A04920:503
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.
In these words,1 I say, Balaam assigneth the cause why he was compelled to bless Israel, because, saith he, God hath blessed them. And why also he could not change his blessing, because in God there is no mutability, nor change, like as there is in man. And therefore as he had once blessed that people, by his plain word and promise spoken, and revealed to Abraham, so should he most constantly perform it. If malice did not blind you, you should clearly see, that the holy Ghost meaneth nothing less then to teach that Balaam was blessed of God, and ⟨p. 273⟩therefore was not at that time a reprobate: But that Israel was so elected, so sanctified, and blessed of God, that their very enemies, and such as were hired to curse them, were compelled to give testimony against them selves, that gods people was blessed. But this doeth no more make Balaam to be gods elect, then did that confession, which the wicked spirits gave to Christ, (confessing him to be the Son of the living God) change their nature.
In these wordes,1 I say, Balaam assigneth the cause why he was compelled to blesse Israel, because, saith he, God hath blessed them. And why also he could not change his blessing, because in God there is no mutabilitie, nor chāge, like as there is in mā. And therefor as hehad once blessed that people, by his plaine word and promes spoken, and reueled to Abrahā, so shoulde he most constantly perfourme it. If malice did not blynd you, you should clerely se, that the holie Gost meaneth nothing les then to teach that Balam was blessed of God, and ⟨p. 273⟩therefor was not at that tyme a reprobate: But that Israel was so elected, sosanctified, and blessed of God, that their very ennemis, and suche as were hyred to curse them, were compelled to giue testimonie against them selues, that gods people was blessed. But this doeth no more make Balaam to be gods elect, then did that confession, which the wicked spirites gaue to Christ, (confessing him to be the Sonne of the liuing God) change their nature.
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