A04920:122
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.
They have said with them selves,1 not righteously ⟨p. 88⟩judging our lief is troublesome and short, neither is there any remedy against the death of man, neither hath he been known that hath returned from the hells, we were b•rn without purpose, and we shall be as we never had ben •or the spirit is but a smoke in our nostrils &c. in pro•es of time our name shall come to oblivion, neither yet shall any man remember our works. Therefore let us use the present prosperity, Let us oppress the poor man being just, let us not spare the widow, neither yet let us re•erence the long aged and white hairs of the ancient, but let the strength of our power, be the law of justice. and so far forth he accuseth their open tyranny, and then concludeth these things, they thought and did err, for they were blinded by their own malice: neither have they known the mysteries of God (I wonder that ye marked not this place) neither have they hoped for the reward of holiness. for God created man to immortality (here I note your falsehood: for ye write God created man to be undestroyed) and made him to his own similitude. Now let the indifferent reader judge, whether you or I do nearer attain to the mind of the writer you (I say) that do affirm, that he denieth that God hath either elected or reprobated any man, or I that deny that to be any part of his mind, but say, he reproveth mans malicious blasphemy and manifest impiety.
They haue said with them selues,1 not righteously ⟨p. 88⟩iudgeīg our lief is troblesom ād short, neither is there any remedie against the death of mā, neither hath he bene knowē that hath returned from the helles, we were b•rn without purpose, and we shalbe as we neuer had ben •or the spirit is but a smoke in our nosethrels &c. in proes of tyme our name shall com to obliuion, neither yet shal any man remember our workes. Therefor let vs vse the present prosperitie, Let vs oppresse the poore man being iust, let vs not spare the widowe, neither yet lett vs reerence the lōg aeged ād white heares of the ancient, but let the strength of our power, be the law of iustice. and so far furth he accuseth their open tyranny, and then concludeth these thinges, they thoght and did erre, for they were blinded by their own malice: neither haue they knowē the mysteries of God (I wonder that ye marked not this place) neither haue they hoped for the reward of holynes. for God created mā to immortlitie (here I note your falshode: for ye write God created man to be vndestroyed) and made him to his own similitude. Now let the indifferent reader iudge, whether you or I do nerer attein to the mynd of the wryter you (I say) that do affirme, that he denieth that God hath either elected or reprobated any man, or I that deny that to be any parte of his mynd, but say, he reproueth mannes malicious blasphemy and manifest impietie.