A04920:557
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.
If God (say you) in respect of his revealed will, would not that Adam should fall, but in respect of his secrete will, he would Adam should fall• then did God will two contraries, which is impossible.
If God (say you) in respect of his reueled will, wold not that Adam should falle, but in respecte of his secrete will, he wold Adam should fall• then did God will two contraries, which is impossible.
Answer. Impossible we confess it to be that contrariety should be in that will, which in it self is simple and one. But how shall you be able to prove that God in revealing his will to Adam, had none other purpose nor will but only that Adam, should not fall? (because say you) he said thou shalt not eat, I answer, & so said he to Abraham thou shalt take and offer thy son in sacrifice. And yet we know that the contrary had he determined. O (cry you) God abhorreth a double heart which speaketh one thing and thinketh an other, 1and yet ye abhor nes to charge God with that which he can not abide in his creatures, that is that he should speak one thing, as that Adam should not offend, & will the contrary, as that Adam should offend. Answer, God if his good pleasure be, touch your hearts with such unfeigned repentance that you may understand how horrible be these blasphemies, which thus in your furious blindness you spew forth against gods supreme Majesty, for before I have said they are not spoken against us. for no such doctrine do we teach nor affirm, as that of which you gather ⟨p. 303⟩these blasphemies, and albeit we did, yet it were as easy for us to dissolve and unloose such devilish knots, as by instruction of your father, you knit to trip the souls of the simple, & as it is for the foot of the valiant & strong man to burst a sunder the spiders webs which the venomous spider maketh to catch the impotent flies and feeble gnats. And now left y• you should glory as though your reasons yet stood sure. Let us try and examine every member apart. God abhorreth (say you) a double heart which speaketh one thing and thinketh an other, I answer: That as God is a spirit and hath neither heart nor body like as man hath, so must not his words, cogitations, and thoughts be compared to ours: for as we be corrupt liars and vain, so where we do speak one thing, and think an other, we do mean deceit, fraud, and destruction to our brother, to whom we promise trueth, fidelity, & conservation to our power. But God according to the purity and perfection of his godly nature in speaking to his creatures, and in creating of them must not absolutely have respect to them, but also to his own glory. for what reason is it that God of nothing shall make that creature by whom his glory shall not be manifested?