A04920:344
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.
The confutation of the second error.
Here you see,1 how they divide all men into two sorts, one elected or chosen which by no means can perish, and the other rejected or reprobate before the world, so that by no means, can they be saved. What can the devil wish his members to teach more for the advancement of his Kingdom, then this? What can be invented to provoke men to live a careless, and libertine life, more §1then if they be persuaded that neither well doing availeth or pleaseth God nor evil doing doeth hinder unto salvation. this is as much as if one should counsel the patient to refuse all healthful Physic and good diet and so wilfully to be the occasion of his own death. for if they be (say they) of the elect sort, though they do commit theft, fornication, adultery, murder or any other sin, yet be they still so beloved and favoured of God, that they can not finally perish. And if they be of the reprobate sort (say they) neither repentance, amendment of life, abstaining from evil, neither fasting prayer Alms nor other good deed can avail. for they be so hated of God before the world, that by no means they can obtain his favour, but of mere necessity, do what they can they must perish, seeing it is so sayeth the natural man let us set the cock on hoop and let the world slide, let us eat and drink, for to morrow shall we die. so the people ⟨p. 191⟩sit down to eat and drink, and then rise up to play, why masters §2have ye no conscience thus to cause the people of God to sin, see ye not how ye be led with the same spirit that Balaam was led withal when he counselled to give occasion of sin to the people, I §3know ye will answer, that I mean not so. Mean what ye list, and do what ye can, yet this is the issue and fruit of your doctrine, and who so ever is thus corrupt by you, without he repent he shall die the death, but God shall require his blood of your hands. Mark well your disciples how many of them endeavour them selves to bring forth the fruits of repentance, how many of them seek for power to crucify the flesh with the lusts and concupiscence thereof. How many of them can we perceive by their conversation, that they have cast of the old man, and put on the new man, walking sincerely in their vocation and the true fear of God.