A04920:478
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.
Albeit to you it appear superfluous, that God shall feed his children by his own word, which because the reprobate do refuse, therefore do they bear a testimony of their own just condemnation in their own conscience. Albeit I say, this appear superfluous, yet God hath commanded and established the same, as a thing most necessary and expedient, for the establishing of his children, and for the manifestation of his own glory.
Albeit to you it appere superfluous, that God shall fede his children by his own word, which because the reprobate do refuse, therefore do they beare a testimonie of their own iust condemnation in their owne conscience. Albeit I say, this appeare superfluous, yet God hath commanded and established the same, as a thing most necessarie and expedient, for the establishing of his children, and for the manifestation of his owne glorie.
I wonder that ye will not affirm that superfluous it is for a man to till and manure the ground,1 to prepare for victuals, to eat and drink, & to do such other things as be necessary for the conservation of the life corporal, seeing that God hath appointed the days of man which he cannot exceed, and also that our heavenly father will provide for his children, seeing he provideth far the birds of the air. Assuredly the one ye may conclude aswell as the other. But herein, I say, appeareth your foolish blindness. first that ye make no difference betwixt ⟨p. 258⟩the household servants, & those that be without. and secondarily, that ye understand not the use, the profit, and the effect of gods word preached. Is not the kingdom of heaven compared to a nett cast into the sea gathering together all sorts of fishes? whereof albeit that the separation can not perfectly be made, till the nett be drawn to the dry land upon the last day: yet daily by the word by exhortation, by rebuking & threatening, do many things come to light, which before lay hid. how many do follow Christ, for a time, and fall back from him, albeit, that to the end he crieth, that they should continue. S. Paul affirmeth that he did write his sharp epistle to the Corinthians for a trial of them,