A17722:177
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.
For when we shall have all the bread & meats in the world, it is certain that the wind shall aswell profit us for our nourishment as these, and we shall think, that we grow, & yet in the mean time we shall not be substantially fed: For it is not bread (as it is said in Moses) that nourisheth us, but every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Now by this ⟨p. 70⟩word, he doth not understand the doctrine of salvation, but that same virtue which God hath spread over all his creatures. Mark then what it is that nourisheth us: I say not only in respect of the soul but also in respect of this transitory life, Which seeing it is so, let us take heed, that we be not fed by that which the devil shall set before us, when we are in necessity: and canst thou do this, & art thou able to wind out from thence, & hast thou any such help? yea if this be contrary to the will of God, that we always remain steadfast, & that we wait till God shall show himself pitiful towards us: as he that best knoweth the mean, although it be unknown unto us. It is true that we shall have no such revelations as our father Isaac had, God will not appear unto us from heaven: but this ought to suffice us, that at this day the will of God is certain unto us: for GOD hath supplied that which was wanting to our old fathers, when he appeared unto them: at this day we have the law, which is an infallible rule unto us: we have the prophets which are expositors thereof unto us, to the end that the shortness thereof be not obscure unto us: we have further more perfection in the gospel. Seeing God then hath revealed unto us that which is profitable for us to know, we must not desire visions at this day, but as often as we shall be in any perplexity or doubt, we must have recourse unto the Scriptures: and when we shall think upon the means, let us mark whether the same be permitted unto us, and whether God allow of them. And when we shall find that the means which shall ⟨image 80⟩come into our heads, be not agreeable to the will of God, according as it is contained in the law and in the Gospel, that we then forsake all. Mark how we have to follow our father Isaac, yea to overcome this temptation which is very heavy and troublesome: that is to say, when we have nothing wherewith to be nourished and fed, but a very small pittance.
For whē we shall haue all the bread & meats in the world, it is certain that the wind shall aswel profite vs for our nourishment as these, and wee shall think, that we grow, & yet in the meane time we shall not be substantially fed: For it is not bread (as it is said in Moyses) that nourisheth vs, but euery worde that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Nowe by this