A04920:565
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.
ANSWER.
How mean that ever our reasons be, yet great cause we have to give thanks unto God, that ye in labouring with all your wits to oppugn & obscure them, are yet compelled by the invincible grace of gods mercy to justify and illustrate the same. which shall plainly appear by this your first answer, which you make concerning the omnipotency of God. forasmuch (say you) as God is goodness it self, his will is always good, yet man is apt to do, and may do evil, contrary to gods will, notwithstanding God remaineth omnipotent suffering man to do evil, whom he might destroy afore he did evil, if so pleased him: and so ye bring forth the example of Pharaoh. I will not take in all points that advantage of you which I think you would take of us most gladly, if you had us in such a strait as you have here concluded your selves. for if man may do evil contrary to gods will: so that God for no respect, for no end nor purpose would that such wickedness should be done (for thus you must apply your words, or else ye say nothing against us) and yet that it pleaseth God not to destroy the wicked doer, but to suffer him to do evil, whom he might have destroyed before the iniquity committed. What shall, I pray you ensue? but that either there shall be in God two contrary wills, one that willeth no wickedness in no ways to be done, and an other that suffereth wickedness, yea and that is pleased to suffer & not to destroy the wicked man • or else that there is a power above gods will, which compelleth him to suffer that which he would not: one of these two can you not avoid. But I will deal more favourably with you. Ye grant that God suffereth the evil,1 and that he might destroy the wicked man before iniquity be committed, if so pleased his godly majesty and wisdom. Do ye not consider that in this your confession, is no less contained then any of us hath either written or spoken in this matter. for if gods omnipotency remaineth as no doubt it doth, so perfect and hole that he may not impede only wicked men of their enterprises, but also ⟨p. 309⟩