A04920:554
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.
These be your words and several reasons most blasphemously spoken,1 not against us but against gods eternal wisdom. against us (I say) ye cannot speak them for no such doctrine have we ever taught, for we most constantly affirm that the secret will of God and his will revealed, is always one, which is the manifestation and declaration of his own glory, although it seem divers in the instruments as before I have most manifestly declared. and thus most justly might I send you to debate your cause with him whose justice, & wisdom cannot be subject to the vanity of your reason. But yet because no small part of this controversy betwixt you & us consisteth in this: that you can admit no will in God the reason and cause whereof, ye cannot see, perceive nor understand, and affirming the contrary say, that of gods secret will, can nether man nor Angel perceive assign, or understand any other reason, or cause, but his holy will only: and therefore with all reverence do they stoop, and covering their eyes, cry just and righteous art thou oh, Lord in all thy works, holy, holy, holy Lord God of armies. The universal earth is replenished with the glory of his Majesty.2 Because I say a great part of our controversy standeth in this point, I will go through your questions, and severally answer to every one. first you ask if God have two wills by reason that he hath a secret will and a revealed ⟨p. 300⟩will. I answer, that as God in his eternal God head is simple and one, so is his will in respect of him self from all beginning simple and one, which is the declaration of his own glory. But because the instruments (in which gods glory is and must be for ever manifested and known) be divers, therefore hath gods will which in him self is one, divers considerations, effects, & ends, in respect of the divers instruments. for example God will the vessels of his mercies to be extolled to the glory of the kingdom with Christ Jesus,3 but he will the vessels of wrath to be adjudged to the fire inquenchable prepared for the devil & all his Angels. Who doth not see, but in respect of these divers instruments the will of God hath divers respects, and divers ends, and justly may be called two wills or a double will? for it is one will to save, and an other will to condemn, as touching the instruments & creatures saved or condemned.