A04920:460
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.
The words of the Apostle in the place by you alleged, nether affirmeth what man may do, nether yet what he may not do: but he declareth how diligently & carefully not only by preaching, but also by exhortation and prayer he travailed, that his labours might be fruitful amongest them, and so that they should not receive the grace of God in vain. But admitting that he had said, I command you not to receive the grace of God in vain, could ye thereof conclude any more then ye may do of these words, be you holy, for I am holy, sayeth the lord? There is a precept given, but in whom standeth power to perform the same? If it stand not in man, say you, in vain is the precept given. how you be able to prove that, I remit to your better advisement. To me is nothing vain that God speaketh or commandeth. for I am assured that ether by gods will revealed are the elect instructed, how they ought to walk, or else are the reprobate in their consciences convict,1 that knowing gods holy will, obstinately they rebel against the same: and so are they witnesses to their own just damnation.
The wordes of the Apostle in the place by you alledged, nether affirmeth what man may do, nether yet what he may not do: but he declareth how diligently & carefully not onely by preaching, but also by exhortation and praier he trauailed, that his labors myght be frutefull amongest them, and so that they should not receaue ye grace of God in vain. But admitting that he had said, I commande you not to receaue the grace of God in vaine, could ye thereof conclude any more then ye may do of these wordes, be you holie, for I am holie, saieth the lord? There is a precept geuen, but in whom standeth power to perfourme the same? If it stand not in man, say you, in vain is the precept giuen. how you be able to proue that, I remitt to your better aduisemēt. To me is nothing vaine that God speaketh or commandeth. for I am assured yt ether by gods will reueled are the elect instructed, how they oght to walke, or els are the reprobate in their consciences cōuict,1 that knowing gods holie will, obstinatly they rebell against the same: and so are they witnesses to their own iust damnation.
- 1The pla•• of the 2. chap. of Peter