A04920:687
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 the Apostle affirmeth that God will all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the trueth. Hereupon ye conclude, God will the death of no creature, this is your first violence, which you do to the text. For the Prophet saith not: I will the death of no creature, but saith▪ I will not the death of a sinner. Ye are not ignorant suppose, what difference there is betwixt an univer sa•• negative, & an indefinite, or particular. Where ye say God willeth the death of no creature, ye speak generally, and universally excepting none. But so doth not the Prophet, for he saith not, I will the death of no creature, nether yet I will the death of no sinner, but simply saith: I will not the death of a sinner. I wonder that ye consider not, that as there is difference betwixt creatures, and creature, so that also there is difference betwe•• sinners, and sinner. Some creatures are appointed […] death, for the use, and sustentation of man. And dare yo• say, that this is done against gods will? we be taught the contrary by his own mouth. If you correcting your generality shall say, that you mean only that God will the death of no man. And I fear not yet to join with you, and against you to affirm: that God hath willed, doth will, and shall will the death of some men. The holy Ghost speaking of the sons of Heli the high Priest,1 saith: But they did not hear the voice of their Father, because the Lord would kill them. And ⟨p. 395⟩Moses saith, Sihon king of Hesbon would not suffer us to pass through his country,2 for the Lord thy God did harden his mind, and strengthen his heart, that he should give him into thy hands. How often doth Moses, & Joshua declare unto the people, that God would kill, root out and destroy those wicked nations from before the face of his people? And were all those kings, whom Joshua did kill, killed against gods will? The holy Ghost affirmeth the contrary: For it is written, the Lord did trouble them before Israel, and he did strike them with a great slaughter. And while that they did flee before the Israelites, and were in the descent of Bethoron, the Lord cast down upon them from heaven great stones, and many more perished by the hail stones, than were slain with the sword of the children of Israel.