First that,1 as in other points (1) so especially in this secret of predestination or foreordaining, they diligently take heed least in stead of the plain truth of God they bring vain and curious2 speculations, which they must needs do, who, to make these hidden judgments of God to agree with mans brain, do not only distinguish or make a difference between the foreknowledge ⟨image 67⟩and the purpose of God, as it is altogether needful for to do, but do also separate or sever them: or else do imagine a naked & idle permission or sufferance: or else make a double purpose of God: from which errors, when as they must needs fall into other endless and fond errors, they are partly constrained to deny such things as do wholly cleave fast together, partly also they do invent both foolish and many dark distinctions or differences, in the which the farther they wade, the more do they entangle them selves, so that they can never get out of these Labyrinths or ma•ees. These therefore must be diligently taken heed of, in this argument especially, than the which none other is more meet in the Church of God, to be purely and sincerely,3 or uncorruptlye taught. Moreover, that there be no kinds of speaking, so far as may be, (for, for teaching sake, we may sometimes godly and religiously adventure some thing) used, which are strange to the scriptures, and that such as come ⟨image 68⟩to hand in the word of God be expounded with an apt interpretation, lest some ignorant person take any occasion of offence.
First that,1 as in other poyntes (1) so especially in this secréet of predestination or foreordeining, they diligently take heede least in steede of the plaine truth of God they bring vaine and curiouse2 speculations, which they must needes do, who, to make these hiddē iudgments of God to agree with mannes braine, doo not onelye distinguishe or make a diff•rence betweene the foreknowledge ⟨image 67⟩and the purpose of God, as it is altogeather néedefull for to doo, but do also separate or seuer them: or else do imagin a naked & idle permission or sufferaunce: or else make a double purpose of God: from which errours, when as they must n•edes fall into other endlesse and fonde errours, they are partly constrained to denye such thinges as doo wholy cleaue fast togeather, partly also they doo inuent both folishe and many darke distinctions or differences, in the which the farther they wade, the more doo they entangle them selues, so that they can neuer get out of these Labyrinthes or ma•ées. These therefore must bée dilygentlie taken heede of, in this argument espetially, than the which none other is more méete in the Churchof God, to bée purelye and sincerelye,3 or vncorruptlye taught. Moreouer, that there bée no kindes of speaking, so farre as may bée, (for, for teaching sake, we maye sometymes godly and relygiously aduenture some thing) vsed, which are straunge to the scriptures, and that such as come ⟨image 68⟩to hand in the word of God be expounded with an apt interpretation, lest som ignoraunt person take any occasion of offence.
- 1A choice in matter and words.A choyce in matter and vvordes.
- 2Curious and vain questions in this doctrine especially to be avoided.Curious and vaine questions in this doctrin especiallye to bee auoided.
- 3Such mane• of speeches as are unusual in the scriptures, ought as• muchas ma•e be, to be refrained from.Such mane• of speaches as are vnusuall in the scriptures, ought as• muchas ma•e bee, to be refrained from.
