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,…

WE have heard that this was the chiefest and hardest conflict that ever Abraham sustained in all the days of his life, ⟨p. 251⟩the going with his son Isaac into a mountain and there to offer him for a burnt offering: because in the first place he was to kill him with his own hands. Now it hath been showed us here before, that God would declare unto us in our father Abraham, that we must so overcome all our natural affections, as that his honour be preferred above all the rest. For although a husband loveth his wife never so dearly, a father his children never so tenderly, yet all this must be trod under foot when the matter for the serving of God cometh in question: For that is the most precious of all other precious things. We have also declared, that Abraham was not tempted only in that God commanded him to kill his son, but in that it seemed that all the promises which God before had made unto him were all as a man would say, quite and clean frustrate and void: For they all depended upon that which we have already heard, That the blessed seed should be raised in Isaac. And therefore it seemed that God meant to frustrate his promise made to Abraham. Now although it might seem in any natural mans reason, that God herein was contrary to himself, & that that commandment of his was to annihilate that which before he had heard from Gods own mouth, yet he constantly obeyed

WE haue heard that this was the chiefest and hardest conflict that euer Abraham sustained in all the daies of his life, ⟨p. 251⟩the going with his sonne Isaak into a mountain and there to offer him for a burnt offring: because in the first place he was to kill him with his owne hands. Now it hath beene shewed vs here before, that God would declare vnto vs in our father Abraham, that we must so ouercome all our naturall affections, as that his honour bee preferred aboue all the rest. For although a husbande loueth his wife neuer so dearely, a father his children neuer so tenderly, yet all this must be troad vnder foote when the matter for the seruing of God commeth in question: For that is the most precious of all other precious things. VVee haue also declared, that Abraham was not tempted onely in that God commaunded him to kill his sonne, but in that it seemed that all the promises which God before had made vnto him were all as a man would say, quite and cleane frustrate and voide: For they all depended vpon that which wee haue already heard, That the blessed seede should bee raised in Isaak. And therefore it seemed that God meant to frustrate his promise made to Abraham. Now although it might seem in any naturall mans reason, that God herein was contrary to himselfe, & that that commandement of his was to adnihilate that which before hee had heard from Gods owne mouth, yet he constantly obayed