A04920:78
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.
but thou wast cast out in the open field to the contempt of thy person in the day that thou wast borne. And when I passed by the I saw the polluted in thine own blood, and I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood (that is in thy filthy sins thou shalt live. And this he repeateth, to the end, that he may beat it more deeply in their minds. I sayeth the Lord) said unto the being in thy blood thou shalt live, and so he proceedeth, declaring, how that God did multiply them, did give unto them beauty strength honour and dignity. These three places do plainly witness what perfection God did find in this people whom thus he did prefer to all others. And what obedience did they render unto him after the vocation of Abraham, the hole Histories do witness. for perfection and obedience was not found in Abraham him self, yea neither in Moses nor ⟨p. 60⟩in Aaron, but contrary wise, the inobedience of all we find noted, to the same end that Moses hath before spoken, to wit, that none shall boast that either justice proceeding or following was the cause why God did choose and elect that people. For how shall God choose for that, which the holy Ghost plainly denieth to be in any man descending of the corrupt seed of Adam. For Isaiah plainly doeth affirm, that all our justice, is as a clothe most polluted and spotted: If our justice be polluted as the Prophet, affirmeth it to be, and God did predestinate us for our justice, what followeth,1 but that God did predestinate us for that, which was filthy and imperfect: But God forbid that such cogitations should take place in our hearts. God did choose us in his eternal purpose for his own glory, to be manifested in us, and that he did in Christ Jesus in whom only is our full perfection (as before we have said). But let us yet hear some testimonies of the new testament. saint Paul to his disciple Timothy sayeth.2 Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, neither be thou ashamed of me who am his prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Evangel, according to the power of God, who hath made us safe and hath called us with an holy vocation, not according to our works but according to his purpose and free grace, which was given to us by Christ Jesus, before all times, but now is made patent by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ.