A04920:555
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.
But in respect of God the will is one and simple, which is as before is said the manifestation of his glory, which no less shineth in the just punishment of the one sort, then in the merciful deliverance of the other. And this much for the first. Secondly ye ask, if that which is not revealed be contrary to that which is revealed. To the which I answer as before, that in respect of God there is no contrariety betwixt the will revealed and the will unrevealed. But yet may the creatures to whom God, doeth notify his will by commandment, rebuke or exhortation, apprehend & understand one thing, and yet it may be that God in his eternal counsel hath determined the express contrary. if this to you at the first sight seem strange, yet my good hope is that examples in the scriptures proposed shall make the matter sensible enough to the godly and sober reader.1 What do we think that David did apprehend of that most sharp and vehement rebuke given unto him by Nathan thē Prophet in the name of God? No doubt that he was the ⟨p. 301⟩son of death, that God would break the league and covenant with him, as he had done to Saul his predecessor. But was it therefore the eternal purpose of God that so it should be? The end and issue declareth the contrary. Hezekiah received the very sentence of present death from the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah, who no doubt came not with message at all adventure, but at the express commandment of God, for so he affirmeth saying: Thus sayeth the lord put order to thy house for thou shalt die and shalt not live.2 But was not therefore the contrary (to wit that he should afterward live fifteen years) determined in the immutable counsel of God. The same might I declare by many other exhortations &commandments, but with one I will stand contented, which shall add light to the former. Abraham was commanded by God, to take his son Isaac whom he loved, his only son, in whom the promise stood, and to go to the mountain which God would appoint, & there to offer him in sacrifice. What will of God did Abraham apprehend in this commandment during the journey of three days? God him self beareth record, that Abraham did so understand gods will, that his own hand was stretched out to kill his son, yea that in his heart he had killed him. for so saith the Angel: