A04920:373
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.
True it is that I have long understand, and to this hour do understand, that by those words, would the Apostle admonish the Corinthians, and all others that suddenly they should not receive, and believe every person, & doctrine that offereth it self, under the cloak of justice, and of trueth: but that diligently we should try the spirits from whence they are & whether they come, from God, or not. for if the devil the great angel of darkness enemy to mankind, and father to all false prophets, can yet so transform him self, that for a time his purpose and intent are not seen, but that under the cloak of amity and love, he seeketh or destruction as in tempting the woman, doeth plainly appear, how much more can his servants and soldiers, being deceitful workers transform them in to the Apostles of Christ, pretending at the first enter, nothing but love and justice, nothing but gods glory, nothing but mortification of the flesh, and such like, most beautiful pretences, although that yet these things be most far from their hearts. Thus I say do I, and with me, I am assured who so ever deeply ⟨p. 205⟩do weigh the purpose of the Apostle, in that place, understand that sentence, and do not as ye falsely write, allege it to prove, that no man can be known to be ether in the election, or out of the election during this life. It may be, that we have said and written, (as the trueth is) that no man could have known, by the good works of that happy thief hanged with Christ, that he had been gods elect, before that in that anguish, so instantly he began to defend Christs innocency, so sharply to rebuke the other being a blasphemer: and humbly to submit himself, and pray, that Christ would remember him,1 when that he came in to his kingdom: And contrary wise that none could have defined by the evil works of Judas, before his treasonable defection, from Christ Jesus, which was but few days before his death, that he had been the reprobate. And what serveth this for your purpose?2 how can ye hereby prove, that we are the sons of darkness, that we take the most shameful men by the hand, flattering them so, that they can not return from their wickedness, and so by our doctrine give occasion of sin to the people, declaring our selves thereby, not to be sent of God, &c.