A17722:133
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…
Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in Jacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherein every Christian may see the excellent benefits of God towards his children, and his marvellous judgements towards the reprobate, first published in the French tongue, & now translated into English, by John Field, for the comfort of all Christians.Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in Iacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherin euery Christian may see the excellent benefites of God towardes his children, and his maruelous iudgements towards the reprobate, firste published in the French toung, & now translated into English, by Iohn Fielde, for the comfort of all Christians.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Toby Cooke, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Tobie Cooke, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And therefore let us learn, that albeit our Lord have generally framed and fashioned us by his holy spirit in such sort, that every one hath us in admiration, that yet in particular cases, we may offend. Therefore let us always stand upon our watch. Moreover, they which are the most excellent, when they shall come to fail in some point, let them not make a buckler of this, that they have done so many good deeds, and worthy of praise: ⟨p. 49⟩let them not allege their valiant deeds (as they say) but let them acknowledge them selves for such as they be, and say: Well, I perceive that God would have me to acknowledge that I am a weak man: and farther that I should acknowledge in general, that it is not in men to uphold themselves: for there needeth but one fault alone to cause us to be cut off from the church. And when God hath cast us of, what shall become of us? So let us learn all these things in the person of our father Isaac, when we see that he was so blinded, and that he never remembered, that he was as a rebel to God, in esteeming that, which God had rejected, and despising his younger son: too whom notwithstanding God had given this testimony: That he must rule in his house. Now in the mean time, although that Rebecca had bin well guided in her affection, and that she had sought to obey God: yet it could not be but there must be some quarrel between them: as oftentimes it falleth out. And this is that which Moses saith. That Isaac loved Esau, and Rebecca loved Jacob: and when he speaketh so, it is as if he would show that there was some strife in the house, and that they could not agree together, to say, that the husband & the wife should love their children alike, as by nature they ought to have bin inclined thereto: or rather that they knew that the will of God was that they should have loved the younger. Now we are warned in this behalf, that albeit our affections be well grounded & tend to a good end, that notwithstanding there ••e ⟨image 57⟩always crossings which are blame worthy. As for example. I seek to follow God, and fully to conform my self unto his will: but there are resistings, & it must needs be that I must incur displeasure of the one, and purchase an enemy of the other, if I discharge my duty. Likewise it is true, that the beginning shall be good, when I shall desire too do well, and that I shall only look unto God: