An Answer to Blasphemous Cavillations by an Anabaptist, Section 13
THE ADVERSARIE.
Now I intend with the helpe of God to answer to the arguments which they that be intangled with this error vse to alledge for the proof thereof,The thirtēth section. leauing such as be▪ but vaine, and ingender rather contention then edefying, answering to such as some most weghtie collected of certen places of the scriptures wherby it may be thoght that they may be deceaued, beseching the gentill reader to wey the mater with an indifferent balance, and first heare before thow refuse, and God willing thow shalt not repent the of thy labor. but forasmuch as the autor ād maīteners of this error do often make mention of election, whereby they wold cloke their absurditeis, I will first declare how election is taken in the scriptures thre maner of waies, that is generally, specially, and most specially of all. first we be all chosen and created in Christe Iesu as Paule witnesseth to the Ephesians in the first and second chapter, and conforme to this election he lightned all them that cam into the world, and calleth all men to repentance bothe greate and small,Esaia. 50 riche and poore, Iew and gētil, male and female, of all estates, without respect of any person. And all that be thirstie he calleth to come to the water of lief. Secondly he commandeth them which com at the first calling to renounce father ād mother, wief and childe with all other earthlie thinges, yea and them selues also. This is the secounde election where there departed an innumerable multitude which will not forsaik such thinges but for their own lustes. Here departed Cayn with the monstrouse Giātes, cruell tyrants, and bloodie hypocrites, and all persecuters which shed innocent bloode. here departed Epicurus with all his bellie gods: among which was the riche glotton which dispised Lazarus, there departed Sardanapalus accompanied with venus, and all that be drowned in the lustes of the fleshe. Among which was Herodias. There departed Cresus with many rich welthie persons: among which was the rich yong man of whom we read in the Gospell, that with a sorie countenance he departed frō Christe. There departed Tarquinius the proude with such as be puft vp with the Pompe, glorie, of this world. Among which was Herode… of whom we read in the Actes of the Apostles, that for his pryde he was striken of God and eaten of lyse. There departed Demetrius the siluer smithe with such as will not forsak… their filthie lucre. Amongest which were the maister and mastres of the damsell possessed with a spirit that prophecied. There departed a hole band of Stoikes with their destinie plaing fastor loose, and that of necessitie, which passeth all iuglers coming. Among them are all such as defend that of mere necessitie a few nō ber must be saued, and of mere necessitie all the rest of the world must be condemned. Who so abideth this seconde election and calling, Christ commandeth them to take vp their crosse and folow him. And thus to continue to the end: this is the third and last election of which saieth the Lord:Esaia. 48 I hauehave chosen the in the fire of tribulation. here the seuentie disciples departed, for they can not abyde this hard saing, here doeth Iudas trudge, they which remayn suffer greate assaultes, in so much that som tyme they turn there backes to their enemies (as the Apostles did, when Christ was taken) and there do worthie soldiours stagger, stumble, and fall: as Peter when he denied his master, and swore he knew him not, And Thomas could in no wies beleue that Christe was risen, and had obteined victorie. yet they which at the voice of their capteyn ryse vp, and turne againe, and fight laufully, euen vntounto the end, they are chiefly aboue all others called elect and chosen because they continuing vntounto the end obtein that whereūto they are chosen, and they folow the lambe whether so euer he goeth: it is a hard thing that any such be deceaued, and fall away, forasmuch as they first are illuminated from ab…ue, and hauehave forsaken all, yea them selues, and hauehave altogither submitted them selues to the gou…rnance of their Lord and capitē Christe. They daily obtein such victorie of their ennemies, that their warfare is now becom easie. And in hope they hauehave to subdue by the aid and counsell of their Lord, all their ennemies their ioy and comfort is so great, that they esteme all earthlie pleasure (which should draw them back) but vane, foolishe displeasante and beast…lyke, happie is he which vnderstandeth this to be true, not onelyonly by sp…culation, but also by experience. These thre kindes of election are plainelie set surth in the historie of Gedeon, which being w…ll and duely vnderstanded confyr to the world.
ANSWER.
