A04920:693
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 Isai had the children whom the Lord had given unto him, who albeit they were holden as monsters among men yet, did they patiently abide the Lord. Jeremiah had Baruch his faithful, scribe not withstanding his weakness, and infirmity. Abedmelech feared the Lord, was favourable to the Prophet, and therefore saved he his soul for a pray, and was delivered from that day of vengeance. And therefore these universal sentences must also be restrained, and kept within their own bounds,1 like as these: All have left me, all seek the things, that appertain unto them selves, and not those things that be of God. Which sentences (except they be restrained) we shall condemn the dearest children of God, who in Pauls days did valiantly fight against the prince of this world. These examples of the one sort, & of the other I have adduced, to let the simple understand, that such general sentences of necessity, must be so restrained, that difference may be kept betwixt the elect, and the reprobate. For else we shall do nothing in explaining scriptures, but confound light, with darkness. For if the words of our Master Christ Jesus saying:2 All shall be taught of God, shall be so generally understand, that no exception be admitted, then of necessity it is, that all men, and every person shall come to the true knowledge of Christ Jesus▪ for of that knowledge doth he speak in that place. But the contrary thereof is most evident, even by Christ Jesus his own words,3 who putteth a plain difference betwixt them, that be given to him by his father, and betwixt them, that be not given. But now let us briefly consider, what sinners, they are whose death God will not, but rather hat they convert & live. Saint John ⟨p. 402⟩in his Epistle saith: If we say,4 we have no sin we deceive our selves, & the verity is not in us. If we confess our sins,5 he is faithful & just, to remit to us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness &c. And after: Who soever commiteth sin transgresseth also y law, for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he is revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. As many as bide in him (that is in Christ Jesus) sin not: who soever sinneth hath not seen him nether hath known him &c. He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning &c.