A04920:580
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.
O say you but God did not take his goods, 1but only suffered the devil to take them, and so God did not punish his people. for he touched them not, but hid his face from them, to see their end. Albeit your vanity trouble me a little, yet must it needs return upon your own heads to your shame. This is a good reasonly, God by him self took not Jobs goods from him, therefore he did nothing but suffer them to be taken: and gods own hand did not touch Israel nor Judah, therefore was he but only a sufferer, and no worker of their punishment. I will make the like reason and argument. God by him self gave no goods to Job, therefore did he nothing but suffer Job to be enriched. An other, no visible hand was seen to touch Elimas the sorcerer,2 therefore did God only suffer him to be blinded. If ye will affirm the former, to wit, that God did nothing but suffer Job to be enriched: not only shall Job him self testify against you, but even satan, although he be a liar, and the father of lies: yet in that case shall he convince you of a most impudent lie. for he sayeth: Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house and a boute all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But stretch out now thy hand and ⟨p. 323⟩touch all that he hath to see if he will not blaspheme the to thy face. And if ye will say that God did only suffer Elimas to be blinded: then shall the holy Ghost speaking in saint Paul convict you. for he sayeth behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind and shall not see the Sun for a time. And thus shall you have God, man, and the devil to rebuke your vanity. Be ashamed, repent, and give glory unto God, who feareth not to confess that all instruments in heaven earth or in hell, be his rods, his sword, and his hand, by the which he correcteth, he punisheth, he trieth, delivereth, and saveth according to his eternal counsel and purpose.3 To prove absurdities and inconveniences (as ye term them) to follow our doctrine: thus you reason: If I should grant that it was gods will that he should refuse, to let the people goo, then did he submit him self to the will of the Lord. then, should God and he have been both of one mind. and the will of God is always good and just.