A04920:232
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.
Why for the more perfect understanding of Pauls mind, any man should rather read the words of Jeremiah written in the xviii. chapter of his prophecy then the words written in xlviii. chapter of the Prophet Isaiah, I see no just cause. for plain it is that the Prophet Jeremy in that place hath no respect to gods eternal Election. he disputeth not why God hath appointed in his eternal coū sell •om to lief, and some to death, but retaineth him self within the limits and bounds of the matter,1 which the• he entreated. Which was to assure the Jews that God would eie•• them from that same land, which to Abraham he had promised and had given to his posterity, and yet would he preserve the• to be a people such as he thought good. This doctrine was strange, and to many incredible. for it appeareth to repugn to gods promise, who had pronounced that to Abraham, and his seed he would give that land for ever. Much trooble ad contradiction (as may be seen) did the Prophet suffer for the teaching and affirming this former doctrine. And therefore it pleased the mercy and wisdom of God by divers means to strengthen and confirm him in the same. Amongest which this was one, Ut commanding him to go down to a potters house, he promised to speak with him there. That is, to give unto him further knowledge and revelation ⟨p. 144⟩of his will, who when he cam, found the potter as is written making a clay pot upon his rote• and turning wheel. which Pot in his presence did break, but the Potter immediately gathering up the Pot sherdes, did fashion and for me it a new, and made it another vessel, even as best pleased him: And then came the word of the Lord upon the Prophet saying, may I not do unto you ô house of Israel, even as this Potter doeth. Behold ye are in my hand, ô house of Israel even as the clay is in the hand of the Potter. By which fact seen, and words after heard, was the Prophet more confirmed in that, which before he had taught.