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,…

Again, if any man should dye, his wife would grow so melancholy, as that she would be altogether impatient and murmuring. If God should take away any of our children: yea, although we had many, we would be angry with our selves, and weep and mourn extremely: and therefore, what would we do if we should be brought to this pass, as here it is said, even to kill with our own hands our own children, and not leave one alive, but dispatch our house of them all? yet would not all this be any whit comparable unto Abraham his trial. For, the children which God bestoweth upon us now at this day, are not the ground work of our salvation: Neither ought we to leave the having of our Lord Jesus Christ, although all ⟨p. 245⟩human knowledge should perish and decay: Wherefore let us acknowledge that God supporteth us, and pitieth our weakness when as he bringeth not us unto so hard a trial, as this which Moses here maketh mention of. Let this then be a good advertisement unto us that when God shall prove us, that we yield our necks to the yoke, & suffer him to make trial of us. And this is the most principal point of all our life, so to yield our selves as that God may dispose of us as pleaseth him: and not grudgingly reply and say, that he dealeth thus and thus hardly with us. This (I say) is the chiefest point of our whole life. In very deed (I must needs say) that this were a very excellent great good gift in us, as to be able to walk in integrity of life amongst our neighbours, to do no man wrong, to live chastely, and soberly all the days of our life, eschewing all drunkenness, intemperance, blasphemy, and such like.

Againe, if any man should dye, his wife would growe so melancholie, as that shee would be altogether impatient and murmuring. If God should take away any of our children: yea, although wee had many, wee would be angrie with our selues, and weepe and mourne extremely: and therefore, what would we do if we should be brought to this passe, as here it is said, euen to kill with our owne hands our owne children, and not leaue one aliue, but dispatch our house of them all? yet would not all this be any whit comparable vnto Abraham his triall. For, the children which God bestoweth vpon vs now at this day, are not the ground worke of our saluation: Neither ought wee to leaue the hauing of our Lord Iesus Christ, although all ⟨p. 245⟩humaine knowledge should perish and decay: VVherefore let vs acknowledge that God supporteth vs, and pittieth our weaknes when as hee bringeth not vs vnto so hard a tryall, as this which Moses heere maketh mention of. Let this then be a good aduertisement vnto vs that whē God shal proue vs, that we yeeld our necks to the yoke, & suffer him to make tryall of vs. And this is the most principall point of all our life, so to yeeld our selues as that God may dispose of vs as pleaseth him: and not grudgingly reply and say, that he dealeth thus and thus hardly with vs. This (I say) is the chiefest point of our whole life. In very deede (I must needes say) that this were a very excellent great good gift in vs, as to bee able to walke in integrity of life amongst our neighbours, to doo no man wrong, to liue chastly, and soberly all the daies of our life, eschewing all drunkennes, intemperancie, blasphemie, and such like.