A04920:713
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 when he was at the point to die, he acknowledged his fault, and error, and that he confessed it openly. And being compassed about wi•h ⟨p. 418⟩soldiers, he exhorted the Princes to have more pity on poor men, and so, they should not need to fear the like danger after. He exhorted them also to read diligently the books of the kings in the scriptures. when he had spoken these things, he was stricken with a sword, and for an example, his head was fastened upon a spear, and set up in y• field. And thus did he end, & suffer for his offence which (as said is) he did openly confess. But yet alas his error,1 and pestilent doctrine did not end. For from him came forth a kind of men which for their doing, & doctrine, are called Anabaptists. for they forbid the baptising of children, and are them selves rebaptized, and so affirm they, that all others ought to be, and they take away all the virtue of the first baptism.2 They show forth a certain kind of holiness. They teach that it is not lawful for Christen men to go to law together. Not to require or take an oath, although by the magistrate it were required. Not to have any thing in proper, but all things to be common unto all. These be their first principles. But furthermore, they add yet much more grievous errors, as afterward I shall declare. And when they increased through all Germany, both far, and wide. Luther and many other learned men, earnestly with stood them, the magistrates also did so punish them that they could hardly increase to any greater number. At the last in the chief town of Westphalia, named Monasterium, or Monster (which is well fenced, they placed them selves, which happened after this manner: There is not far from the town of Monster a temple of Saint Maurice, in the which, one named Bernard Rotman did preach the Gospel in the year of our salvation. 1532. to a great audience of the Citizens: And when they were purposed to bring him into the town, the prelates (purposing to let their devise) gave him a little some of money, that he might go exercise him self in some other place. and so he did. But after he had been in divers ⟨p. 419⟩