The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

I nothing doubt, but this Author pleased himself well in this comparison, and others likewise of his own sect. For like lettuce, like lips, yet all this is carried with a show ¹of charity, in acknowledging the holiness forsooth, and goodness of their opposites; but it ends in this comparison, right Epicurus like, whose morality (forsooth) was pleaded to countenance his sensual and swinish doctrine. But whatsoever our lives be, for testimony whereof we nothing desire to be beholding to the charity of our opposites; Yet surely our doctrine concerning the absoluteness both of election, grounded upon no other foundation then this, that Grace is not conferred according unto works, as Austin testifies; and of reprobation grounded accordingly upon no other foundation then this, that ²grace is not denied according unto works; shall be found no swinish doctrine, but the very truth of God. And let them that oppose it look well to their ways, least they be not found goatish together with their doctrine at the day of judgment. But how comes this Author to be so stupid in reading Cicero, and so little understanding him; as in these words to conceive, that he professeth himself to have a good opinion of Epicurus? I confess I marked it the more diligently, because I remember well the comparison that Plutarch makes between the virtuous gloriation of Epaminondas his mother, and the vile gloriation of Epicurus his mother, professing she never saw an happier day, then when she saw her Son Epicurus generating, cum Cyzezena meretriculâ, operis cum Polyano divisis; unless this were the morality of her Son, wherein she gloried that he was not so jealous, but that he could admit a corrival in the satisfaction of his filthy lusts. And indeed I had also observed other where, that he was a very temperate man, but to this end, that he might take the greater pleasure in the flesh, his senses being the more quick, when they were not clogged and overcome with surfeit. But come we to Cicero his judgment. He takes notice that Epicurus was commended as Comis in amicitiis tuendis, a man of a fair nature in maintaining friendship; yet (saith he) though these things were true (for I affirm nothing) he was not acute enough. I think this is spoken in reference to his doctrine nothing answerable to this commendation of him.

I nothing doubt, but this Authour pleased himselfe well in this comparison, and others likewise of his own sect. For like lettice, like lips, yet all this is carried with a shew