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…

Mark then from whence we must have all our rejoicing: mark of whom we must be armed, to have victory, and to triumph against all temptations. When we see in these days the enemies of the Gospel, and the Devils supporters, to make their brags, and make no account of others in comparison of them selves, and when in the mean time they despise us: and not only that, but farther account us as most desperate creatures, as though we were unworthy (as men say) to be eaten of Dogs. When therefore we shall see this at this day, yea, that the greatest number shall be as poor starvelings, and that they shall have no bread to eat, that they shall not have their ease nor their commodity: Let us remember that, that is here spoken, that the greater shall serve the lesser. Now this service came not to pass at the first dash. For we shall see afterwards that Jacob came to crouch before his brother, and called him his Lord: he trembled as a poor Lamb before him, and then gave him all his goods as a pray. And where was this subjection of Esau? where was the superiority of Jacob, when he submitted him self in such sort? It seemeth that he gives up all: but he knoweth that God would not accomplish this at the first day. Mark then why he did bear his poverty so patiently: because God would (as if a man might say) that he should creep upon the earth, and yet this shall not hinder, but that he should always attain to that salvation, whereunto he was called. And why so? For God dependeth not upon all ⟨p. 39⟩all these earthly things. And which is more (as I have already said) he will that we begin here, to humble our selves before him: following that which I alleged ere while from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ, that so we know that our Heavenly Father be well pleased with us, we pass not for the rest, or rather that we be not so shaken that this do deprave us and bring us out of taste, and so hinder us from doing good: but that we doubt not that amiddest all the troubles and griefs that may happen unto us, we have always wherein to rejoice. For who shall separate us from the love that God hath borne us in Christ our Lord?

Mark then from whence we must haue all our reioycing: marke of whome we must bee armed, to haue victory, and to tryumph against all temptations. When we see in these dayes the enemyes of the Gospel, and the Deuils supporters, to make their bragges, and make no account of others in comparison of them selues, and when in the meane time they despise vs: and not only that, but farther account vs as most desperate creatures, as though we were vnworthy (as men say) to be eaten of Dogges. When therefore wee shall see this at this day, yea, that the greatest number shal be as poore staruelings, and that they shal haue no bread to eate, that they shall not haue their ease nor their commoditie: Let vs remember that, that is heere spoken, that the greater shall serue the lesser. Now this seruice came not to passe at the first dashe. For we shal see afterwards that Iacob came to crowch before his brother, and called him his Lorde: hee trembled as a poore Lamb before him, and then gaue him all his goods as a pray. And where was this subiection of Esau? where was the superioritie of Iacob, when hee submitted him selfe in such sort? It seemeth that he giues vp all: but hee knoweth that God would not accōplish this at the firste day. Marke then why he did beare his pouertie so patiently: because God would (as if a man might say) that he should creepe vppon the earth, and yet this shall not hinder, but that hee should alwayes attayne to that saluation, wherunto he was called. And why so? For God dependeth not vppon all