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…

So then let us learn to stay our selves wholly upon the invincible power of God, when there is any question of being assured that in calling upon him we shall be heard, & that we doubt not but that as he hath brought us into a good way, so he will give us perseverance: and although that we be weak and frail, yet he will not suffer us to fall: but we shall always be led in such sort, that he will more and more increase his power in us. We must therefore come even thus far, namely that Jacob had not only those his enemies which had no fear of GOD, and were irreligious, but even his own father Isaac: yea who was then as chief in the Church: God had put him in trust as it were with his covenant, to the end that he should be the treasurer thereof, and dispense it: and yet nevertheless he (as it should seem) was an enemy to the election of Jacob. Wherefore if we see many contrarieties, ⟨p. 47⟩and that it seemeth our salvation must be overthrown by many means, and that we see no issue, let us then know that God will be victorious in the end: and whatsoever weakness be found in us, nevertheless he will not cease to proceed, and although there be resistance and contradiction here beneath, yet nevertheless he will overcome all, and bring it well about. But by the way, we are here admonished by the example of Isaac, to hold our selves under the bridle. For if this happened unto such a man as Isaac was, so excellent and of an Angelical holiness, that he resisted God, what shall become of us in comparison? It is certain, that we shall every day be overtaken an hundred times, with some vain fantasy, that we shall rush against God, although we have no such purpose. We have great need therefore to distrust our own judgement, and to call upon God, to the end that he will govern us by his holy spirit: otherwise (as I have said) we are as wretched strays, and we shall go hither and thither at all adventures. And when we ween to be very wise, there will be nothing but folly in us, yea rebellion, although it be not with our wills and knowledge. Mark this then for one lesson, But we must mark here the cause which is here noted by Moses, when he saith that Isaac loved Esau: And wherefore did he love him? Because that Venison was his meat.

So thē let vs learne to stay our selues wholly vppon the inuincible power of God, when there is any question of being assured that in calling vpon him we shalbe heard, & that we dout not but that as he hath brought vs into a good way, so he wil giue vs perseuerance: and although that wee bee weake and frayle, yet hee will not suffer vs to fall: but wee shall alwayes bee ledde in such sorte, that hee will more and more encrease his power in vs. Wee muste therefore come euen thus farre, namely that Iacob had not onely those his enemyes whiche hadde no feare of GOD, and were irreligious, but euen his owne father Isaack: yea who was then as chiefe in the Church: God had put him in trust as it were with his couenaunt, to the end that he should be the treasorer thereof, and despense it: and yet neuerthelesse hee (as it should seeme) was an enemie to the election of Iacob. Wherefore if we see many contrarieties,