A04920:7
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.
The Preface.
Amongest the manifold blessings where with God hath blessed his chosen children (whom before all beginning of times he hath predestinate to life in Christ Jesus) it is not the least (most dear brethren) that he hath given unto us plain advertisement,1 how diverse, unto diverse persons shall be the effect and operation of his word: so oft as it is offered unto the world.2 To wit, that as he him self was appointed by his heavenly Father and forespoken by the Prophets,3 to be the Stone of often see, the stumbling block, and a snare to the two houses of Israel, and yet that he should be to others the Sanctuary of honour, the Rock of refuge, & author of liberty: so should his word (I say) truly preached be to some foolishness and the savour of death,4 and yet unto others, that it should be the sweet odour of life,5 the wisedo me and power of God (and that to salvation) to all those that believe. I purpose not at this present to entreat nor to reason, how and why it is that gods eternal word, which in it self is always one, worketh so diversly in the hearts of those to whom it is offered, but my only purpose is in few words to admonish us (to whom it hath pleased God of his own free mercy more plainly to reveal the mysteries of our redemption ⟨p. 4⟩than he hath done to many ages be fore us) not to esteem this a small and common blessing of God that we have not only his trueth, but also the effect and operation of the same confirmed to us by experience of all ages. Great & infinite is that benefit of God, and rightly can it never be weighed, when so ever he doth offer his trueth unto the world. But such is either the dullness of man or else his extreme ingratitude, that he will not acknowledge the face of the verity,