A04920:47
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.
For this shall be to me as the waters of Noah: for as I have sworn, that the waters of Noah shall no more overgo the earth, so have I sworn, that I shall not be angry at the neither yet rebuke thee: Rather shall the mountains leave their place, and the hills shake, then that my goodness shall leave thee, or that the covenant of my peace sh•ll waver (sai••h the eternal, who ha•h compassion upon •hee). Which only one place is sufficient to prove what so ever we have affirmed, that is, that gods counsel, love, and goodness, towards his church, is immutable. For the example and the similitude which he bringeth in,1 are most plane and evident. The waters have never universally over flown the earth, since the days of Noah to whom he made his covenant to the contrary, and yet no less iniquity ⟨p. 33⟩(yea greater) hath reigned in all ages since, then did before. What is the the cause that the like or greater vengeance is not taken? The certainty no doubt of his promise, which he hath made to his church in Christ Jesus his only well beloved. The mountains we see in all ten pests and storms do keep their place, they do not flit, neither yet are they shaken with the vehemency of winds. But if they should (sayeth the eternal) my goodness shall not leave thee (ô mercy without measure) neither shall the covenant of my peace shake nor waver. Thus I suppose, that the godly reader doth perceive and see, that we lack not scripture (as ye affirm) to prove, that gods love and counsel towards his elect is stable, and that because it is grounded upon him self and not upon us, as, (to your condemnation, if by times ye repent not) ye falsely imagine. But yet lest that ye shall complain that these scriptures be not plane enough, I will bring in yet one, and so end this part: Hear me ô house of Jacob, and all you residue of the house of Israel,2 who are borne of me from the womb, and borne of me from the birth: and even to the age I am he (the same God) and even to the white hairs I shall bear, I have done, and I shall bear, yea I shall bear and deliver. What words can be more vehement and more plain to prove, that the love of God can never change from his elect? For that is his conclusion which he collected upon the former parts, Saying, I shall bear, and I shall deliver. And why? because I have born you. Is this a good reason: