A04920:31
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.
They are not only reputed liars and called false witnesses, that boldly and plainly affirm a lie in plane and express words, but such also as in reciting the minds of other men, change their meaning by altering their words, ⟨p. 23⟩by adding more then they spake, or by diminishing that which might explain the things that remained obscure or more fully might express the mind of the speakers. And in all these three vices are you criminal in this your first accusation or witnessing laid against us. For our words ye have altogether altered: to them ye have added, and from the ye have diminished that which ye think may aggravate and make odious our cause. And therefore I say, ye are detestable liars, and malicious accusers. For probation hereof I appeal to our writings, be they in latin, french, Italian, or english (in so many tongues this matter is written) if that any of you be able to bring forth our propositions in any of them in this your form, and containing your whole words, I offer to make satisfaction unto you, (whether ye will be word or writing) y• I have highly offended in calling you detestable liars. But if ye be never able to show any such words used by us (as plane it is ye be not) then your master Castalio and you both are far from that perfection (to speak no more bitterly) with ye pretend.1 For ye are manifest liars: and whose sons they are called, you can not be ignorant, accusing men of that they never meant. For thus formeth Castalio his first false accusation against Master Calvin. God hath created to perdition the most part of the world by the naked bare and pure pleasure of his own will. And this same ye affirm in more words more impudently patched▪ so both you and he do add to our words of your own malicious mind. These sentences: God hath created the most part of the world, which is an innumerable multitude, to perdition, only because it so pleased him, you steal from our words, and suppress that which ever we join when we make mention of gods predestination, to wit, that he hath created all things for his own glory. That albeit the cause of gods will be incomprehensible, secret, and hid from us, when of y same mass he ordained some vessels to honour, and son to destruction, yet it is most just, most holy: and most to be reverenced.