A04920:216
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.
Was it no kind of servitude I pray you yea even in the fl•she,1 that Esau was compelled to beg pottage at Jacob, and for the same to sell all title of his birthright? was it no thraldom, that with crying howling, and furious roars, he was compelled to beg the benediction, which Jacob had gotten, and yet could not obtain it? Did not his heart feel subjection when he seeth his father so constant in preferring Jacob to him, that by no means he would retreat or call back one word. We do not deny but the diversity was also established betwixt the two nations: but that the heads should be secluded, that are ye never able ⟨p. 134⟩to prove. But rather the battle, which did begin in the mothers womb, was established, and confirmed by the oracle of God to continue betwixt the posterities of those two heads. Did Rebecca, and Isaac after he did see gods providence and will to be contrary to that which he had purposed (which was to give the benediction to Esau) did they, I say, understand that Jacob had no part in that promise touching his own person? The words of Isaac do witness the contrary: for he sayeth,2 I have established him lord over the &c. By the same reason which ye make I may prove that these words were not spoken of their posterities, for during longer time, then either did Jacob or Esau live, the Edomites did not serve the Israelites in the flesh: which did only begin in the latter days of David, and did continue,3 to the days of Joram (son of losaphat) when they departed from that obedience: neither yet were they ever after that, brought into subjection again. but be therefore• the oracles, and promises of God vain? Yea had they not their effect, both in the one people, and in the other, even when the one was in most miserable bondage: first in Egypt, and after in Babylon: and when the other was in greatest felicity to mans appearance? yet before God, was that sentence true: The elder shall serve the younger. For he had further respect, then the present estate, as the Apostle doeth declare, that all the faithful Patriarchs had. Jacob would not have interchanged the comfort, which he received in his first journey, from his fathers house, for all the worldly joy, Y Esau possessed: for in seg that scale or ladder, God fitting upon the head of it, the foot of it touching the earth, upon the which did Angels ascend and come down: