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 there is no question of that which is past, but of that which was to come. Thou shalt dwell there: yea and the word which Moses useth, signifieth to dwell as it were in a strange country, as one that were still going. Lo Isaac then who had a Lordship upon the earth: & yet had not one foot thereof, but must remain there by leave, and must be subject to many troubles and trials, which were bent towards him: and yet he had not one foot of land, unless it were the burying place whereof mention is made before. To be short, we have to gather here, that God would have Isaac wholly to rest upon his word: as likewise it is the foundation, whereupon we must build all the days of our life, yea and in death too. For if we should have all that we desire, what should we need any more faith or hope? It behoveth therefore that the benefits which we wait for from God, that they be hidden from us, and notwithstanding that we behold them only by faith, & that we do God this honour, to account him sure in all that he hath spoken: although he show us not the effect and trueth of his promises, which we apprehend not after our reason and carnal feeling: notwithstanding we must say, it sufficeth us that he hath spoken it, he vvil perform it: When therefore we can fetch all our contentment from the word of God only, then let us assure our selves of a right trial of all that which we protest, that we believe in him: but if we vvill always have a gage, and have all that we desire, it is certain ⟨p. 73⟩that the word of God shall not be esteemed of us, and we can not exercise ourselves, sufficiently enough in this meditation. And therefore as often as we see God to have spoken to his servants, and not to have showed them the accomplishment & execution of his word, let us know that this is rehearsed unto us, to the end that we should learn to call upon God, when he shall leave us in suspense, yea and that we shall faint, and be stripped of that which should have been in our hand: that we learn to say: O Lord seeing we have thy promise, we shall not be frustrate in waiting for it.

But there is no queston of that which is past, but of that which was to come. Thou shalt dwel there: yea and the worde whiche Moses vseth, signifieth to dwell as it were in a straunge countrie, as one that were still going. Loe Isaack then who had a Lordship vpon the earth: & yet had not one foote therof, but must remaine there by leaue, and must be subiect to many troubles and tryalls, which were bent towardes him: and yet hee had not one foote of lande, vnlesse it were the burying place wherof mention is made before. To be short, wee haue to gather heere, that God would haue Isaack wholly to rest vpon his word: as lykewise it is the foundation, wherevpon wee must builde all the dayes of our life, yea and in death too. For if wee should haue all that wee desire, what shoulde wee neede any more fayth or hope? It behoueth therefore that the benefites which wee waite for from God, that they bee hidden from vs, and notwithstanding that we beholde them onely by faith, & that we do God this honour, to account him sure in all that he hath spoken: although hee shewe vs not the effecte and trueth of his promises, vvhich vve apprehend not after our reason and carnall feling: notwithstanding vve must say, it suffiseth vs that he hath spoken it, he vvil performe it: When therefore vve can fetch all our contentment from the vvord of God only, thē let vs assure our selues of a right tryall of all that vvhich vvee proteste, that vve beleeue in him: but if wee vvill alwayes haue a gage, and haue all that vvee desire, it is certaine