A04920:577
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.
God hath taken wisdom from the Ostrich, and hath not given understanding unto her, dare you affirm that in these ⟨p. 319⟩words, there is nothing but a bare permission of gods part? is there no difference betwixt away taking and suffering to be taken away. if any difference be betwixt these two manner of speakings, God giveth wisdom and God taketh away wisdom, then is your interpretation foolish and absurd, nether yet is there any phrase of scripture, understand it as you please, that can make God to call back that sentence which he hath pronounced,1 to wit that he hath raised up Pharaoh to be an example to all generations following, what shall be the end of those that obstinately resist God. Who albeit he tempt no man to sin by the power of his spirit yet as before I have proved, he justly giveth them over to the inordinate lusts of their own corruption yea he giveth them over into the hands & power of satan to be pricked and stirred forward to all iniquity that their damnation may be just, and also that his vengeance justly deserved may the more suddenly fall upon them. The mind of saint James is only to bring men to the right examination and trial of them selves lest that by flattery they begin to seek the original cause of their sin in an other, then in them selves. And yet doth that nothing impede, but that God in his manner (which always is just) doth harden the hearts of those whom before he had reprobated.2 We confess that no greater plague can chance unto man▪ then that he be left to his own lewd mind▪ for them of him can proceed no good nor permanent fruit. But as the earth lacking rain dew and moisture must needs be barren, and so at length subject to malediction, so must men destitute of gods grace, with Saul, Ahab, & others proceed from evil to worse, till finally they come to confusion. But were it not that it is your common custom to belie y• holy Ghost, I would wonder how that you could be so impudent, as to affirm, that the lord doth punish his vineyard, not wasting it him self, but taketh the hedge and rain from it and suffereth it to be wasted and trodden of others. ⟨p. 320⟩