A04920:257
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.
And in the end to answer to these calumnies which ye have taken forth of Pighius that papist, John Calvin concludeth, if ever I had said that it came to pass by the instruction or motion of the spirit of God, that the first man did alienate him self from God, and not that rather I have in all places defended, that man was pricked thereto by instigation of the devil and by the motion of his own heart, then meritably might Pighius and his complices have railed against me. But seeing that I removing from God the very cause of the action, do also remove from him all crime, so that man only is subject aswell to the crime as to the punishment: wickedly and maliciously is this laid to my charge that I should say that mans defection and fall is one of gods works. But yet lest that one thing should appear to lack of our full doctrine, I will recite his words, which he writeth against the libertines in the 14 chapter of that work, we do not deny (sayeth he) but that all things are done by the will of God. In so much that when we declare wherefore he is called omnipotent, we give to him an effectual power in all his creatures, and we teach ⟨p. 157⟩that as once he created the universal world, so also that he governeth the same. And that his hand is always at the work, that he might keep all things in their estate, and dispose them after his will. And to the end that I may expre••e the same more easily, I say, that God is to be considered three manner of ways to work in the administration or his creature.1 first there is an universal operation by the which he directeth all creatures according to the condition and propriety which he gave to every one, when he formed them and this government is nothing else but that which we call the order of nature. for albeit the unfaithful know nothing in the disposition of the world, but that which they see with their eyes. And therefore they make nature as she were a goddess to have empire and dominion over all: yet is this praise to be given to the will of God• that it only doeth moderate and govern all things. Wherefore when we see the son, the moon, and the stars fulfil their course, Let us understand that they obey God, that they execu•e his commandment, yea and that they are guided by the hand of God. And also when we see the course of earthly things, all things are to be ascribed to God.