A04920:602
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.
ANSWERER.
As your most pestilent sect,1 even from the first original of it, hath with all malicious craft laboured to subvert and confound gods most perfect ordinance, so do you in this matter confound those things, which we most plainly and most distinctly set a part, and divide them the one from the other. for first you are never able to prove that any of us hath alleged, or yet doeth allege the word or fact of Joseph and his brethren, for any proof of gods eternal election, or most just reprobation. but to declare that such is gods providence towards his chosen children, and towards their salvation, & preservation of his church, that what so ever satan and wicked men imagine to the destruction of gods elect, that same doeth his infinite goodness convert to their profit, comfort and joy. And so this is the first, that impudently ye confound, to wit his providence which extendeth to all his creatures, with his election which pertaineth only to his children. The second is, no man hath ever put more plain difference betwixt the wicked will of Satan, the corrupt and malicious will of man, and the holy and most just will of God, then we do in all or doctrine and writings. And yet ye accuse us, that we attribute to God that which is proper to the devil, that is to move the thought of men to do evil. Howe far that impiety is from all our cogitations, as God one day shall manifestly reveal to your eternal confusion (except that speedily you repent) so may all godly men who either have heard our voices or read our writings, bear record how justly you accuse us. we constantly affirm that God neither moved by his holy spirit, the hearts of the patriarchs to envy and hatred, neither vet of Pharaoh to cruelty, neither yet to iniquity. for that is naturally borne with all men, and needeth the power of the potent Spirit of God to extinguish and quench it, but not to inflame and kindle it. But yet we say that God who out of darkness produced or brought forth light, had in that most ⟨p. 337⟩detestable fact of the patriarchs, both his will and his counsel, far contrary to their minds and purpose: even as h had in the cruel and most unjust death (as concerning the instruments that were the executors) of his dear son Christ Jesus. nether yet doth it there of follow, that evil thoughts, whereunto we are commanded to resist, are moved by him, or yet come from him.