A04920:72
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 one by grace, and of the caller was honoured with the name and privilege of his church, The other was cast out as strangers, upon the one remained the benediction, of the which the other was deprived. In this manner, I say did both Isaac, Rebecca, yea Jacob, and Esau in process of time understand this oracle of God. But yet because this former place of the Apostle is by many evil understand,1 and by some maliciously wrested from the simple meaning of the holy Ghost: in as few and plain words as I can, I purpose to declare how aptly and properly the Apostle useth the testimony and words of Moses. Christ being preached to the jews who were reputed the chosen people of God, to whom,2 and for whose comfort and deliverance the Messiah was especially promised: The most part of the jews remained unfaithful, refused the Saviour, who was sent, blasphemed him, and cruelly did persecute him and his members. This could not be without a great offence and slander to many thousands both of the Jews and gentiles. The Jews puffed up with pride because they were the peculiar people, because to them were given the law, promises, and oracles, did brag and boast, that God could not reject them, except •hat he should be found a liar. For to Abraham and to his seed had he made a promise. And the gentiles might be troubled with the like cogitations: for they might think, if God shall refuse his own people which so many years, he tenderly had nourished, what stability can we look for, though we should receive this Christ preached. Against both these sorts of men most valiantly fighteth the Apostle, and most aptly allegeth the scriptures to the confutation of the one and comfort of the other. First against ⟨p. 54⟩the Jew he reasoneth, that albeit they be Israelites after the flesh, yet it may be, that they be not the very israelites of God, neither yet is God indebted unto them, though they be descended of Abraham. The reason is, that God made no promise to the hole seed of Abraham, but to a part of it, to Isaac.3 And if they should say: but we are of Isaac, he granting that, doeth nevertheless prove, that God doeth not choose the hole seed of Isaac, but in the mothers womb (as said is) by his own decree, he made the difference.