The second part of the Defence of the Reformed Catholicke VVherein the religion established in our Church of England (for the points here handled) is apparently iustified by authoritie of Scripture, and testimonie of the auncient Church, against the vaine cauillations collected by Doctor Bishop seminary priest, as out of other popish writers, so especially out of Bellarmine, and published vnder the name of The marrow and pith of many large volumes, for the oppugning thereof. By Robert Abbot Doctor of Diuinitie.

18. W. BISHOP.

3. Obiect. If man haue no Free will to sinne, or not to sinne, then no man is to be punished for his sinnes, because he sinneth by a necessitie, not to be auoided.

He answereth, that the reason is not good; for, though man cannot but sinne, yet is the fault in himselfe, and therefore is to be punished. Against which, I say that this answer supposeth that which is false, to wit, that a man in sinne,* 1.1 cannot chuse but sinne: For by the helpe of God, who de∣sireth all sinners conuersion, and thereunto affoordeth grace sufficient; a sinner in a moment, may call for grace and repent him: and so chuse whe∣ther he will sinne or no, and consequently hath Free will to sinne, or not to sinne: And that example of a bankrupt is not to purpose; for he can∣not when he will, satisfie his creditors, who content not themselues with his repentance, without repay of their money, as God doth.

Now concerning the force of this argument, heare Saint Augustines opinion. De duab. animab. cont. Manich. in these words. Neither are we here to search obscure bookes to learne, that no man is worthie of dispraise or punishment, which doth not that, which he cannot do: for (saith he) do not shepheards vpon the dounes, sing these things? Do not poets vpon the stages act them? Do not the vnlearned in their assemblies, and the learned in their libraries acknowledge them? Do not maisters in their schooles, and Prelats in their pulpits, and finally all mankind throughout the whole world, confesse and teach this, to wit, that no man is to be punished, because he did that, which he could not chuse but do. Should he not then (according to S. Augustines censure) be hissed out of all honest companie of men, that denieth this so manifest a truth, confessed by all Mankind? How grosse is this heresie, that so hoodeth a man, and hard∣neth him, that be he learned, yet he blusheth not to deny roundly, that which is so euident in reason, that euen naturall sence doth teach it vnto shepheards. God of his infinite mercie, deliuer vs from this strange light of the new Gospell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  3. Pet. 3.