An Answer to Blasphemous Cavillations by an Anabaptist, Section 18
THE ADVERSARIE.
Here I think it is good to answere to their obiectiōs,The eightene section. which they collect of Peters denying of his master. If these thinges, which God foreseeth to com to passe, say they, may be left vndone. then notwithstanding that Christ did foresee that Peter should denie him, Peter might yet hauehave not denied him. I answer that notwithstanding Christ did foresee that Peter should denie him yet was not Peter compelled thereto, but might hauehave not denied Christ (well say they) then should Christ hauehave ben a lier for he said that Peter should denie him: I answer that notwithstanding that Christ so said▪ yet might Peter hauehave not denied him… ād Christ notwithstanding should hauehave ben no lier, the like example hauehave we in the first book of Samuel, Dauid asked counsel at the Lord,1. Re. 23. if Saul wold come to Keyla, and the Lord said he will com downe: then said Dauid will the men of keyla delyuer me and the men that are with me into the hands of Saul: And the Lord said they will betray you. Then Dauid with his men departed from key la, which when Saul heard he left of from his interprise and com not to Keyla. Here we se that neither gods foreknowledge which is also conforme to his saing, neither yet his prophecyeing did take libertie frome Saul, from the men of keyla, neither from Dauid and his m…, nother did Saul come to keyla, neither the men of keyla betraied Dauid as the Lord had spoken, And Dauid had libertie with his men to auoid the danger notwithstanding God had spoken, it should come to passe, so all they had libertie yea euen after God had pronounced what shoulde be done. In so much that their doings were plaine contrarie to the prophecie of God, And yet was God true. for he did foresee that if Dauid did not departe frome keyla, vsing such libertie as God had giuen him, he with his men should be betrayed into the hands of Saule,Whence hauehave ye your assurance. and I pray you might not Peter like wise vsing his libertie auoyd the bushopps howse, and so neuer bene tempted to denie Christe? Yes I am sure as well as Dauid auoided Keyla.
ANSWER.
If you be able to proue that Dauid stoode in also hote a contention against God,To the 1. 2. & 3. as Peter did against his master Christ Iesus: that Dauid affirmed the expressed contrarie to that which God had pronounced, and that God had appointed the certen time aswell when Saule should come as when the men of keyla should betrey him, then might ye hauehave had som coulor to hauehave compared and matched the deniall of Peter with the fliēg of Dauid. But if Peters deniall was with a dooble affirmation pronounced by the mowth of Christe Iesus: and if the sentence of God bothe touching the comming of Saule and touching the vnthankfulnes of the men of keyla, was conditionall, ye be more the… bold that take vpo… you to ioyn togither things so diuerse. Christes wordes to Peter were neither spoken nor ment vnderunder any condition, but were pronounced as foloweth.Matt. 26. Verelie, verelie I say vntounto the, that the cock shal not crowe till thow shall denie me thrise.Iohn. 13. Which wordes leaue neither libertie, fredome nor power to Peter to prouide for him self, that this sentēce should not be true, but the wordes and answers spoken to Dauid were according to his questions, which were first, if that brute of Saules cōming was true, ād if the men of keyla, to whom he had shewen such thankfulnes of late before, should becom so ingrate that they should betrey him into the hādes of Saule… And God did answere that Saule should come downe, and that the citezens of keyla should betray him. But I trust ye will not be so impudent as to denie, but that both these affirmations were spoken conditionally to assure Dauid of his doub…es, and to giuegive him aduertisment that neither he shoulde abyde the hasard of Saules comming, neither yet co…mit him self and his mē of warre to the fidelitie of those that were in keyla. Be iudges now your selues how far different be the wordes spokē to Peter, and the wordes spoken to Dauid. Ye procede.