A04920:116
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.
Your conclusion is false, and my reason is, because that gods free election dependeth not upon the persons of men, but upon his own promise and good will▪ But to make this matter more sensible: I will make an argument directly against yours.1 God respecteth not the persons of men. But yet amongest men is found great diversity both in virtue and in vice. Therefore there must be some cause from whence this diversity proceedeth. Of the first part I know ye doubt not, and the second part is confirmed by common experience and by evident scriptures. for how diverse be the inclinations of men, none can be ignorant, except such as do not observe the same. Such as attribute the cause of such diversity to the stars and to the influence2 of the Planets are more then vain: education3 and up bringing doeth somewhat bow nature in that case: but neither of both is the cause of such diversity: for how many have been nourished in virtue together, and yet have after fallen to most horrible vices, and in the same perished? And contrary ways how many have been wickedly brought up, and yet by grace attained to an holy conversation. If the cause of this diversity (I say) shall be inquired and sought, it shall not be found in nature. for thereby were and are we all borne the sons of wraith: if in education and up bringing, we see how often that faileth. The cause thereof then must be of necessity without man. To make the matter yet more plain by an example, Paul preached Christ Jesus, to be the only Saviour of the world both amongest the Jews and gentiles, to some his preaching was the savour of lief, and to others it was the savour of death. from whence cometh this diversity? from the obedience, will, and faith of the one, say you. and from the stubborn inobedience, and infidelity of the other: you say somewhat, but not all. for true it is that faith and an obedient will, is that which we call Causam propinquam, that is the next cause to our apprehension: but what is the cause that the will of one is obedient, and the will of the other stubborn, ⟨p. 84⟩that the one doeth believe and the other doeth blaspheme: How so every do shift,