A04920:625
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.
It appeareth that in this description of persons in which ye oppose your selves to us,1 ye would more declare what is your judgement and opinion of us, and what ye would that we should be esteemed of others, then that ye greatly do travel to prove any contrariety in gods will by the same. for his eternal wisdom seeth the means how that his commandment, and his will are not contrarious the one to the other: albeit that he command one thing, and yet for just causes, will wicked men to do the contrary. which kind of contrariety, and repugnance doeth so blind your eyes, that you can not see how God can command all men to speak trueth, and yet for just causes before seen and determined in his counsel, that he will the devil, and his slaves to delight in lies. Albeit I say that the appearance of this contrariety blind you, yet will not gods trueth cease of be trueth, neither will the liberty of his eternal Godhead, be brought ⟨p. 352⟩into bondage to your corrupt judgement. His commandment, and his will, do nether debate, nether fight betwixt them selves: but do agree in all things, even as do his mercy his justice, his wisdom, and his power, albeit oftener it is, that his justice doth punish such, as upon whom he hath determined to have mercy. Even so he commandeth men to obey his commandments, whom he not only foresaw, to be disobedient, but for most just causes willeth his glory to appear even in their unrighteousness, & lies. And this he doth without all contrariety in his godly will, to the full knowledge whereof albeit ye can not attain, yet more profitable it were for you to be ignorant of such things, as God reserveth to be revealed in the time appointed in his eternal counsel, then thus without all reverence, and fear to trouble your foolish brains, in devising such absurdities, as may seem to oppugn gods eternal verity, which in the end w•l triumph to your destruction▪ shame, and confusion, if obstinately you proceed as you have begun. For albeit that he loveth trueth, and hateth lies, and albeit that he commandeth man to speak the trueth, and forbiddeth man to bear false witness, yet feareth he not to give a commandment to that wicked spirit, to go forth & to be a lying spirit, in the mouths of all Ahab's false prophets. Yea further he gave him power to work that in the false prophets, which he forbiddeth all men to do.