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…

Afterwards, when he kept Abraham to the end, this was not because he obeyed him: For contrariwise he had said unto him long before I will bless thee, I will be with thee, I will be thy large recompense: Thy seed shall be multiplied as the stars of heaven, and in it all nations of the Earth shall be blessed, All this was spoken to Abraham before Isaac was borne: and when Abraham would have sacrificed his son Isaac, it was said unto him: because thou hast not spared thy only Son: but wast ready to sacrifice him for the love of me, behold I will bless thee, and this was spoken to him long before: we see then, that that which is free in God, and that which he giveth us of his mere liberality, he attributeth to the service which we do unto him: not to minister unto us any matter of pride, but this is only so much the more to provoke & stir us up with cheerfulness ⟨image 86⟩and courage to serve him. Mark then the purpose of God: It is not to the end to rob himself of the praise which is due unto him, to the end men should usurp it: but it is because he knew that they have need of spurs, and must have aides, and helps to serve him, for otherwise we should be cold and dull. They therefore which seek here for merits, & would darken the mere praise of Gods goodness to exalt men, as though they were the cause of their own salvation, it is certain they would overthrow all, yea and overturn the purpose of God as much as lieth in them. Likewise, let us learn that when it is said, that God will establish his covenant with Isaac, because Abraham had obeyed his voice, that it was not to note the cause why: but it was only to show that the service which Abraham yielded unto him was acceptable to him, to the end that Isaac should follow him and conform himself thereunto. Hereby therefore we have to stir up our selves, as often as we feel any slowness in our selves, and when we shall not be so disposed as were requisite, to give our selves fully to the obedience of God: and that we think, What? It is said that when we shall obey him, he will accept this as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour: and yet notwithstanding all that we do is nothing, there is no strength in us:

Afterwardes, when hee kept Abraham to the ende, this was not because hee obeyed him: For contrarywise hee had sayde vnto him longe before I will blesse thee, I will bee with thee, I wil be thy large recompence: Thy seede shalbe multiplyed as the starres of heauen, and in it all nations of the Earth shall bee blessed, All this was spoken to Abraham before Isaack was borne: and when Abraham woulde haue sacrificed his sonne Isaack, it was sayde vnto him: because thou hast not spared thy onely Sonne: but wast ready to sactifize him for the loue of me, beholde I wil blesse thee, and this was spoken to him longe before: wee see then, that that whiche is free in God, and that which hee giueth vs of his meere liberalttie, hee attributeth to the seruice which wee doe vnto him: not to minister vnto vs any matter of pride, but this is onely so muche the more to prouoke & stir vs vp with cheerfulnes