A04920:739
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 king and his two fellow captives were carried hither & thither to the Princes to be gazed and laughed at, by which occasion the preachers of the Landgrave talked and disputed with the king, chiefly of these points, of the the kingdom of Christ, of Magistrates, of justification, of Baptism, of the supper of the Lord, of the incarnation of Christ, & of Marriage, and they prevailed so much by the testimony of the Scriptures, that although they did not altogether convert him, yet they so bowed and confounded him (notwithstanding his repugnance, and defending his opinions) that at the last he granted to the most part of all: which nevertheless, is thought that he did but to save his life. for when they came to him the second time, he promised, so he might be pardoned to bring to pass that all the Anabaptists which were in great number through all Holland Brabant, England, and Friesland, should keep silence, and in all things obey the Magistrates. Those same men also disputed with the kings fellows both by communication and writing, of mortification, of the Baptism of infants, of the communion of their goods, and of the kingdom of Christ. When they were come to Telgate, the Bishop ⟨p. 446⟩asked the king by what authority he arrogated to him self such liberty over his City & people? who asked him again,1 who gave him authority & power in that City and when the Bishop answered that he obtained that jurisdiction by the consent of the congregation and people, even so,2 saith he, was I called thereunto of God. Then were they carried back again to Monstere the twenty of January, where each of them were put in a several prison. The same day came the Bishop thither with the archbishop of Cologne, and the ambassadors of the Duke of Cleave with him, two days after they were exhorted by godly admonitions to convert from their errors. And in deed the king acknowledged his sin, and made his recourse to Christ by prayer, the other two would not confess that they had offended at all, but obstinately defended their false opinions: the next day after, the king was brought forth into an high place, and bound to a post, where were present two executioners with fiery tongues to torment them with all, the king at the three first pinches of the tongues held his peace, afterward crying to God incessantly for mercy.