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…

And this serveth well to show that there was no such perfection in Isaac, as there ought to have been: For he was not ignorant of that which had been spoken: That the greater should serve the lesser: He knew full well, that so was the will of God, that Esau the elder should yield both the place and degree of honour unto his brother: and yet he loved Esau: it seemeth herein that he would resist the counsel of GOD. And what means he herein? When he will cast his whole love towards Esau: Yet God will reign in the end and his election must stand fast, yea though all the world should strive against it. Lo Isaac, who is very blockish: yet there is more: for it seemeth that he is led by a brutish affection. For why did he love Esau? Because that he brought him Venison. He loved him therefore for his tooth's sake. Behold an ancient man: and who by reason of his age ought to have been stayed and settled: he should no more have been led of his foolish and inconstant affections, that for his tooth's sake & lickerishness, he should have forgotten that which God had pronounced, yea, by an unchangeable decree: that Jacob must govern, and that he should be heir of the promise: and yet that Isaac maketh no reckoning ⟨p. 46⟩of it. But here we see that the Jews are too to blind, vaunting them selves in their fathers, as though the dignity which they sometimes had, came from the holiness and virtues of men. For it is certain that Isaac, as much as in him lay, overthrew the election of God: not that he had a will so to do. For if a man should have asked him, how now? Wilt thou resist God? wilt thou let, that he shall not put in execution, that which he hath pronounced? wilt thou alter that which he hath pronounced by his mouth? He would have said. No: and his intent was not such. But howsoever it be, he is driven and drawn that way.

And this serueth well to shewe that there was no suche perfection in Isaack, as there ought to haue beene: For hee was not ignoraunt of that which had beene spoken: That the greater should serue the lesser: He knewe ful well, that so was the will of God, that Esau the elder shoulde yeelde bothe the place and degree of honour vnto his brother: and yet he loued Esau: it seemeth heerein that he would resist the counsell of GOD. And what meanes hee heerein? When hee will cast his whole loue towardes Esau: Yet God will reigne in the ende and his election muste stande fast, yea though all the worlde shoulde striue against it. Loe Isaack, who is very blockishe: yet there is more: for it seemeth that hee is led by a brutish affection. For why did hee loue Esau? Because that hee brought him Venison. Hee loued him therefore for his toothes sake. Beholde an ancient man: and who by reason of his age ought to haue beene stayed and setled: hee shoulde no more haue beene led of his foolish and inconstant affections, that for his tothes sake & licorishnes, he should haue forgotten that which God had pronounced, yea, by an vnchaungeable decree: that Iacob must gouerne, and that hee should be heyre of the promise: and yet that Isaack maketh no reckoning