Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…

For our faith shall remain victorious over all the world. And how? It behoveth us (I say) to have our foundation upon the election of God: that we may be so settled thereon, that we know that our Lord being our Father, will not suffer that we perish, seeing we are his children. Now Moses addeth by and by that the elder shall serve the younger. In this we have yet a more ample confirmation of that which I touched even now, that is, that we must be so assured of our salvation, although that we be weak, & that the world despise us, and we have no greater show of strength. And why so? God would that we should for a time be the lesser: that is to say, that we should be little and despised to the end, that his glory might be the more known & esteemed. For if we had greatness and glory in our selves, & dignity, it is certain that these should be as veils, to ⟨p. 38⟩shadow the mere and free bounty of God: but when we are weak in our selves, see wherein it is known, that it is he which doeth all: & it must needs be that his hand be in such sort advanced, that we come not to mingle our selves therein, and that we throw not forth our clouds to hinder that the praise of our salvation be wholly attributed to him. Mark then that we have here to learn, that is on the one side, although that we be weak, that we cease not to go freely forward, knowing that our strength consisteth in God: and when he doth not fully show it, it is to the end that our weakness should be an occasion to humble us. See this for one principal point. And in very deed we should be cold, yea and quite negligent in calling upon him, if we knew not our necessity: but when we see that we can do nothing, then we must have our refuge to him, who can supply all our wants: and then we shall render unto him the sacrifice of praise which is due unto him, after that we have bin heard of him. In the mean time also we have to note that God doth not at the first dash, show to the view of the eye our salvation: but it must be hid in appearance, and that for a time we be as castaways, and that the wicked tread us under their feet, & that they be in degree without comparison, more high then we: Notwithstanding let it suffice us, that we are as a precious treasure before God. Behold also why our Lord Jesus Christ saith:

For our faith shall remaine victorious ouer all the world. And how? It behoueth vs (I say) to haue our foundation vppon the election of God: that we may be so setled thereon, that wee knowe that our Lorde beeing our Father, will not suffer that we perishe, seeing wee are his children. Now Moyses addeth by and by that the elder shall serue the younger. In this wee haue yet a more ample confirmation of that which I touched euen nowe, that is, that we must be so assured of our saluation, although that we be weake, & that the world despise vs, and we haue no greater shew of strength. And why so? God would that we should for a time be the lesser: that is to say, that we should be little and despised to the end, that his glory might be the more knowen & esteemed. For if we had greatnesse and glory in our selues, & dignitie, it is certaine that these should be as vailes, to