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,…

Now it is soon after said, That he commanded his servants to abide there, and laid the wood upon his son Isaac which was for the sacrifice. For the question was not only to kill Isaac, but to burn him also to ashes: Wherefore he laid the wood upon Isaac, and commanded his servants to abide there: For he right well knew that his servants would never ⟨p. 258⟩have suffered him to commit such an Act, But would rather have thought thus with themselves: Did you ever see such a doting old man? Surely he is mad, he saith that God commanded him so to do: But is it possible that GOD would command such a cruel thing to be done? And therefore they would never have imagined this obedience to be any part of the service of God; but would rather have taken it to be the part of a furious and mad man.

Novv it is soone after said, That he cōmanded his seruants to abide there, and laid the wood vppon his sonne Isahak which was for the sacrifice. For the question vvas not onely to kill Isahak, but to burne him also to ashes: VVherefore he laid the vvood vpon Isahak, and commanded his seruants to abide there: For hee right vvell knevve that his seruaunts vvould neuer ⟨p. 258⟩haue suffered him to commit such an Acte, But vvould rather haue thought thus vvith themselues: Did you euer see such a doting olde man? Surely he is mad, he saith that God commaunded him so to doo: But is it possible that GOD vvould commaund such a cruell thing to be done? And therefore they vvould neuer haue imagined this obedience to be any part of the seruice of God; but vvould rather haue taken it to bee the part of a surious and mad man.

Now Abraham knew this well enough, and this is a circumstance which we are to note, to wite, that seeing he understood the infamy and reproach that would light upon him, and that every man would think it was done rather like a frantic man, than a service which could any way please GOD: sith, (I say) he understood this, and yet cared not how ignominiously men would judge of him in committing a fault clean against nature, and such an enormous and detestable cruelty as could not be a greater, and yet would not desist from the pursuing thereof: Let us learn after his example, that although all the world should find fault with us, and spit in our faces, and be condemned, where we should be commended for our true serving of God, yet let not us at any hand cease to obey and do whatsoever he commandeth. For, if this