A04920:491
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.
Election hath no promise without faith: true faith is gods work by his grace,1 and is also mans work partly by consenting thereto: wherefore Paul calleth the righteous •oynt workers with god because they work together with him. Now say you, if ma• for his part, according to his nature, be inconstant in his faith, then is he out of the promise whereby he was made sure of his election, yet Gods election remaineth sure and stable in Christ Jesus.
Election hath no promes without faith: trew faith is gods worke by his grace,1 and is also mannes worke partely by consenting thereto: wherefor Paul calleth the righteous •oynt workers with god because they worke to gether with him. Now say you, if ma• for his part, according to his nature, be inconstant in his faith, then is he out of the promes whereby he was made sure of his election, yet Gods election remaineth sure and stable in Christ Iesus.
- 1To the 2 & 3.
The first member of your reason is dark, and obscure, and the manner of speaking so strange, that in the scriptures I am assured it is never to be found. In one of two senses is election taken in the scriptures.1 The former:2 for the elect them selves, as when Paul sayeth the election did obtain it, that is, the elect of God obtained mercy. And in the same sense is Paul called the vessel of election, that is, an elect vessel: and if in this sense ye affirm that election, that is to say the elect have no promise without faith,