A04920:403
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.
Where further ye ask if Abel did kill Cain or David Saul, or he which is born of the spirit, did kill him which is borne of the flesh? I answer, if your question be of Abel, David and Isaac, in their proper persons, that none of them did kill any of these fore named. But if thereof ye infer no more, is it lawful for any of gods elect,1 to kill any man, for his conscience sake. I answer, that if under the name of conscience ye include what soever seemeth good in your own eyes, that then ye affirm a great absurdity, manifestly repugning aswell to gods law, as to the examples of those, whom God hath highly praised, in his holy Scriptures. But because continually ye claim to your conscience, to remove from you that vain coverture. I ask if the murderer, adulterer, or any other malefactor, should be exempted from punishment of the law, although he allege, that he did all thing of conscience? I trust ye will confess, that he ought to be mocked, that will claim the patrocinie of conscience, when that he doth plainly offend against gods will revealed. ⟨p. 215⟩And why will ye not grant as much in this matter, which now standeth in controversy? because (say you) external crimes have no affinity with matters of religion. for the conscience of every man is not a like persuaded in the service and honouring of God,2 nether yet in such controversies as gods word hath not plainly decided. but I ask if that be a just excuse, why pernicious errors shall be obstinately defended, ether yet that gods established religion shall be contemptuously despised? To make the matter more plain, Israel and Judah were not both of one mind, in the honouring of God, after that the ten Tribes departed from the household of David, yea Judah in the self was often corrupted, with pestilent idolatry. insomuch that the fathers did offer their children to Moloch. which I am assured they did not without some zeal, which they thought to be good conscience. But not withstanding those controversies, divers opinions, and forged consciences at their own appetites, Elijah did kill the priests of Baal.3 & was• he borne I pray you of the flesh? or was he not rather regenerated by gods holy spirit? Joias did kill all the priests of the hie places, & did burn mens bones upon their altars, and was he I beseech you brother to Cain,