A04920:441
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.
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.
Your second fault, more declareth your gross ignorance in the mystery of our redemption. for from election ye straight ways leap to glorification and salvation, observing nether midst nor means, which gods wisdom hath appointed, and determined to go betwixt True it is, God hath elected in Christ to life everlasting his chosen children. But how? Saint Paul yea the hole scriptures, wheresoever mention is made of our election, joineth therewith the death and blood of Christ. for none otherwise were we elected in him, but that he should sustain the punishment for our transgression. And that we should receive life, which we had lost in Adam and in our selves, by the means of his death and resurrection. therefore where ye reason, if the elect did not fall out of the Election, by Adams transgression, then need they no redeemer, being already saved, by reason of their election, the conclusion is false, and the reason vain. for the elect have need of a redeemer,