A04920:379
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.
Ye will not easily admit that Seruetus be convicted of blasphemy. for if so be, ye must be compelled to confess (except that ye will refuse God) that the sentence of death executed against him, was not cruelty, nether yet that the judges, who justly pronounced that sentence, were murderers nor persecutors: but that this death ⟨p. 209⟩was th• execution of gods judgement, and they the true and faithful servants of God, who when no other remedy was found, did take away iniquity from amongest them. That God hath appointed death by his law without mercy to be executed upon the blasphemers, is evident, by that which is written Leviticus 24.1 But what blasphemy is, may some perchance doubt. If righteously we shall consider & weigh the scriptures, we shall find it to speak blasphemy or to blaspheme God, is not only to deny, that there is a God, but that also it is, lightly to esteem the power of the eternal God, to have, or to sparse abroad, of his majesty such opinions as may make his God head to be doubted of. To depart from the true honouring,§3 & religion of God, to the imagination of mans inventions. Obstinately to maintain, and defend doctrine §4& diabolical opinions, plainly repugning to Gods trueth. To judge those things, which God judgeth §5necessary for our salvation, not to be necessary. And finally §6to persecute the trueth of God, and the members of Christs body.
Ye will not easely admitt that Seruetus be conuicted of blasphemie. for if so be, ye must be cōpelled to confesse (except that ye will refuse God) that the sentence of death executed against him, was not crueltie, nether yet that the iudges, who iustly pronounced that sentence, were murtherers nor persecuters: but that this death ⟨p. 209⟩was th• execution of gods iudgement, and they the true and faithfull seruantes of God, who when no other remedie was foūde, did take away iniquitie from amongest them. That God hath appointed death by his law without mercie to be executed vpon the blasphemers, is euident, by that which is written