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…

When therefore we see that God will oftentimes thus prove those that are his, let every one prepare him self thereto, and let us not be abashed, although that our Lord do handle us with such rigour and severity: Nevertheless this is not to defeat us of that which he hath promised us, or not to hold us for his children: & let us acknowledge that the office of feeding and nourishing us appertaineth unto him, and that he will do it, although not according to our desires and fantasy. And moreover when we see that God presseth us not thereto, that hunger should drive us as they say from door to door, let us know that he bears so much with us, by reason of our weakness. This is the sum of that we have to learn, concerning ⟨image 80⟩the example of Isaac. But here a question mig•• be asked. Why God permitteth our father Abraham to go into Egypt, and forbiddeth his son Isaac. But concerning this, we have to note that God knoweth who we are, what our strength is, and according to this also: he suffereth us not to be tempted above our strength, (as S. Paul hath spoken) calling him faithful in this behalf. God then knoweth that which he hath put into us, for that which is there of nature, shall always be to throw us down: but when he hath given unto us any power of his holy spirit, he knoweth whether it be in little or in great portion▪ & according to this also he exerciseth our faith & our patience, & when he seeth that we are weak, he suffereth us not to be tempted so strongly. Mark then how this came to pass: and this diversity which is here put between Abraham & Isaac, is to show that the faithful shall not always be alike handled of God, for this reason that I have alleged. Isaac was the successor of Abraham, he had the promise: and in this that he was tried and examined by divers afflictions, it is evidently seen that God made him to pass, by one and the self same path: but notwithstanding (as I have already said) it followeth not that he had one and the like rule in all points. For our Lord supporteth whom he will, and when he suffereth men to be more hardly entreated, by and by he likewise fortifieth and strengtheneth them.

When therfore we see that God wil oftentimes thus proue those that are his, let euery one prepare him selfe thereto, and let vs not be abashed, although that our Lorde doe handle vs with such rigour and seueritie: Neuerthelesse this is not to defeate vs of that which hee hath promised vs, or not to holde vs for his childrē: & let vs acknowledge that the office of feeding and nourishing vs appertaineth vnto him, and that he wil doe it, although not according to our desires and fantasie. And moreouer when we see that God presseth vs not thereto, that hunger should driue vs as they say from doore to doore, let vs knowe that he beares so much with vs, by reason of our weakenes. This is the summe of that we haue to learne, cōcerning