A04920:492
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 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,3 albeit I will not greatly contend in that behalf, yet by manifest scriptures I may prove the contrary. for the posterity of Abraham by gods free election had this promise, that he should be their God. And saint Paul affirmeth that the children ⟨p. 226⟩of the faithful were holy and yet all could not have faith when the promise was made, for then had Abraham no seed at all, but of this I say I will not contend. Otherwise election is taken in the scriptures, for the eternal counsel of God, by the which he hath appointed life everlasting, to such as he hath given to his Son before all worlds,4 as Paul saith: For ere the children were borne, when they had neither done good nether bad, that the purpose of God, which is by his election, that is not by works but by him that calleth might stand sure, it was said unto her the elder shall serve the younger, &c. And after, even so at this time is there a remnant left through the election of grace and so forth in divers other places. and in this sense, if ye understand that election hath no promise without faith I answer, that gods free election in Christ Jesus needeth nether promise nor faith, as touching the part of God. for he in his election respecteth nether of both, but his own good pleasure in Christ his son, & so I would have wished greater plains in the first part of your reason then there is. but I perceive the ground of your error by that which followeth: True faith (say you) is gods work by grace, and it is also partly mans work by consenting thereto,5