A04920:70
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.
No other difference was made then this general,1 till the days of Abraham, and then a more special and express difference was made, for that which before was common to the woman's seed, was then by the expressed voice of God appointed to Abraham and unto his seed: in these words: In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, I will bless the and multiply thee, such as bless thee, shall I bless, and such as curse the shall I curse. In which words is no less the battle, then the benediction established. For as all nations were pronounced to be blessed in his seed (which as the Apostle doeth interpret was Christ) so is it pronounced, that there shall be some that shall curse, and therefore shall be accursed of God. Yea it is plainly spoken that four hundred years should his seed and posterity be evil entreated in a strange country, nevertheless the people whom they shall serve shall I judge (sayeth the lord). So have we again the difference plainly confirmed by the voice of God. But yet God proceedeth one degree further, and in Abraham's seed he maketh difference. For in Isaac (sayeth he) shall thy seed be called, by the which voice he did seclude both Ismael, and the rest of his carnal sons from that honour: affirming that from none of them should the benediction come, but only from Isaac which was the son of promise (and not of nature only). But that difference was most evidently declared in Isaac's two sons, being yet in their mothers bosom▪ before they had done either good or bad, as the Apostle affirmeth. It was said by the voice of God, the elder shall serve the younger. By which voice of God revealed, did Isaac and Rebecca plainly understand, what was the cause of the battle which the mother felt in her bosom and womb: to wit, that because from her womb were two peoples and nations to proceed, which could not be of equal honour ⟨p. 52⟩and dignity.2 For the one had he determined in his eternal counsel to elect for his peculiar people, the other to reject, and to leave them in the common corruption as the other nations: as the sequel in process of time did evidently declare.
No other difference was made then this generall,1