A04920:225
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.
I praise God that so far ye will confess of gods eternal ⟨p. 139⟩trueth, that it was not for their righteousness, that Israel received the inheritance, but only because God freely loved their fathers. But why so suddenly ye slide from the principal purpose, leaving Esau and his posterity, a•d do enter to speak, why the Canaanites were cast forth,• see no just cause. for neither doeth Moses, in the first oracle of God, neither the Prophet Malachi, in explaining the same, neither yet our Apostle in applying both those places to the spiritual benediction, lay the seed of Jacob against the Canaanites, but Jacob is set against Esau, and the people descending from the one, against the people that descended from the other. The question there might justly have been demanded: what prerogative hath Jacob above Esau? Moses the Prophet and the Apostle do answer,1 assuredly none, except only grace, which made difference betwixt them, whom nature in all things had made equal. for both were come of Abraham, both of one father, both of one mother, both conceived at once, both fostered under one climate, region influence of stars, and yet it was said. The elder shall serve the younger.
I praise God that so far ye will confes of gods eternall ⟨p. 139⟩trueth, that it was not for their righteousnes, that Israel receaued the inheritance, but onely becaus God frely loued their fathers. But why so sodanly ye slyde frome the principall purpose, leauing Esau and his posteritie, a•d do enter to speak, why ye Cananites were cast furth,• se no iust cause. for neither doeth Moses, in the first oracle of God, neither the Prophete Malachie, in explaning the same, neither yet our Apostle in applying boeth those places to the spirituall benediction, lay the sede of Iacob against the Cananires, but Iacob is set against Esau, and the people discending frome the one, against the people that discended from the other. The question there might iustly haue bene demanded: what prerogatiue hath Iacob aboue Esau? Moises the Prophete and the Apostle do answer,