A04920:572
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.
for he affirmeth the same to the scribes & pharisees, to whom principally he spake, in that place that they were not of his sheep & that therefore they could not be gathered to his fold, that they were not of God, & therefore that they could not hear his voice, that he did not pray for y• world, and therefore they could never be united to God. You must declare how that God would that those Israelites whose carcasses fell in the wilderness should enter into the land promised. If you say by any other will than by his general precept given, that they should go & possess it, •e shall lack the testimony of the holy Ghost. I have declared causes most just and most sufficient why God shall command, that which is just right & laudable, albeit that man neither can perform his commandments: neither yet that it was gods eternal will & counsel that all men should so do. And further I have declared just causes, why God doth call many to repentance and felicity, and yet that he chooseth a certain to attain thereto & enter the same. And so I say ye must prove that God did other ways will, them to enter into the land, than by his general commandment, before you be able to prove that any thing ⟨p. 314⟩is done against the eternal and immutable will of God. I can prove that gods will was so plain revealed that none of them should enter into the land promised, that it behoved the hole army to be received from place to place till they were all consumed. Yea further I can prove that Moses him self could not obtain that privilege to enter in nor the people, albeit that in prayer most earnestly he required the same▪ prove if you can, that ever God revealed his will to any particular persons (Joshua & Caleb only excepted) that they should enter in it. And then may you say that either God did change his will & purpose, or else that some thing was done against his will,1 which he did permit, but not will. I will answer there is no better argument to prove that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, then that same which you adduce to prove that Pharaoh did harden his own heart, and that God doeth suffer it to be hardened, but doeth not will it. This ye write. All the children of Adam have a hard and wicked hear•• until they be mollified by the grace of God as leremis witnesseth saying.