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…

This is to say, that he would multiply his seed as the stars of heaven, & that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Here we see why god suffered not Isaac to go into Egypt: that is, that ⟨image 81⟩he might not forget the promise which had by given unto him concerning the land of Canaan, & likewise that he should content himself therein, and altogether rest him self there. Now if Isaac who was so excellent in the faith as we see by all his life, & to whom the holy Ghost hath given such a testimony, had such need nevertheless to be so bridled, what shall become of us? Even so we ought not to marvel, if our Lord do oftentimes hold us as it were chained in, and that he give us not licence to rove here and there: for he knoweth that this shall be to cast us to utter confusion. So inasmuch as we have so slippery a memory, insomuch as there needeth nothing to cause us to stray, so as we know no more which shall be our right way: this is the cause why our Lord giveth us not so great liberty as we would. And likewise as often as we are holden within straighter bounds than our fantasy desireth, let us know that if our Father Isaac had such need thereof, we by greater reason, who are come nothing so near to such excellency of virtue as he, have greater need. Now in the mean time we see that in Isaac, which ere while was declared to be in Abraham. God saith unto him, that he will give him all those countries that he saw, and through which he walked: yea, but notwithstanding he sayeth unto him: Thou shalt dwell there as a stranger. Mark two things, which yet seem contrary. For if God will give him that land for a possession, Why doth he not hasten it? Why doth he suffer him so too languish?

This is to say, that he would multiply his sede as the stars of heauen, & that in his seede all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Here we se why god suffred not Isaack to go into Egipt: that is, that ⟨image 81⟩he might not forget the promise which had by giuen vnto him concerning the land of Canaan, & likewise that he should content himselfe therein, and altogither rest him self there. Now if Isaack who was so excellent in the faith as wee see by all his life, & to whom the holy Ghost hath giuē such a testimonie, had such need neuertheles to be so bridled, what shal become of vs? Euē so we ought not to maruel, if our Lord doe oftētimes holde vs as it were chained in, and that he giue vs not licence to roue heere and there: for he knoweth that this shall be to cast vs to vtter confusiō. So in asmuch as we haue so slippery a memorie, insomuch as there needeth nothing to cause vs to stray, so as we knowe no more which shalbe our right way: this is the cause why our Lord giueth vs not so great libertie as we would. And likewise as often as we are holden within straighter boūdes than our fantasie desireth, let vs knowe that if our Father Isaack had such neede thereof, we by greater reason, who are come nothing so neere to such excellencie of vertue as he, haue greater neede. Nowe in the meane time wee see that in Isaack, which ere while was declared to bee in Abraham. God saith vnto him, that hee will giue him all those countryes that hee sawe, and through which he walked: yea, but notwithstanding hee sayeth vnto him: Thou shalte dwel there as a straunger. Marke twoo thinges, which yet seeme contrary. For if God will giue him that land for a possession, Why doth he not hasten it? Why doth hee suffer him so too languish?