A04920:489
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 same proposition which before I have proved most false and deceivable,1 ye yet labour by multiplying of examples, nothing appertaining to that purpose, to defend and maintain.
The same proposition whiche before I haue proued most fals and deceauable,1 ye yet labor by multiplying of examples, nothing apperteining to that purpose, to defend and mainteine.
- 1To the 1
Your proposition is that albeit the election is sure and made without all condition in Christ Jesus, yet is there none so elected in him to lief everlasting, but that he may fall to perdition, and become a reprobate. And for the probation hereof before the enter to your examples, yet use two reasons. The former, without Christ (say you) there is nether election, nor salvation: and this we confess and most steadfastly do believe, adding that election and salvation are so sure in him, that so many as be elected in him to lief everlasting, shall by grace attain to y• same. Ye proceed in your reason, further man is made sure in the election by the promise of God in Christ Jesus, of which promise when he is made partaker, he entereth in covenant with God▪ but when he breaketh the covenant, he forsaketh the promise, and when he forsaketh the promise, be refuseth Christ, in refusing Christ, he falleth out of the election, notwithstanding the Election abideth sure in Christ. This is your first reason. To the which I shortly & plainly answer, that because ye suppose an impossibility to be possible, therefore ye conclude a great absurdity. for ye suppose, that the members of Christs body elected in him to life everlasting, may so forsake the promise, so refuse Christ their head, and so break the covenant, that to the end of their lives they contemn and despise it, which is a thing impossible, as before I have proved, and therefore your conclusion availeth nothing. when ye shall prove that Christs