Before ye enter to confute our argumentes as ye boldly promes,To the 1. ye affirme that electiō is takē in the scriptures thre maner of waies. That is (as you say) Generally, specially, and most especially of all, which diuision with the probation of the same is so foolishe, so fals, ād so far from the purpose, that onles ye should hauehave occasion to calūniat, that so much of your book I passed ouer with out answer, I wold not spend the moment of an hour in answering the same.Ephe. 1. For how litle do the wordes of Paule serue for your generall election in the confirmation of your eight reason▪ and after also, I hauehave declared. And I leaue to be proued of your parte by the euident testimonie of any scripture, that God so oft electeth to lief euerlastīg as he commandeth man to refuse him self orels as he giueth his further grace to such as he hath called to the knowledge of him self, and of his onelyonly beloued Sonne Christ Iesus. That there is a generall vocatiō by the which the world by som maner of meanes is called to the knowledge of God and a vocation of purpose which apperte… neth to gods children onelyonly I fynd in scriptures.To the 2. But that there is any election to lief euerlasting, except that which is and was in Christ Iesus in the eternall counsell of God before the foundation of the world I am assured that neither scripture affirmeth,Iohn. 1. neither iustly can it be gathered vponupon any sentence of the same. That the true light (which is Christ Iesus) illuminated all men commyng in to this world we confes:To the 3. but what will ye thereof conclude. Ergò say ye: all are elected in him to lief euerlasting: I deny your consequence. And say that albeit man be indewed wt the light of reason and vnderstāding which no doubt procedeth from Christe, and is not of nature onelyonly, yet doeth it not therefore consequently folow that euerie man that hath reason is elected in Christ to the lief euerlasting. if ye ask, for what purpose then doeth their lightning and illumination serue thē,Rom. 1. the Apostle doeth answer you, that they may be inexcusable: wc reason, if it satisfie not your curiositie,To the 4. quarell with the holie Gost. If you be able to proue that all that be called, do earnestly repent, and that all be thirstie to whom the waters of lief are offered, ye hauehave said somewhat to proue a generall election. But and if it be euident that a great nombre do rather repyne against the trueth, nor repent their iniquitie, which it reproueth, and that mo do either seme to hauehave no thirst to righteousnes, orels do drink of the stinking pudles of mannes doctryne, then that they will receaue those holsome waters of lief wc Christe Iesus giueth to his Churche, then hauehave you proued no part of your purpose.Isaiah. 55. And wōder it is yt in ye wordes of ye Prophet ād in ye wordes of our master Christ Iesus also, ye se not a plaine differēce made. for ye Prophete calleth not al indifferently to drink of these waters, but such as do thirst. And Christ restreineth his generalitie to such as did trauale and were burdened wt sinne: such I say he confesseth him self to call to repentance. But to such as were iust and hole, he affirmeth that he was not sent. And so yet once agane I affirme that the scriptures of God make but mention of one Election to lief euerlasting. I am not ignorant that Saule was elected to be king ouer Israel and Iudas also to the office of an Apostle: but whether thereof, you be able to conuince that they were both elected to the lief euerlasting in Christe Iesus, before that they did offēd (for so you affirme) I remitt you to your proofe. I feare not to proue that by the veritie him self, Iudas is called the deuill, long before that the holie Gost maketh any mētion,Iohn. 6. that it entred in to his heart to betray his master.
It may appere to some that in heaping of your exemples and histories,To the 5. which ye adduce for your especiall election (as ye terme it) ye rather delyte to renew your memoire, then substancially to proue your purpose. For if a mā should thus reason against you. The shepe of Christe which by the eternall purpose of God,An argument against the aduersaries forged diuision of gods election. be especially elected to lief, heare his voice and with reuerence do know and obey the same. But these whom ye rehearse, did heare the voice (as ye alledge) but neither did they know nor obey it, Ergo they were not the shepe elected and especially chosen. if thus I say any man should reason, prepare for your answer. And farther how ye be able to proue that Sardanapalus, Croesus and Tarquinius the proude can be placed in this rank of your especially elected, I can se no good reason. for except that calamitie and gods iust vengeance did folow their insolencie, filthie lief, and pryde, I fynd in histories no speciall message sent vntounto them from God. But this ye may vnderstand by som secrete reuelation which ye hauehave receaued of late in your perfection.To the 6.
That ye place vsus with the hole band of the Stoikes who with their destinie play fast or loose and that of necessitie which as you say passeth the conning of all iuglers. Althogh we do not greatlie feare the force of your sentence, yet must we appeale to a more righteous and indifferente iudge, that is to the Lord Iesus: to whom all iudgemēt is giuē. ād in ye meā tyme we further must require such as be indifferent in this mater to iudge betwext you ād vsus, whether yt we or ye be those yt play fast or loose in that which ye skoffingly call destinie and stoicall necessitie, and we call gods eternall election and purpose immutable. We affirme that gods election in Christ Iesus is so certen ād his eternall purpose to saue his churche is so cō stant,Matth. 