A04920:266
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.
If the blasphemies of the ungodly should be laid to our charge,1 because that we teach a doctrine most true, and most comfortable to the children of God: then can not the Apostle saint Paul be excused, for the same blasphemies were vomited first against him,2 and the doctrine which he taught: Some crying, let us do evil, that good may come of it: others, let us abide in sin, that grace may abound: & son furiously roaring (as ye do) did despitefully cry, wherefore doeth he complain, who can resist his will? But was the doctrine therefore damnable? or was the Apostle criminal, for teaching the same? I suppose ye will be more favourable in this cause, then so rashly to condemn him, whom God hath absolved. If then our doctrine can not be impugned by the plain scriptures of God, why should we sustain the blame of other mens blasphemies? Howbeit in very deed the blasphemies of none come so plainly to our ears,3 as yours do▪ for the very Papists, and the insolent of the world are yet ashamed, so impudently to lie upon us. Who although they will not follow the purity of the doctrine taught by us, yet either are they put to silence, by the power of •he holy Spirit, or else they in•ent some colourable lies, and do abstain from such open blasphemies, as you cast out against God, and us.
If the blasphemies of the vngodlie should be laid to our charge,1 becaus that we teach a doctrin most true, and most comfortable to the childrē of God: then can not the Apostle saint Paul be excused, for the same blasphemies were vomited first against him,2 ād the doctrine which he taught: Som crying, let vs do euill, that good may com of it: others, let vs abyde in sinne, that grace may abound: & sō furiously roring (as ye do) did dispitefully cry, wherefor doeth he cōplean, who cā resist his will? But was the doctrine therefor damnable? or was the Apostle criminal, for teaching the same? I suppose ye will be more fauorable in this cause, then so rashly to condemne him, whom God hath absolued. If then our doctrine can not be impugned by the plaine scriptures of God, why should we sustein the blame of other mennes blasphemies? Howbeit in verie dede the blasphemies of none come so plainely to our eares,