The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Now when that men, hearing their duty, and knowing what God requireth of them, do malapertly fight against all equity and justice, what, I pray you, do they else, but make manifest war against God? yea, when they have received from God such deliverance, that they cannot deny, but that God himself hath in his great mercy visited them, and yet that they continue wicked as before; what deserve they, but effectually to be given over unto a reprobate sense, that headlong they may run to ruin, both of body and soul? It is almost incredible that a man should be so enraged against God, that neither his plagues, nor yet his mercy showed, should move them to repentance; but because the Scriptures beareth witness of the one, and the other, let us cease to marvel, and let us firmly believe, that such things as have been, are even presently before our eyes, albeit many, blinded by affection, cannot see them.

Now when that men, hearing their duty, and knowing what God requireth of them, do malapertly fight against all equity and justice, what, I pray you, do they else, but make manifest warre against God? yea, when they have received from God such deliverance, that they cannot deny, but that God himself hath in his great mercy visited them, and yet that they continue wicked as before; what deserve they, but effectually to bee given over unto a reprobate sense, that headlong they may runne to ruine, both of body and soul? It is almost incredible that a man should be so enraged against God, that neither his plagues, nor yet his mercy shewed, should move them to repentance; but because the Scriptures beareth witnesse of the one, and the other, let us cease to marvell, and let us firmly beleeve, that such things as have beene, are even presently before our eyes, albeit many, blinded by affection, cannot see them.

Ahab (as in the book of the Kings it is written) received many notable benefits of the hand of God, who did visit him in divers sorts; sometimes by his plagues, sometimes by his word, and sometimes by his merciful deliverance; He made him king, and for the Idolatry used by him and his wife, he plagued whole Israel by Famine; He revealed to him his Will and true Religion by the Prophet Elijah; he gave unto him sundry deliverances, but one most special, when proud Benhadad came to besiege Samaria, and was not content to receive Ahab's gold, silver, sons, daughters and wives, but also required, that his servants should have at their pleasure whatsoever was delectable in Samaria: True it is, that his Elders and people willed him not to hear the proud Tyrant, But who made unto him the promise of deliverance? and who appointed and put his Army in order? who assured him of victory? The Prophet of God only, who assured him, That by the servants of the Princes of the Provinces, who in number were only two hundred thirty and two, he should deface that great Army, in the which there were two and thirty Kings, with all their Forces; and as the Prophet of God promised, so it came to pass, victory was obtained, not once only, but twice, and that by the merciful visitation of the Lord.