A04920:245
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.
Here with great vehemency ye allege these words of Paul,1 who hath ben able to resist his will, of which saying, ye infer §1that God without any cause known to us hath reprobated, and damned many, against which will, no man can resist. These ⟨p. 150⟩words did Paul write because he did foresee, that of his former sayings some devilish disposed persons would take occasion to §2burden God with unrighteousness, as ye do, making him the author of evil: for ye say that God hath a secrete will whereby he willeth the most part of the world to be condemned, which will, because it can not be resisted, therefore of mere necessity by the immutable decree of God, so many do perish. further ye this affirming §3God to be the cause of damnation only, because it so hath pleased him, ye cause many other to burst out and say: Sith his will and pleasure no man is able to resist: let him lay it on him self. and not to us, if any sin be committed, and surely for my part were it not I abhor your horrible doctrine, wherewith ye cruelly affirm gods ordinance to be the cause of damnation. I would not meddle further in this matter, but with reverence behold the works of God. forasmuch as I see thanks be to God no work of God, wherein his mercy doeth not clearly shine. But if your saying were §4true then were his works full of cruelty, misery, damnation and destruction, Now as touching this saying, who is able to resist his will, we must learn what is gods will, If you ask the Lord he will answer you, it is not my will that any man sin, neither is §5it my will that the sinner die, but rather that he amend and live, but if he will not amend but continue in sin, him will I punish, and him may I also punish having power above all men, as the potter over the clay. Wherefore when any man suffereth justly for his trespass, he ought not to accuse God and say who can resist his will as God would absolutely the destruction of his creatures, as ye teach. God will all men to repent and amend, and also that the