4 The other is: if God do not only use the work of the wicked, but also governeth their counsels and affections, he is the author of all mischief: and ⟨image 43⟩therefore men are unworthily commended if they execute that which God hath decreed, because they obey his will. But they do ill to confound his will and his commandment together, for although when Absalom abused his fathers wives, it was Gods will to punish Davids adultery with that dishonour,1 yet did he not therefore command the wicked Son to commit Incest, unless perhaps they mean it in respect of David, as he speaketh of the railings of Semey, for when he confesseth that Semey raileth at him by the commandment of God, he doeth not therefore commend his obedience, as if the froward dog did obey the commandment of God, but acknowledging his tongue to be the scourge of God, he patiently suffereth to be corrected. When God performeth by the wicked the thing which he decreed by his secret judgement,2 they are not to be excused although they did obey his commandment, which in deed of their evil lust they do purposely break. The saying of Augustine is sufficient to content a godly mind, ⟨p. 37⟩that sometimes man with good will willeth that, which God willeth not:3 as if a good son, willeth to have his father live, whom God will have to dye. Again, that it may come to pass, that man may will the same thing with an evil will, which God willeth with a good will. As if an evil son willeth to have his father dye, & God also willeth the same, now the first of these two sons willeth that which God willeth not, and the other son willeth that which God also willeth, and yet the naturalness of the first son doeth better agree with the will of God, although he will a contrary thing, then the unnaturalness of the other son that willeth the same thing. So great a difference is there what to will doth belong to man, & what to God, and to what end every one is to be applied, to have it either allowed or disallowed, for those which God willeth well, he bringeth to pass by the evil wills, of evil men.
4 The other is: if God doe not onely vse the worke of the wicked, but also gouerneth their counsels and affectiōs, he is the authour of all mischiefe: and ⟨image 43⟩therfore men are vnworthily commended if they execute that which God hath decreed, because they obey his will. But they doe ill to confounde his will and his commaundement together, for although when Absolon abused his fathers wiues, it was Gods will to punish Dauids adultery with that dishonour,1 yet did he not therfore commaund the wicked Sonne to commit Incest, vnlesse perhaps they meane it in respect of Dauid, as he speaketh of the railings of Semey, for when he confesseth that Semey rayleth at him by the commandement of God, he doeth not therefore commende his obedience, as if the frowarde dogge did obey the commaundement of God, but acknowledging his tongue to be the scourge of God, he paciently suffereth to be corrected. When God performeth by the wicked ye thing which hée decreed by his fecrete iudgemēt,2 they are not to be excused although they did obey his commaundement, which in déed of their euell lust they do purposely breake. The saying of Augustine is sufficiēt to cōtent a godly mind, ⟨p. 37⟩that sometimes man with good wil willeth that, which God willeth not:3 as if a good sonne, willeth to haue his father liue, whom God will haue to dye. Againe, that it may come to passe, that man may will the same thing with an euill will, which God willeth with a good will. As if an euill sonne willeth to haue his father dye, & God also willeth the same, nowe the first of these two sonnes willeth that which God willeth not, and the other sonne willeth that which God also willeth, and yet the naturalnes of the first sonne doeth better agree with the will of God, although he wil a contrary thing, then the vnnaturalnes of ye other sonne that willeth the same thing. So great a differēce is ther what to wil doth belōg to man, & what to God, and to what end euery one is to be applied, to haue it either allowed or disalowed, for those which God willeth wel, he bringeth to passe by ye euil wils, of euill men.
- 12 Sam. 16.22.
- 21. Kin. 12.20. O••. 6.4. & 13.•1. 2. Ki•. 11.23. & 2. •i•. 10.•.
- 3Enchi. ad Law. Cap. 101.
