A04920:289
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.
These same although they be causes, in so far as they work by their own proper motion, yet are they in an other respect called instruments, in so far as they are moved by an other. As when the hangman by the commandment of the magistrate killeth a man, or when by instigation of the devil, men hurt others, or when at the commandment of any, we do ether good or evil to any man.
These same althogh they be causes, in so far as they work by their own proper motiō, yet are they in an other respect called instrumentes, in so far as they are moued by an other. As when the hangman by the commandement of the magistrate killeth a man, or when by instigation of the deuil, mē hurt others, or whē at the commandement of any, we do ether good or euill to any mā.
In this kind of actions, it is evident, that one work is attributed to two, to the one, as to him that worketh by an instrument, and to the other as to the worker by motion or commandment: such workers are instruments not simply as the hammer or axe is in the hand of the smith or hewer, but they are such instruments, as also move by their own inward motion.
In this kynd of actions, it is euident, that one work is attributed to two, to the one, as to him that worketh by an instrument, and to the other as to the worker by motion or commandement: such workers are instrumentes not simply as the hāmer or axe is in the hand of the smithe or hewer, but they are such instrumentes, as also moue by their own inward motion.
And for this double respect, a double work appeareth some times to be done: Insomuch that the one may be laudable, and the other wicked. As if the magistrate shall commit an offender worthy of death to the executor of justice. This work is praise worthy of all good men. But if the lictor inflamed rather with envy, avarice, or any other wicked affection, then looking to the commandment of the judge, shall kill the same offender, most certain it is, that before God he can not avoid the crime of murder.