A04920:499
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.
Touching the fidelity of God who suffereth none of his to be tempted above their strength,1 it is only true of Gods elect,2 to whom it is plain that Paul there speaketh. for albeit that amongst the Corinthians there were many reprobates, yet doth Paul address his style as it were to the elect Church of God, calling them his beloved, willing them to fly from idolatry, and speaking to them, as unto men endued with wisdom &c. And therefore must ye first prove, that Cain had as great testimony of God that he was his elect, as the Corinthians had of Paul that they were beloved and elected in Christ, before that ye can make this place to serve for him. for albeit he did advertise him what was his duty to do, yet doth it not thereof follow, that he gave ⟨p. 270⟩him power to obey his will revealed, nether yet power to resist all tentation. To Pharaoh he did no less make manifest his will then that he did to Cain, and yet of him he did before pronounce that he should not hear nor obey the voice of Moses, I do not deny but that he stubbornly forsook the counsel of God, which mercifully called him. But why did he, and do all reprobate forsake it, we have oft before declared, to wit: because the seed of God abideth not in them.
Touching the fidelitie of God who suffereth none of his to be tempted aboue their strength,1 it is onely true of Gods elect,2 to whom it is plaine that Paul there speaketh. for albeit that amonges the Corinthians there were many reprobates, yet doth Paul addresse his style as it were to the elect Church of God, calling them his beloued, willing them to flie from idolatrie, and speaking to them, as vnto men indued with wisdome &c. And therefore must ye first proue, that Cain had as great testimonie of God that he was his elect, as the Corinthians had of Paule yt they were beloued and elected in Christ, before that ye can make this place to serue for him. for albeit he did aduertise him what was his duetie to do, yet doth it not thereof follow, that he gaue ⟨p. 270⟩