A04920:119
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.
If you understand this former place of scripture which affirmeth that God hath no respect of persons as your book doeth witness, to wit, that God careth a like for all, that he no more loveth the one, than the other, except that it be for their obedience, the hole scripture of God doeth witness against you. Was the love of God no greater to Abraham and to his posterity, then it was to the rest of the nations? Moses and David do witness the contrary: Saying: he hath not done so to any nation, and his judgements he hath not showed to them,1 only thee, hath he chosen of all nations and people, that be upon the face of the earth, that thou shouldest be unto him a peculiar people. And ⟨p. 86⟩what was the cause of this their dignity and prerogative before we have declared, to wit, no virtue, no obedience, no good quality that was in them, but only his free love, free grace, and undeserved mercy, as he him self doeth plainly affirm?2 I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy, and saint Paul: it is neither of the willer, neither yet of the runner, but of God that showeth mercy to such as pleaseth him. And thus I say you can not justly nor rightly conclude, that God hath neither chosen nor reprobated any man, because he hath no respect of persons. for as before I have said, his eternal election dependeth neither upon man, neither yet upon any thing that is within man,3 but is purposed in him self, and established in Christ Jesus, in whom we are elected, because that in our selves there neither was neither yet could be any worthiness, which could merit or deserve such honour and dignity. And so God respecteth not the persons of men, their virtues, nor qualities in their election, but finding them all equal in creation, and corruption maketh difference betwixt them, according to his eternal purpose, respecting Christ Jesus and not their merits. How that ever the proud and ungodly storm at this, I nothing doubt, but the children of God do thereof receive most singular consolation as that it is the chefest cause why that without all trembling and fear, they stoop before his Majesty, and giving thanks for these inestimable benefits do crave of his mercy such a purity of lief as becometh