A17696:190
Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled,…Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled,…
Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled, Abraham's courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchizedek. Also, Abraham's faith, in believing God: comprehending four sermons. And, Abraham's obedience, in offering his son Isaac; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled, Abrahams courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchisedech. Also, Abrahams faith, in belieuing God: comprehending foure sermons. And, Abrahams obedience, in offering his sonne Isaack; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.
London: printed by John Windet, 1592London: printed by Iohn Windet, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Three Sermons, beginning at the latter end of the 21 Chapter of Gen… › Sermon 1
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.
After he had sustained these great and most grievous temptations, that GOD had promised to give him the Land, yet was he so baited, as if he had not been worthy once to have set his foot in any place of the Land.
After hee had sustained these great and most grieuous temptations, that GOD had promised to giue him the Land, yet vvas hee so baited, as if hee had not beene vvorthy once to haue set his foote in any place of the Land.
God had also promised him seed,1 but that came not neither until such time as he was four score years old, and his wife barren, so as it seemed unto them, that this promise was but a very mockery. And when he was an hundred years old he had Isaac. But Ismael must be thrust out of the doors, and be banished as heretofore we have heard. If we could well savour and taste these temptations, without doubt we should be wonderfully amazed to see Abraham have such a powerful and constant faith, to fight against such assaults and to overcome them. Now then, when it is said, After these things: it is to show that God meaneth to set before us in the person of Abraham such a spectacle, as that whensoever we shall come to the fight, it shall not be hurtful unto us to follow his steppes, neither yet think it strange or any new thing to conform and fashion our selves like unto him who is father of the whole Church. But yet this is most certain that although every man would throughly look unto the temptations which he is to suffer, yet shall he not be able to see the hundred part of that which we see in Abraham. And therefore this is to be noted; that as God had bountifully bestowed the gifts and graces of his holy spirit upon him, so also meant he to make a through trial of his faith: for God will not have his gifts lie a rusting and be unprofitable ⟨p. 233⟩in us; But will deal with every man according to that measure of his graces which he hath vouchsafed us. For he prepareth us to endure them, or else we were never able to undergo them: nor once move one finger to do well, except the Lord doth so dispose the same and giveth us the power to do it. And therefore whensoever he putteth us to the Combat, he bestoweth the graces of his holy spirit upon us. Now forsomuch as Abraham had great perfection in comparison of us, according as we are men, see how God also proved him with such strange sorts of trials as we are never able to come near unto. Howbeit so much the less excuse have we for our idleness, coldness, and wantonness, if we follow not at least in some measure our father Abraham. And although the constancy of our faith be not equal unto his, yet if we endeavour not our selves to follow him some what aloof (as we say) according to our ability and infirmity, without doubt we shall be without all excuse.