A04920:579
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 these words may be attributed to him, who only suffereth and doth not him self effectually work, let indifferent m•n judge. And yet speaking more plainly he sayeth: I am the lord and there is none other,1 I form the light and create darkness: I make peace and create evil (that is punishment and plagues for sin) I the eternal do all these things▪ 2to whom the Prophet Amos doth agree using these same words: or shall there be evil in a city (sayeth he) and the lord hath not done it? The lord speaking by his Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel sayeth: I shall send, and take all the nations of the north, and Nebuchadnezzar my servant the king of Babylon,3 and I shall bring them upon this land: I shall kindle the fire, augment and multiply the flame,4 and I shall profane (that is I shall make common) my Sanctuary. If he that gathereth his warriors, that leadeth, and conducteth them, yea that giveth them strength agility and good success, that putteth the sword of his vengeance into their hand, that commandeth them to strike, and to spare none, doth nothing else but suffer, I must confess my self nether to know nor to understand what it is to do, or what it is to work. Your bold impudency affirming, that Job was plagued of God, only by suffering him to be plagued, is intolerable. Doth not God provoke as it were satan to try his servant Job? saying hast thou not considered my servant Job,5 how none is like unto him in the earth, an upright and just man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil. And after that satan, upon that occasion had defaced ⟨p. 322⟩the integrity and justice of Job, affirming▪ that easy it was to fear and serve God, seeing that all things were prosperous and fortunate in his house and family. God first by express words giveth to him power over all that pertained unto him: and thereafter he giveth over the body of Job to the tyranny of satan, his life only being reserved. Was this I pray you only, to plague Job, by suffering him to be plagued? Doth the father which commandeth his child to be beaten in his presence, and commandeth how many stripes he shall receive, nothing else but suffer his child to be beaten? or is he not rather the chief cause, as that he is the chief commander why his child is punished?