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…

But here also we see that Rebecca had an affection better guided then her husband. It is very true that always men shall see (or for the most part) that if the Father love one of his Children, the mother will set her love quite contrary: A man may see these contentions in most houses. Also it may be that Rebecca had conceived some kind of jealousy: forasmuch as she saw Esau preferred: & therefore she loved Jacob the better, forasmuch as he was not so acceptable to his father, nor had no such favour: but forasmuch (as we shall see hereafter) that she had regard unto Gods election, and that she always held that which had bin said, that Jacob must be preferred: we have here to judge that she was not passionate and affected, as women that would lightly set themselves against their husbands, when they see that some of their children, shall not be so much esteemed, they will the more set their affections upon them. But we cannot judge so of Rebecca: and why so? Because we see (as I have already said) that she always referred her self to God, & meant to obey that which he had pronounced. She would undoubtedly that both the children might have been reserved in the Church: but seeing she saw the one shut out, and that there was none but the lesser and inferior that God allowed off, she yielded thereto. Now here we see that our Lord sometimes will suffer those, which have the more virtues and greater gifts of the holy Ghost, yet nevertheless to fall: ⟨image 56⟩and that they who were not yet so advanced as they should outgo them, I mean in some respect. For if we make comparison of Isaac with Rebeca, it is certain that he having been brought up in the house of his father, & having received so great instruction in his youth, had generally a greater faith then Rebecca. But behold a particular action, wherein he faileth, and wherein his vice showeth it self. And yet Rebecca who lately crawled out of a den of idolatry: as we know that in her fathers house, there was nothing but superstitions, the country was altogether corrupted: this poor woman, although she knew not God in her youth: yet notwithstanding she was so well taught and instructed of the holy Ghost, that she out-went her husband. Now for this cause, they too whom God hath reached out the hand betimes, and whom he hath lifted up, to be as mirrors unto others:

But heere also wee see that Rebecca had an affection better guyded then her husband. It is very true that alwayes men shall see (or for the moste parte) that if the Father loue one of his Children, the moother will sette her loue quite contrary: A man may see these contentions in moste houses. Also it may bee that Rebecca had conceiued some kinde of ielousie: forasmuch as she sawe Esau preferred: & therefore she loued Iacob the better, forasmuch as hee was not so acceptable to his father, nor had no such fauour: but forasmuch (as we shal see hereafter) that she had regard vnto Gods election, and that she alwayes held that which had byn said, that Iacob must be preferred: we haue here to iudge that she was not passionate and affected, as women that would lightly set themselues against their husbands, when they see that some of their children, shall not bee so much esteemed, they will the more set their affections vpon them. But wee cannot iudge so of Rebecca: and why so? Because we see (as I haue already said) that she alwayes referred her self to God, & ment to obay that which he had pronounced. She would vndoubtedly that both the children might haue beene reserued in the Church: but seeing shee sawe the one shut out, and that there was none but the lesser and inferiour that God allowed off, she yeelded thereto. Nowe heere we see that our Lorde sometimes will suffer those, which haue the more vertues and greater giftes of the holy Ghoste, yet neuerthelesse to fall: