A04920:704
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 that the readers shall not be ignorant, what it was, I have added this History, written by that most faithful, and notable witness of things done in matters of religion, sithence the beginning of the Empire of Charles the fifth until the year of 1556, which History I add (as God, I take to record) of no private malice, which I bear against any person, but only that the world may see, what was your original, how unjustly ye accuse us of such crimes, as impudently you lay to our charge, and how justly all men ought to fear that confusion which ye intend, if God be times overthrow not your enterprises. The History1 and your original is this.
And that the readers shall not be ignorant, what it was, I haue added this Historie, written by that most faithful, and notable witnes of thinges done in maters of religion, sithence the beginning of the Empire of Charles the fifte vntill the yere of 1556, which Historie I adde (as God, I take to record) of no priuate malice, which I beare against any personne, but onely that the worlde may see, what was your originall, how vniustly ye accuse vs of such crimes, as impudently you lay to our charge, and how iustly all men oght to feare that confusion which ye intend, if God be times ouerthrow not your enterprises. The Historie1 and your originall is this.
- 1Historia Sle•dani libro 5.
There is a town named Alstet, in the borders of Turingia, under the dominion of the Duke of Saxon Elector, to the which town came one Thomas Muncer, who began first to teach not only against the Pope, but also against Luther, affirming both their doctrines to ⟨p. 409⟩be corrupted, and unpure: that the Pope bound mens consciences with to strait laws, and bands: again, that Luther loosed those bands, but yet finned on the contrary part, in giving to much liberty, and in preaching those things, that were not of the spirit. He taught also that it was lawful to despise the popes decrees, because they were of no force to bring us to salvation, which to attain unto (said he) most chiefly that we should avoid all manifest iniquities, as murder, adultery, & blaspheming of the name of God, that the body should be chastised and brought low with fasting, and simple clothing, that men ought to fashion their countenance to look sadly,