A04920:612
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.
And therefore if you conclude all nations do praise God, in such sort as David meaneth, because that the holy Ghost by his mouth commandeth all nations to praise God, you make no better an argument, then if ye should affirm, that every man loveth God with all his heart, with all his mind, & with all his strength, because that God so commandeth. This is one portion of your ignorance. The second followeth, gods works, say you, must be such as all nations may know them and praise them. I answer, if you understand that all that praise God unfeignedly from their hearts must have some knowledge of his mercies, goodness, just judgements and wondrous works we distent not from you. But if you say (as by your process is evident, that you do), that except all nations perceive and understand the very ground of gods justice, that God amongest them shall have no glory. then as we lament your foolishness, so we detest your error▪ for albeit that the natural man can never attain to the knowledge ⟨p. 344⟩of those things which God purposeth, yet shall not God be defrauded of his glory, no not in the most carnal and wretched man. Christ Jesus was sent into the world, and came to that people which was called his own: and his glory did so shine to the eyes of some,1 that they did acknowledge it to be the glory of the only Son of God▪ But did the princes of the priests and the hole nation of the Jews see the same glory, and so confess him as did the elect? Saint Paul witnesseth the contrary. saying, if they had known, they had not crucified the king of glory. Paul was appointed a preacher to the Gentiles, amongest whom he most faithfully and most boldly did open the treasures of gods great mercies, and of the glory of his Son Christ Jesus: but did every city, realm, nation or man, to whom these treasures were opened so receive, understand and embrace them, that for the same they glorified God? the contrary is evident. But was God therefore defrauded of his glory, even in the midest of a wicked generation? God forbid. for as the eyes of some were lightened, and so did glorify the word of the Lord, so such as remained obstinate did (and shall) glorify God, in so far as his just judgements were, and shall be executed against them. If you fear no punishment rage as you list. To your blasphemies I have before answered.