A04920:114
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.
Ye instantly require that we will show any testimony of the scripture that hath reprobate any before the foundations of the world. If it be the pleasure of God to give ⟨p. 81⟩unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation by the knowledge of him self, that the eyes of your mind may be illuminated that ye may know what is the hope to the which he hath called you, and how rich is the glory of that inheritance, which he hath prepared for his saints, ye shall require no place more plain, nor more evident then the same, which most ignorantly, or else most maliciously ye do abuse, for if there be any difference betwixt the saints, the faithful, that be blessed with all spiritual benediction, betwixt those (I say) that were elected in Christ Jesus before all times, that in time be called, and by the power of the holy spirit do give obedience to the caller, and so are made citizens with the saints and household of God, as they that are builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles: if any difference (I say) be betwixt these former, and these in whom the prince of this world doeth work all filthiness and rebellion, whom he holdeth captive at his pleasure, who can not repent their detestable lives, and therefore are reputed strangers from the common wealth of Israel. And further if ye will believe Christ Jesus affirming and rejoicing that it pleased his Father to hide the secretes of his kingdom from the prudent and wife, and to reveal the same to little ones,1 and that because it was his pleasure: I trust ye shall confess that those scriptures be plain enough to prove that as some were elected before the foundation of the world was laid, so likewise were there others reprobated, as the final end of both doeth witness: But how ye wrestle against this argument we shall after hear: and how plainly I have proved son to be elected and others to be reprobated, read before and judge with indifferency. If ye will conclude that God hath §4no certain election, neither yet that he hath reprobated any, because that he hath no respect of persons, and because he calleth the world from the rising up of the son to the going down of the same, because he made both small and great, and careth (as ye falsely allege) for both a like, your affirmation may well be bold, but I think, that your probation shall be slender.