A04920:113
An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations
An answer to a great number of blasphemous cavillations written by an Anabaptist, and adversary to Gods eternal predestination. And confuted by John Knox, minister of Gods word in Scotland. Wherein the author so discovereth the craft and falsehood of that sect, that the godly knowing that error, may be confirmed in the trueth by the evident Word of GodAn answer to a great nomber of blasphemous cauillations written by an Anabaptist, and aduersarie to Gods eternal predestination. And confuted by Iohn Knox, minister of Gods worde in Scotland. Wherein the author so discouereth the craft and falshode of that sect, that the godly knowing that error, may be confirmed in the trueth by the euident Worde of God
Geneva: printed by John Crespin, 1560Geneva: printed by Iohn Crespin, 1560
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To prove that all were predestinate and chosen in Adam before the foundations of the world were laid,1 ye bring forth the testimony of Paul written in the first chap. to the Ephesians, which we before have entreated, and therefore here I only will open your falsehood. Wonder it is that shame should be so far past you: that where the holy Ghost plainly affirmeth, that we were elected and; chosen in §2Christ Jesus before; the foundations of the world were laid, that this election ye should affirm to be made in Adam. If you object that you specify not Adam: I answer that is all a like: for of your former arguments it easily may be espied whom ye understand. For when thus ye reason we did all stand in Adam, erg• we were all predestinate to lief, what is he that clearly may not perceive that your meaning is, that we were all predestinate to lief in Adam. For else you had said nothing to prove your own purpose. For we affirm that we were elected before the foundation of the world was laid. But the controversy standeth, in whom. We affirm and most constantly believe, that in Christ Jesus the eternal Son of the eternal Father, were we elected before all times. This ye can not abide and therefore ye seek all means to obscure the glory of him to whom the Father hath given all power in heaven and in earth: sometimes ye say (as now I have declared) that this §3election was made in Adam: But while that this will not serve you, ye run to an other shift alleging that the Apostle speaketh here of a general election of the hole world, and a not of any certain election which should abide for ever, and so in shifting from one danger ye fall into another as after in examining of that your vain reason more evidently shall appear.
To proue that all were predestinat and chosen in Adā before the foūdatiōs of the world were laid,1 ye brīg furth the testimony of Paul written in the first chap. to the Ephesians, which we before haue entreated, and therefor here I onely will open your falshed. Wonder it is that shame should be so far past you: that where the holie Gost plainely affirmeth, that we were elected and; chosen in §2