A04920:186
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.
ANSWER.
ANSWERE.
Albeit that ye be so blinded that ye can put no difference betwixt the foreknowledge,1 will, and power of God, which all are perfect in him self, as is his eternal God head, and the foreknowledge, will, and power of man or creatures which he imperfect and weak by reason of mans corruption, yet I doubt n•t but that all reasonable men shall suddenly espy your vanity, who dare be so bold as to affirm that because your knowledge was not the cause that Paul was a persecutor, that therefore the foreknowledge of God, his eternal purpose counsel and will which we, never separate, did no more in that matter, then did your bare knowledge. by the same reason ye may conclude • t God wrought no more with Paul in preaching to the Gentiles, than did your knowledge, for the reason is a like strong. But he him self, will not be so unthankful, but will confess that from his mothers womb he set him a part,2 and called him by his grace to the end that he might reveal his Son Christ Jesus by him:3 for the which he unfeignedly thanked the goodness of God, who made him strong in Christ Jesus to be faithful in that office,4 and ministry, I am not ignorant that other ways doeth God work in the hearts of his elect, the work of their salvation, and other ways in the reprobate. for in the hearts of his elect effectually and by the power of his spirit doeth he so work in them the motions that be agreeable to his holy commandments, that they strive and contend against their natural corruption: but justly leaving the reprobate to them selves and to satan their father, they willingly follow without all violence or compulsion of gods part, iniquity