A04920:635
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.
Are you able to prove that Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, or that therein he spilt, or his captains, and cruel soldiers, one drop of blood which God (in his eternal counsel) had not appointed, and willed. The testimonies of all Prophets rebuke your vanity.1 Ezekiel saith: Thus saith the Lord. Behold I come against thee and will draw my sword out of his sheath, and cut of from thee both the righteous, ⟨p. 361⟩and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut of from y• both the righteous and wicked, therefore shall my sword go out of his sheath against all flesh from the South (meaning throw all the land) to the north, that all flesh may know, that I the Lord have drawn my sword out of his sheath, and it shall not return any more. Mark and consider how God attributeth all to him self, as after yet the Prophet more plainly speaketh saying: And he hath given it to be furbished that he may handle it: this sword is sharp, and is furbished that he may give it into the hand of the slayer &c. And I will pour out mine indignation upon the in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of beastly men, and skilful to destroy. Thou shalt be in the fire to be devoured thy blood shall be in the midst of the land, and thou shalt be no more remembered, for I the Lord have spoken it. If these be the words of him that only suffereth, and willeth not things to be done, let the indifferent reader judge. Why they did sin notwithstā ding that God in his counsel had willed, and appointed this severe punishment against his people, I have before declared. To wit, because that neither knew they gods will, counsel, nor commandment, neither yet had they any respect to obey God, or to fulfil his will. That Nebuchadnezzar was ignorant of gods will, and counsel, is evident by that which is written in the same Prophet, in the place above expressed. For after he was come forth of his country, and was with his army far proceeded in his journey, he was uncertain whether he should go against Rabbath, y• strong City of the sons of Ammon, or against Jerusalem, and so committing the matter to his sorcerers, and divines (the lots being cast) he taketh his journey, against Judah, and Jerusalem. Whereof it is plain that he neither knew, nor understood by the motion of gods holy spirit, his holy will, neither yet commandment.