A04920:412
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.
Albeit that I perceive that ether ignorance doeth so impede you, or else that malice doeth so blind you, that nether ye will nor can understand it, which in the self is most sensible & plain, I will never theles yet once again repeat, that which before I have said to the end, that we may give testimony, aswell, to those that now live, as unto the posterity to come, what doctrine it is, which ye so furiously impugn. If ignorance be the cause why thus ye rage against us, ye may be taught, if ye list to bestow your ears to hear, your eyes to read, & hearts to understand. for o• doctrine is not as some of you do complain, dark nor obscure, except that it be, to those to whom the Apostle affirmed, that his Evangel was hid. But if that malice which ye have conceived against the eternal trueth of God,1 doth so blind you that ye will not see the bright son in the midday, there resteth no more to us, but to desire of God ether to remove this your devilish malice (I write as knoweth God even from the grief of heart): or else so to stay & bridle it, y• it trouble not his afflicted Church. Ye accuse us, as that we made no difference betwixt vice & virtue, sin, and justice, nether yet betwixt Adam, and David, as they were elected in Christ Jesus before the foundations of the world were laid, and betwixt Adam transgressing, and David committing adultery, and murder.
Albeit that I perceaue yt ether ignorāce doeth so impede you, orels that malice doeth so blynd you, yt nether ye wil nor can vnderstand yt, which in ye self is most sensible & plaine, I wil neuer theles yet once againe repete, that wc before I haue said to the ēd, that we may giue testimonie, asw•ll, to those yt now liue, as vnto ye posteritie to com, what doctrine it is, wc ye so furiously impugne. If ignorance be the cause why thus ye rage against vs, ye may be taught, if ye list to bestowe your eares to heare, your eyes to read, & heartes to vnderstand. for o• doctrine is not as som of you do complein, darke nor obscure, except yt it be, to those to whom ye Apostle affirmed, yt his Euāgill was hid. But if that malice wc ye haue cōceaued agaīst the eternal trueth of God,