16 that against the faith of gods elect shall not the Portes and gates of hell preuale in the end: that neither can lief nor death, thinges present nor to com seperat and disseuer vsus from the louelove of God which is in Christe Iesus. That this foundation is stable the Lord knoweth his own:Rom. 8. and therefor shall euerie one that incalleth the name of the Lord depart from iniquirie. for we are not called to vncleannes but vntounto sanctification and holynes by the power of that Spirit who raysed from death Iesus the great Pastor of our soules, which holie spirit frely by faith (which also is the gift of God) doeth so reule and reign in our heartes, that albeit the flesh lusteth against the spirit yet are we assured of victorie by the onelyonly power of him, who hath ouercom the world. This is our doctrine, faith and professiō. But you affirme as after plainely ye write, that none is so elected in Christ to lief euerlasting, but that he may fall, becom a reprobate and finally be condemned, and cōtrary waies, yt none is so reprobate in gods eternall purpose, but that he may becom elect ād so be saued. That in God there is neither election nor reprobation but according to mannes disposition: so that when men hauehave good motiōs, and be godly disposed God doeth elect thē, and write their names in the book of lief, but when they chāge and turne to iniquitie he doeth reprobate them and blotteth out their names out of the book of lief. Let now all creatures iudge betwext vsus and you whether of the two play fast and loose and surmounte iuglers in cūning.To the 7. Frome the third kind of election, which ye call most especiall how you be able to proue that the seuentie disciples did so depart from Christe that there was no difference betwext them and the trudging of Iudas (as ye terme his horrible treason) be iudges your self.Iohn. 6. In the sixt of Iohn we read that many of his disciples left him and fallīg frō him did go with him no more. But whether these were the hole seuentie whom he sent to preach or others who for a time did folow him it is not expressed, neither yet doeth the text say that all his disciples fell from him, but many departed. further it appereth to me verie rashe iudgemēt to pronoūce that none that departed from Christe at any tyme in his lief before his death vponupon the crosse,The fre wil mē iudge rashly. did at any tyme after, return vntounto hī, but that all such did remain in damnation with Iudas. For I fynd that all his Apostles did flie and leaue him, and yet we know they were called againe. And so also do we fynd were two of the disciples to whom Christ appering betwext Ierusalem and Emaus did first instruct them and after reueled him self vntounto thē. This I note to giuegive you occasion to be more circunspect in so weghtie maters.
Towardes the end of this parte,To the 8. thus ye write (of those whome you say hauehave subiected them selues altogither to the gouernement of their Lord and capteyn): they daily obtein such victorie of their ennemies that their war fare is now becom easie, and in the hope they hauehave to subdue by the aid and counsell of their Lord all their ennemies, there ioy and comfort is so greate that they esteme all earthlie pleasure, which should draw thē back, but vaine.
These wordes augment in me that suspition which before I noted to witt that ye hauehave a further fetch in this mater then your rude scholers vnderstand at the first:The perfecdtiō that the aduersaries pretend in this lyfe. to witt that euerie one of you shall becom Christes, so perfect ād cleā, that in you euen in this lief shall rest no ennemie to be ouercome except death onelyonly and that this is the opiniō of your greatest Angelles I am able to proue by sufficient testimonie, I mean by their own hand writinges. But how far S. Paul was from that perfection, yea euen when he was redie to be offerred in sacrifice for the testimonie of Christe Iesus, he eshamed not to confesse, thus writing to the Philippians, after that he had affirmed that all iustice which before he looked for in the law was becom to him as domage and doung, to the end that he might winne Christ, and be found in him not hauing his own iustice which was of the law, but that which was by the faith of Christ Iesus.Philip. 3. he addeth: Not as thogh I had already atteined to the mark, (vnderstanding to that iustice which he hoped for) either that I am alredy perfect, but I folowe if I may comprehend that, for whoes sake I am comprehended of Christe Iesus. Brethren I think not with my self to hauehave atteined to the mark, but one thing I do forgetting that that is behind I endeuore my self to that which is before. here the Apostle, who had foghten somwhat lōger thē some who now can bragge of an easie battell, confessed, he was not yet perfect, neither yet that he had atteined to that estate, that is to the resurrectiō of the dead to the which he daily did contend. The other poyson which in these your former wordes I espie, and therefor of conscience must admonish my brethren is: That ye be proud contemners of the fre graces of God offered to man in Christe Iesus. for with the Pelagians and Papistes ye are become teachers of fre will, and defenders of your own iustice. for how coldly ye speak of Christ Iesus and his power, these your wordes may witnes.How strōg the aduersaries wolde seme to be. They are in hope (say you) to subdue their ennemies by the aid & counsell of their Lord, are you becom so strong and your warfare so easie that the coūsell of your captein is sufficient for you to conquire your ennemies? you sodenly did repent that ye had confessed that the aid of your Lord was necessarie for you: and therefor to mitigate and extenuate that, immediatly ye adde by the coūsell of their Lord. Is this I pray you vnfeanedly to cō fesse that without Christ ye may do nothing, that of your selues ye be not able to think one good thoght? That it is he that beginneth and to the end performeth the work of our saluation? God of his greate merciemercy and for Christe Iesus his sonnes saik, preserue his Church from your pestilent vēnom.To the 9. What ye mean by the historie of Gedeō in the (which say you) well and duelly vnderstanded be your thre kindes of Election plainelie set furth, because ye your self do not expresse, I will not deuyne. The copie which came to my handes was in that place imperfecte. for after the former wordes it had onelyonly written Confyr to the world. And because I will not take vponupon me to alter any thing in your wordes I leaue them to be corrected by your selues, ād your mynd further to be explaned in that point: if so it shall seme good vntounto you. Ye procede saying.