A04920:501
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.
To all that which ye adduce of the Israelites,1 my former answers may suffice, for you be never able to prove, that any of them, which was chosen to lief everlasting did fall into death eternal. It nothing hurt y• salvation of Moses albeit his body fell in the wilderness.2 That place of Paul proveth not that all the Israelites, which was called from Egypt, were within gods holy election to lief everlasting in Christ Jesus, but doth prove that they ⟨p. 271⟩were all externally called and that they did all communicate with those external signs and sacraments, which did signify, & represent spiritual things, but he doth not affirm that all did receive the spiritual and inward graces of the holy Ghost. The mind of the Apostle is plain enough in that place to such as willingly list not blind them selves. For he exhorteth the Corinthians not to think it sufficient that they did communicate with the sacraments of Christ Jesus, except that a godly lief & unfeigned obedience to gods will revealed should be joined with the same: for otherwise the same should happen unto them, that happened to the Israelites. And therefore he sayeth let him that standeth take heed, lest he fall, which is nothing contrary to our doctrine nether yet is our doctrine in any jot repugnant to the holy Ghost. for we did never deny but that many who before men had a fair glister of holiness, yea which thought them selves sure in their own fantasy hath taken horrible falls, both of one sort & of the other. And unto all men we cry no less then you do, that they tempt them selves, & that they take heed lest by slothfulness they fall. but that any that standeth in Christ Jesus, and in the eternal counsel of God can so fall that finally he perish, that we constantly deny. Behold how smoothly God conducteth our tossed boat through the raging waves of your furious arguments.3
To all yt which ye adduce of the Israelites,1 my former answers may suffice, for you be neuer able to proue, that any of thē, which was chosen to lief euerlasting did fall into death eternall. It nothing hurt y saluation of Moises albeit his bodie fell in the wildernes.