A04920:664
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.
We do not define, what number God hath elected to life, nether yet what number presently God hath reprobated. Only we stand content, with that, which the holy Ghost hath revealed openly, to wit that their be both elect, and reprobate.
We do not define, what nombre God hath elected to life, nether yet what nombre presently God hath reprobated. Onely we stand content, with that, which the holy Gost hath reueled openly, to witte that their be both elect, and reprobate.
That the elect can not finally perish, nether yet that the reprobate can ever be saved, we constantly affirm. But we add the causes, to wit that because the one sort is given to Christ Jesus by the free gift of God his father, before all times: therefore in time they come unto him, by power of whose spirit, they are regenerate, their darkness is expelled, and from virtue, they proceed to virtue, till finally they attain to the glory promised. As the other sort is left in their own corruption, so can they do nothing but obey their father the devil, in whose bondage they ⟨p. 380⟩justly are left. And so where ye burden us, that we say, let the reprobate do what they can, yet they must be dā ned, ye do most shamefully belie us. For we say, and teach, that who so ever declineth from evil, and constantly to the end doth good, shall most certainly be saved. But our doctrine is thi•, that because the reprobate have not the spirit of regeneration, therefore they can not do those works that be acceptable before God.
That the elect can not finally perish, nether yet that the reprobate can euer be saued, we constantly affirme. But we adde the causes, to wit that because the one sort is giuen to Christ Iesus by ye free gift of God his father, before all times: therfor in time they come vnto hī, by power of whose spirit, they are regenerate, their darkenes is expelled, and from vertue, they procede to vertue, till finally they attein to the glory promised. As ye other sorte is left in their own corruption, so can they do nothig but obey their father ye deuil, in whose bōdage they