A04920:705
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.
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,1 and gravely, that they should speak but seldom, and that they ought to nourish their beards. These things and such like, he called the cross, the mortification of the flesh, & discipline. After they are thus furnished, and prepared (said he) they ought to haunt solitary places, out of mens company, and often to think of God, what manner a one he is, whether he have any care of us or no, If Christ suffered for us, If our religion were not to be preferred to the Turks religion. And that we should ask a sign of God to assure us that he taketh care for us, and that we stand in the true religion. If he show not some sign immediately, that we should nevertheless go forward, praying instantly, yea & vehemently quarrelling with God, as if he did us not right. That seeing it is his will, as the scripture teacheth us, to give to those that ask, he doth injury in not giving a sign to him that desireth the true knowledge of him. This kind of ••iding, and anger he said, to be very acceptable unto God. because that by it he might perceive the fervent inclination of our minds. And that he would undoubtedly (if in this m•ner we did solicit him) declare him self by some manifest sign, that he would quench the thirst of our minds. And deal with us, as he did in times past, with our fathers. This also he taught, that God revealed his will by dreams, and that he laid in them ⟨p. 410⟩