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 ever anon it will befall unto us, that in our good zeal we shall be too excessive, & that we shall have carnal passions in us: To be short: they which shall be the best guided, and who have greatest perfection, it is very certain that they shall yet pass measure in this place, and that they shall show themselves men: and so much the more ought we to suspect our passions, and albeit we see that the end be not good, yet we shall not cease to fall therein. Again, we also have a good warning to leave all contradictions: For it is not without cause that the scripture exhorteth us so often unto this union, to be of one mind, and of one mouth. And why so? For when we agree in such sort, each one stirreth up his neighbour, & helpeth to bring him unto God. But contrariwise, when we are quarrelling in contention and strife, not only one letteth and hindereth another (as it is commonly said there needs but one restive Horse to hinder the whole team:) but yet there is a worse matter: to wit, that when we strive for the service of GOD, we cease not to forget our selves in some respects, and many things escape us, the which we would not ⟨p. 50⟩let slip, if we were out of strife & contention. This therefore is the matter we have to learn. And these examples are daily seen amongst us in the church. For the best servants of God & they that are endued with most excellent graces, yea & who strive for the trueth, yet nevertheless cannot always so bridle themselves, that they be not quarrelling, & show themselves men, and yet God alloweth their zeal and that which they do. And why so? For because they have a good beginning, and they have a right end: but as I have said, there is always infirmity mingled therewith. Let us therefore (say I) always mark this, in this example of Isaac and Rebecca. Again, we have farther to note, that if some times we shall not agree so as we ought & as were meet & convenient & as we ought, to bend & enforce our selves, that yet nevertheless we must make no divorce betwixt our selves, neither be quite separated asunder. For although this was a notable vice, that Isaac & Rebecca were thus divided in the love, which they bare unto their children, yet they continued to serve God: & Isaac did never pretend to abolish this oracle: that is to say, this same answer which God had given, that Jacob must govern.

but eueranon it wil befall vnto vs, that in our good zeale we shall be too excessiue, & that we shal haue carnal passions in vs: To be short: they which shalbe the best guyded, and who haue greatest perfection, it is very certaine that they shal yet passe measure in this place, and that they shal shew themselues men: and so much the more ought we to suspect our passions, and albeit wee see that the end be not good, yet we shall not cease to fall therin. Againe, we also haue a good warning to leaue all contradictions: For it is not without cause that the scripture exhorteth vs so oftē vnto this vnion, to be of one minde, and of one mouth. And why so? For when we agree in such sorte, eche one stirreth vp his neighbour, & helpeth to bring him vnto God. But contrariwise, whē we are quarrelling in contention and strife, not onely one letteth and hindreth another (as it is cōmonly said there needs but one restife Horse to hinder the whole teame:) but yet ther is a worse matter: to wit, that when wee striue for the seruice of GOD, wee cease not to forgette our selues in some respects, and many things escape vs, the which we woulde not