A04920:248
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.
Ye be not able to prove, that in any vehemency we §1allege those words of the Apostle in other sentence, than he wrote them, for all praise and glory be unto God the merciful giver, we have not so little profited in the school of §2Christ Jesus, that we would wrest the words of the holy Ghost to a contrary sense. We are not ignorant that the Apostle pronounceth these words in the person of carnal men, who hearing that God hath mercy upon those that he will, and that also he maketh hard hearted such as he will, do storm and furiously cry, wherefore then doeth he complain, who is able to resist his will. These words I say do we not §3urge to prove our doctrine. for where we affirm, that the only will of God, is the perfect rule of all things, which be done, and are to be done in heaven and in earth, we build our doctrine upon evident testimonies of the scriptures, and upon the chief principals of our religion and faith. David and Isaiah do both agree, that our God who dwelleth in heaven doeth what so ever he will in heaven and in earth, that he formeth light and doeth create darkness, that is, giveth aswell prosperity as adversity. Daniel affirmeth that the supreme God distributeth kingdoms as best seemeth to his wisdom, and Solomon doeth witness that against the Lord there is no counsel can prevail. The necessary principals of or faith do teach us, that as in God there falleth no ignorance, so in him there is no impotency. He doeth not as it were in suspense and doubt, behold the event and chance of things, running after to seek remedy: but that in wisdom hath he disposed all things: willing nothing which he may not, and doeth not bring to pass in time, according to his eternal purpose: and working, nothing which is not most just, howbeit the causes thereof be hid from us. Of these and many mo scriptures and necessary principals ⟨p. 152⟩of our faith do we ground our doctrine, and not upon that one place, spoken in the rebuke of the stubborn and rebellious disputers with God. ye burden us that we