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 this was a sword to wound Abraham even to death: and yet (as I have already said) all this came from the counsel of God▪ who meaneth here to set before us a pattern and glass of this his great constancy; that whensoever we shall be put to fight against all the temptations of the world, we might understand ⟨p. 263⟩that hardly shall we be able to abide the hundred part of that he abode, & yet he overcame it. Then Abraham said unto him, Here am I my son. And soon after Isaac said unto him, Lo, here is wood & fire, we are going to do sacrifice; & to what purpose? for here is never a beast to offer in sacrifice? Isaac right well knew that they went to offer a burnt offering unto God; but he knew not what it was that should be offered, & therefore he asked. Was it possible for Abraham to be thus racked, & be able to bear it? Yea forsooth: for God would not abate him an inch of it, because we might learn to have so much the greater courage. Thus we see what we have here to retain. True it is, that Moses reciteth this simply & plainly. Now, if we should read these things without thinking why they were written: without doubt we should have but a cold pull of it: neither should we be greatly moved with it. But when as we shall have throughly considered, in what estate Abraham was, and how mightily his heart was distressed, & there upon shall come to judge when this strange temptation was put upon him: and into what anguish he might be driven, when as his son said unto him, My father: First, to see Abraham mark the simplicity of his son; & then after, to think with him self, Alas poor boy, thou knowest not for what purpose thou art prepared.

Now this was a sword to wound Abraham euen to death: and yet (as I haue alreadie said) all this came from the counsell of God▪ who meaneth here to set before vs a patterne and glasse of this his great constancie; that whensoeuer wee shalbe put to fight against all the temptations of the world, wee might vnderstand ⟨p. 263⟩that hardly shal we be able to abide the hundreth part of that he abode, & yet he ouercame it. Then Abraham said vnto him, Here am I my sonne. And soone after Isaak said vnto him, Loe, here is wood & fire, we are going to do sacrifice; & to what purpose? for here is neuer a beast to offer in sacrifice? Isaak right wel knew that they went to offer a burnt offring vnto God; but he knew not what it was that should be offred, & therefore he asked. Was it possible for Abraham to be thus racked, & be able to beare it? Yea forsooth: for God would not abate him an inch of it, because we might learn to haue so much the greater courage. Thus we see what we haue here to retaine. True it is, that Moses recyteth this simply & plainly. Now, if we should read these things without thinking why they were written: without doubt we shuld haue but a cold pul of it: neither should we be greatly moued with it. But when as we shal haue throughly considered, in what estate Abraham was, and how mightily his heart was distressed, & ther vpon shall come to iudge when this strange temptation was put vpon him: and into what anguish he might be driuen, when as his sonne said vnto him, My father: First, to see Abrahā marke the simplicitie of his sonne; & then after, to think with him selfe, Alas poore boye, thou knowest not for what purpose thou art prepared.