A04920:46
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.
By these and many other places the Prophet travailed to lift up the people from the pit of desperation in which they were to fall by reason of their grievous calamity and long captivity, and that he might with more efficacy persuade the same, he bringeth them to the league made with Abraham, to the remembrance of their wonderful deliverance out of Egypt: and to the lenity of God which their Fathers had found at all times. But in vane had all his labour ben if gods counsel, decree, and purpose had ben changeable. For easily they might have objected: to what use serveth us the promise made to Abraham, or the kindness of God which our fore fathers tasted? We have refused God and therefore hath he refused and rejected us, he hath broken his league and covenant with us. But against all these desperate voices, and against your blasphemous error, who affirm that gods counsel and purpose changeth, as man doeth, •ighteth and prevailleth the Prophet, Saying: My cogitations ⟨p. 32⟩are not your cogitations, neither are your ways my ways (sayeth the eternal).1 But like as the heavens are higher then the earth so do my ways excel your ways, and my thoughts your thoughts. And the word that pas•eth forth of my mouth, shall not return void to me. But it shall do what so ever I will (note and give glory to God) and it shall prosper in those things to the which I have sent it: I doubt not but that the godly reader doeth clearly see the mind of the Prophet to be, to rebuke the vanity of the Jews believing that gods counsels, covenant and love, were subject to such mutability as they them selves were in there counsels love, and promises. But the Prophet maketh so much difference betwixt the one and the other as is betwixt the heaven and the earth, and doth further affirm, that as the dew and rain do not fall and come down in vane, so shall not the word which God s•eaketh (which is of more excellency then all creatures) lack his effect: but it shall work the will of God, and shall prosper as he hath appointed it, and that because it is God who hath spoken that, which was purposed in his eternal and immutable counsel before all times. Upon this ground and foundation (that is upon Gods immutable love and counsel) buildeth the Prophet the salvation and del•nerance of the church,