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 said; That Abraham and his son went farther together. It is not without cause that Moses setteth down these words twice, They went together: and after, They went on farther together. When it is said, That they went together, it is to let us understand, in what a wonderful passion Abraham was, when as he saw himself alone with his son: For company many times withdraweth us from being so troubled and grieved as otherwise we should be. For, when we are alone by our selves, we are then more pensive and melancholy. Now Abraham saw himself to go with his son, & to conduct him: and also after he had so answered him, yet to go on with his son: this doeth a great deal the more amplify the strength he had; so that nothing could so withdraw him, as that he did not continually pursue his purpose, because God guided him. Wherefore we see that he was strengthened from above. For it was impossible for him, as he was a man, to be able to ⟨p. 277⟩overcome these sharp temptations. And therefore God strengthened him with a mighty and an outstretched arm. But that which is here set down of him is written for our instruction, to the end we might know, that although Abraham was even as weak a man as we are, yet he still strove and overcame whatsoever was contrary unto his faith, and that through the only assistance of God. And although at this day we know our own weakness, yet let us not as a great many do, flatter and deceive our selves therein: But it is the thing that should the rather stir us up and prick us forward to call upon God, and look for that at his hands, which is wanting in us, and so persevere and continue, as that although the Devil shall devise every manner of way to make us grow dissolute and go backward, yet let us continually go on still more and more a direct course. For, that which is here said of Three days journey, is to show unto us that we must continue so long as it pleaseth God. True it is, that we may for a while endure temptations; yea, perhaps a whole year; yea, ten, peradventure all the days of our lives, and all this must be abidden. But here we are to note that Abraham was after another manner of sort tempted, even all his life long: For, after he had recovered his son Isaac, yet was he not at rest and quiet, but we see what terrible ⟨p. 278⟩conflicts he had in one only kind of temptation.

Nowe it is saide; That Abraham and his sonne went farther togither. It is not without cause that Moses setteth downe these wordes twise, They went together: and after, They went on farther together. VVhen it is said, That they went together, it is to let vs vnderstand, in what a wonderfull passion Abraham was, when as he sawe himself alone with his sonne: For companie manie times withdraweth vs from being so troubled and grieued as otherwise we should be. For, when wee are alone by our selues, wee are then more pensiue and melancholie. Now Abraham saw himselfe to go with his sonne, & to conduct him: and also after he had so aunswered him, yet to goe on with his sonne: this doeth a great deale the more amplifie the strength he had; so that nothing could so withdrawe him, as that he did not continually pursue his purpose, because God guided him. VVherfore we see that he was strengthened from aboue. For it was impossible for him, as he was a man, to be able to