A04920:157
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.
It may appear to some that in heaping of your examples and histories,1 which ye adduce for your especial election (as ye term it) ye rather delight to renew your memoir, then substantially to prove your purpose. For if a man should thus reason against you. The sheep of Christ which by the eternal purpose of God,2 be especially elected to lief, hear his voice and with reverence do know and obey the same. But these whom ye rehearse, did hear the voice (as ye allege) but neither did they know nor obey it, Ergo they were not the sheep elected and especially chosen. if thus I say any man should reason, prepare for your answer. And farther how ye be able to prove that Sardanapalus, Croesus and Tarquinius the proud can be placed in this rank of your especially elected, I can see no good reason. for except that calamity and gods just vengeance did follow their insolencie, filthy lief, and pride, I find in histories no special message sent unto them from God. But this ye may understand by some secrete revelation which ye have received of late in your perfection.3
It may appere to some that in heaping of your exemples and histories,1 which ye adduce for your especiall election (as ye terme it) ye rather delyte to renew your memoire, then substancially to proue your purpose. For if a mā should thus reason against you. The shepe of Christe which by the eternall purpose of God,2 be especially elected to lief, heare his voice and with reuerence do know and obey the same. But these whom ye rehearse, did heare the voice (as ye alledge) but neither did they know nor obey it, Ergo they were not the shepe elected and especially chosen. if thus I say any man should reason, prepare for your answer. And farther how ye be able to proue that Sardanapalus, Croesus and Tarquinius the proude can be placed in this rank of your especially elected, I can se no good reason. for except that calamitie and gods iust vengeance did folow their insolencie, filthie lief, and pryde, I fynd in histories no speciall message sent vnto them from God. But this ye may vnderstand by som secrete reuelation which ye haue receaued of late in your perfection.