A04920:691
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.
For the first I say, that who so ever doth deny that from the beginning there hath been, this day are, and to the end• shall remain two armies, bands, or companies of men, whom God in his eternal counsel hath so divided, that betwixt them there continueth a battle, which never shall be reconciled, until the Lord Jesus put a final end to the miseries of his ⟨p. 399⟩Church: who doth not understand the trueth of this (I say) doth nether know God, nether his Son Christ Jesus: nether yet do such, believe his word, in which, both the one sort, & the other, are most manifestly expressed. The one of these Armies, is called the Church of God the elect Spouse of Christ Jesus, the sheep appointed to slaughter, the kingly priesthood, the sons of God, and the people redeemed. by ancient writers it is termed the city of God. The other is called the synagogue of satan, the church malignant, cruel, deceit full, and bloodthirsty wolves, Progeny of vipers, sons of the devil, workers of iniquity, and such as worship the beast, and his image. And according to the divers natures, conditions, and ends of these two companies, doth the scripture pronounce general sentences, and universal propositions, which not withstanding must be restrained to those of whom the holy Ghost meaneth. For nether justly may those sentences spoken of gods elect, be referred to the reprobate, nether yet such as be spoken of the reprobate sort, be rightly applied to the elect, except it be for terrifying of their conscience, and that only for a season. as Christ Jesus called Peter sathanas: and Nathan called David the Son of death, I will adduce examples of the one sort, and of the other• that the matter may be more evident. The Prophet Isai (which place also our Master allegeth) speaking of gods elect children,1 saith:2 They shall all be taught of God, and they shall know me from the least to the greatest.3 I shall pour forth of my spirit,4 on all flesh. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. The Lord raiseth up all that fall. All the inhabitants of the earth shall learn justice.