A04920:576
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.
wilt thou say (sayeth Augustine to Julian) that the wicked that be given over to their own desires, are to be understand only left by gods suffering, but not compelled to sins by power, as though that the Apostle had not joined the suffering and power of God together, where that he sayeth: if God willing to show wrath, and to declare his power, suffered in great patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction, with of these two sayest ⟨p. 318⟩thou, is written? And also, if the prophet do err and shall speak, I the lord have deceived him, is this suffering or is it power? And after adducing the same which we before have alleged of Achas he addeth, did God these things ignorantly, or doth he any thing, judging or doing rashly or unjustly? God forbid. it is not without cause that it is said: Thy judgements are a great depth it is not vain that the Apostle crieth out: Oh the height a•d deepness of gods judgements. And after in the same place expounding these words: & lead us not into temptation, after that he hath affirmed that God giveth over some for just causes to their own lusts and blindness as he gave over Rehoboam to believe, the false and foolish counsel of the young men (he saith) all these things doth God work by wondrous and unspeakable means, who knoweth how to work his just judgements, not only in the bodies, but also in the hearts of men, he who maketh not the wills evil, but yet he useth them as he will, seeing that he can will nothing unjustly. Thus far have I alleged unto you the m•nd of one doctor in this our controversy▪ when •e shall bring forth the mind of any so well grounded upon scriptures as he doth this his sentence▪ I promise to answer if I can. I am not ignorant that divers of the doctors (yea and Augustine him self) in some places may seem to favour your opinion at the first sight. But if their words in one place be compared with their plain mind and with the scope of their disputation in other places, it shall plainly appear that none that live this day do more plainly speak against your error, then some of them have written. The places of Job manifestly and in plain words,1 fight against you.