An euident display of Popish practises, or patched Pelagianisme. Wherein is mightelie cleared the soueraigne truth of Gods eternall predestination, the stayd groundworke of oure most assured safetie by Christ. Written in Latin by that reuerend father, mayster Theodore Beza, and now lately Englished by VV.H. preacher of the Gospell.

THE REFVTATION.

Indéede this saying is to be vnderstoode of the manifest will of Christe. Yea, I euen giue thée a further thing than thou maiste desire. For I say, that in y^e place, Christe spea∣keth not only of his, but also of the ministerie of al y^e Pro∣phets, which had she wed the word of y^e Lord in Ierusalē, séeing all the Prophets were Christes instrumentes, that is, of that alone Prophet which the Lorde promised to the Israelits by Moses. But it is a matter ••f some waight, to knowe wherefore the Lorde shoulde manifest his will by his Ministers. For we here consider Christe as executing y^e office of a Minister, both by the mouth of his Prophets, and also by himselfe, when he was a Minister of Circum∣cision. Paule saith, that he shewed to the Ephesians, all the counsell of God. Therefore Paule knew al the coun∣sell of God. For neither speaketh he as a distraught man, or as thy Sybilles, those things whiche he vnderstood not, but those thinges whiche he knewe, euen from God, and embraced by faith. But when the same would shew forth the worde of God in Asia and Bythinia, he was forbidde by the holy Ghoste. Some counsell therefore of Gods. Paule knewe not, whiche, if he hadde knowne before, he woulde not haue assayed to go into Bythinia.

Adde moreouer, that he being rapte vp into the thirde heauen, he sayeth boldely, that he sawe secreates, which it was not lawfull to vtter. Howe doe these two agrée

in themselues, that he kept nothing secrete, who yet hadde learned by reuelation, those things which it was not law∣full to teache, except, bycause there be manye thinges se∣create wyth GOD, the knowledge whereof, to the per∣fecting of godlinesse, is not yet ripe or profitable? But is ther here any repugnance betwéene Paule and the spirite of God? Yea in the shew of discord, is greatest agréement. For that whiche Paule willeth well, with a better will the Lord willeth not, albeit the reason thereof be secret, & y^e reason of Paules wil manifest. And seeing eche of these wills is good, for both God prouideth for his own glory, as he knoweth it is conuenient, and Paule is carefull for the glorye of God, (as the office of Apostleshippe requi∣reth) they maye differ, but be contrarie they cannot. For that whiche is good, in that it is good, maye differ from some good thing: to be contrarie to some good thing, it cannot. So he omitted nothing, whiche might be pro∣fitable for the profite and saluation of the godlye, but he made manifest the whole counsell of God: yet he decla∣red not those things, whiche Moses witnesseth remaine se∣create with God. What then? whence is that shewe of oddes? verily, euen from thence, that albeit the Lorde ma∣nifest the doctrine of saluation to his Ministers, by whom hée maye instructe hys Churche, yet hée maketh not manifest to them what hée hathe determined of anye one.

Hée sendeth them then, that they should preach the glad tydinges of saluation to some one whole Countrey, but he reserueth to himselfe in his secreate counselles, in whome he will haue the preaching of the Gospell to bée effectuall, and at what time: and agayne, whome hée hathe decréed by the same preaching to blynde and harden. What is therefore the office of Mi∣nisters?

verily, to call all indifferently to saluation, to doe good to all, to allure all with wordes and benefites. For they leaue the secreate iudgementes of God, till he make them manifeste. Hence is that appearaunce of odds, betwéene God and his ministers, seeing they eftsoones la∣boure to gather togi••her those, whome they knewe not to appertaine. Here be those dayly mournings and com∣plaints of Ministers, whiche sée those resiste, who oughte leaste: of whiche kinde also, is this complaint of Christe whiche thou bringest. But yet, in the shew of discorde, we haue shewed before, that there is no contrariety. But yet, if thou please to attribute this saying of Christe, as to God, not as to the Minister of GOD, in what sorte it is certaine, that, albeit he be frée from all sin, yet some igno∣rance hath place in him, knowest thou not, that the Lord, that he maye allure his children with his louing kinde∣nesse, doeth sometimes massle as children with vs? He complaineth, that he is deceiued of his Vineyard, where∣in, in stéede of swéete Grapes, he founde wilde Grapes. But wil••e thou gather hence, that the Lord can be decei∣ued? He saith elsewhere, taking aduisement of sending his sonne to the husbandmen, after that his seruants were staine, it may be, they wil reuerence my sonne. Wilt thou gather hence, that, as men are wont, he was doubtfull in mind, & that contrarie to his expectation, it fel out, that his son was slaine, séeing it is said elsewhere, to haue deliue∣red his son to the Iewes, to be crucified, and that be spa∣red not his son? Therefore, séeing that out of this place also thou gatherest, that God dissenteth from himselfe, or that the people of Ierusalem coulde infringe the counsell and will of God, (as thou fearest not to saye in another place) or, that, they perished against the wil of God, what else doest thou bewroye, but thy wonderfull ignorance.

Notes

• Deut. 18.15. 1. Pet. ••.11.
• Act. 20 27.
• ☞
• Act. 16.6.7.
• Deur. 1.••.
• Mat. ••3.32.
• Isai. 5.2.4.
• Luc. 20 13.
• Act. 2.23. Rom. 8.32.