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,…

Moreover we are to note a thin which is most manifestly seen, to wite, the obedience of Isaac: For it must needs be that he would in very truth willingly and of his own accord be sacrificed, or at the least had such a love to his father, as that he would frame himself to his vvill to be made a burnt offering unto God. Here we see why it is namely said, That they went together, and that Isaac carried the wood. Wherefore let us learn so to submit our selves unto the vvill of God, as that although we must violently suppress our passions and bring our selves under (as we have already said) yet let us freely and of our own accord yield our selves unto him; For, all the faithful must thus strive and fight: to wite, that although they suffer never so much sorrow and grief, and although God so lively exerciseth them as they be touched with some doubts and remorse of conscience, and be sometimes as it were tired with their perverse and wicked dealing with God: yet must they in the end conclude thus, even to submit and subject themselves unto his vvill, and not suffer their contrary affections so to hinder them from submitting themselves unto him, but that they willingly and ⟨p. 279⟩of their own accord submit themselves unto him both in life and death. An example hereof we have in our Saviour Jesus Christ, speaking unto Peter in this sort:¹ When thou shalt be old (saith he) another shall carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Now it is certain that S. Peter suffered for the Gospel, he went not to it as enforced & grudgingly, but willingly & voluntarily offered himself a sacrifice unto God. And yet our Saviour Jesus Christ saith, that he should be carried whither he would not. Thus we see that there must be a double will in the faithful: & yet such as are not incompatible neither. For, of our own nature we are continually moved, stubbornly to withstand God. And th•• is a wicked will. Wherefore it must be tamed & kept under, & there must be another within us that must correct that, & must choose rather to die & do Gods will, than to live & withal cast off his yoke. This then we are to retain from these words, That Isaac & his father went together, & that they went on further together.

Moreouer vvee are to note a thin vvhich is most manifestly seene, to wite, the obedience of Isaak: For it must needes be that hee vvoulde in very truth vvillingly and of his ovvne accord be sacrificed, or at the least had such a loue to his father, as that hee vvoulde frame himselfe to his vvill to be made a burnt offring vnto God. Heere vvee see vvhy it is namely said, That they went together, and that Isaak carried the wood. VVherefore let vs learne so to submit our selues vnto the vvill of God, as that although wee must violently suppresse our passions and bring our selues vnder (as vvee haue already saide) yet let vs freely and of our own accord veeld our selues vnto him; For, all the faithfull must thus striue and fight: to vvite, that although they suffer neuer so much sorrow and griefe, and although God so liuely exerciseth them as they be touched vvith some doubts and remorse of conscience, and be sometimes as it vvere tired vvith their peruerse and vvicked dealing with God: yet must they in the end conclude thus, euen to submit and subiect themselues vnto his vvill, and not suffer their contrary affections so to hinder them from submitting themselues vnto him, but that they vvillingly and