A04920:160
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.
THE ADVERSARY.
THE ADVERSARIE.
The first argument of them which abuse gods holy predestination is easily solved,1 their argument is this. where so ever there is election, there is also reprobation of the same sort. But God elected some men afore the foundations of the world. Ergo he reprobated some other men afore the world. The first part of this argument is false, That where so ever there is election, there is also reprobation of the same sort. for gods election afore the world hath no respect unto his contrary reprobation afore the world. Yea there is no such word nor phrase in the hole scripture but gods election afore the world, is general to all men, as his calling is general without respect of persons. This is all ready sufficiently proved, yet some of you do grant gods calling to be general, but not his §3election. And in this ye accuse God of hypocrisy, you would make him a dissembler like unto your selves, which often times with your mouth do offer and promise that which ye mind never to perform.§4 But God is faithful which is willing to perform all that he promiseth even to them that refuseth him. And though they attain not the promise because of their unbelief, yet all the time of their calling be they in the general election, as those whom the king called to the marriage, Notwithstanding they came not, yet were they chosen to be partakers of the marriage, and the servant §5to whom the master forgave all his debts, was chosen notwithstanding he attained not that,2 whereunto he was chosen, but became a reprobate, abusing the goodness of his master. God is no hypocrite, which calleth men outwardly, and forgiveth debts only with the mouth, but even from the heart, willing to give salvation to all them to whom he offereth it. And the cause why such do perish is their obstinateness to gods grace: and as the Lord sayeth their stiff neck which hath an iron vain and their brows of brass which despise the goodness of God, they became cast aways, Because (as saint John sayeth) they love darkness