A04920:473
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.
But from whence I pray you did it proceed, that the works, and intention of the one sort were good, and of the other wicked? If you say, from their own free will, and power. the holy Ghost doth prove you liars, as before I have declared, and our Apostle assigneth also an other cause,1 saying, And power was given to the beast upon all tribes, tongues and nations, and all those that dwelt upon the earth, did worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life, of the lamb, who was killed from the beginning of the world. Here it is plain that our Apostle against your affirmation, teacheth that some do worship the beast and so do finally perish: and other do not worship him, and attain to life▪ & that because the names of the one are written in the book of life, and the names of the others are not written, and that more plainly he speaketh in these words:2 Then I looked, and lo a lamb standing on the mount Zion, & with him a hundred, forty & four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads &c. and they sang as it were a new song, before the throne, and before the four beasts & the elders, & none could learn the song except those hundred forty and four thousand, which were bought from the earth &c. and after in the 17 chapt.3 is mentioned of these inhabitants of the earth, who shall wonder upon the beast whose names are not written in the book of life, from the creation of the world. if in these places I say the Apostle maketh no difference betwixt one sort of men & an other, let the reader judge. if there be difference betwixt bought & not bought, written in the book of life, & not written, to learn the new •og & not to learn the same, then no doubt or Apostle putteth as plain a difference, as we do, yea the hole scope of his revelation is to declare, that there is a number of y• elect called the spouse of the lamb, whom it behoveth to be complete before y• consummation of all things come, & before that the innocent blood that hath been shed, be revenged upon those that dwell upon ⟨p. 255⟩