A04920:440
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.
Election was afore the world when there was no sin, and the promise of Christ was made sithence the world was created, because of sin for had not sin been we needed no new promise being already just and holy images of God. Now if the elect say you, did not fall out of the election by Adams transgression, then need they no redeemer, being already save by reason of the election in the which they were afore sin and remain still in the same. &c▪
Election was afore the world whē there was no sinne, and the promes of Christ was made sithence the world was created, becaus of sinne for had not sinne bene we ned•d no newe promes being alredie iust and holie •mages of God. Now if the elect say you, did not fall out of the election by Adams transgression, then nede they no r•demer, being alredie saue by reason of the election in the which they were afore sinne and remaine still in the same. &c▪
In this argument ye commit two foul faults. The first, ye take that for a thing true, and confessed, which is false. and therefore by us always denied. for thus ye reason: man was elected before the world was created, but man sinned after the world was created, Ergo man fell from his election. we still deny the conclusion, and do affirm, that as we were elected in Christ Jesus before all times, so did the elect ever remain• in Christ. and therefore after that they had sinned, it behoved that the promise should be declared, that by the same the elect might receive comfort, and be assured of their election.
In this argument ye commit two fowle faultes. The first, ye take that for a thing true, ād cōfessed, which is fals. and therefore by vs alwaies denied. for thus ye reason: man was elected before the worlde was created, but man sinned aftre the world was created, Ergo man fel from his election. we still denie the conclusion, and do affirme, that as we were elected in Christ Iesus before all times, so did the elect euer remain in Christ. and therfore after that they had sinned, it behoued that the promes shoulde be declared, that by the same the elect might receaue comfort, and be assured of their election.