seasoned with the Salt of knowledge: woe be to him, (saith the Prophet) that for saketh God, to make flesh his right arme; Yea heare me not, saith our Sauiour2 Christ because yea are not of God. Hereof it commeth, that the Lord doth complaine by the month of the Prophet saying, I haue nourished and brought vp children, but they haue rebelled against3 me, the oxe knoweth his owner, and the Asse his Masters Crib, but Israel hath not knowne my waies.
But that wee may better bethinke vs, and not so negligently passe ouer that ⟨p. 29⟩pure and vnspotted, Romaine Catholique zeale, it is necessary that wee call backe the nature of mankind to her first creation. And thē if it be demanded whether frée-will were in mans nature at his first creation; I answer, (& yet not I) but the word of God) ther was so, for I make no do 〈…〉 frée-will, be in God, then was there and frée-will in man; who in that estate was the liuely likenesse and Image of God: but if it bee demanded, whether in that nature, were any fréewill, to deliberate on the euill part I deny it; for how could Adam debate vpon ye 4thing, that yet was not entered into the world, especially, séeing with the whole assent of his mind and body, he was disposed to obey the commandement of God: Furthermore, behold I pray you the gallant zeale of these Godly men: which wil in no wise suffer y• Scripture, according to the wisdome of God, to transfer al the actions of men to the foreknowledge of5 God: & yet they themselues, will not only not cease with most hateful blasphemy, to proue him an outward consentor to al vngraciousnesse, but also more blasphemosly goe about to attaint the very nature of ⟨p. 30⟩God, of so much abontynation, & wickednesse, as by that generall propagation, is descended from Adam, into his progeny. Here haue I néed to bestur me apace, for if I handle not the matter right nimbly, this bould challendge, shal quickly bring more fists about mine eares, then mine owne; but it is no matter, I feare not the quarrel, & therefore must I now make it good, though I séeme to stand in briers vp to y chin, or else cry creake, like a dastard crauin:
- 1Rom. 10. 2.
- 2Joh. 8. 17.Ioh. 8. 17.
- 3Esa. 12. 31
- 4No free•••l in mans first nature unto evil.No free•••l in mans first nature vnto euill.
- 5The Papist• zeal.The Papist• zeale.
