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…

Now in the first place it is said that in stead of confessing that Rebecca was his wife, he said she was his sister. We saw the like in Abraham: But this is marvellous, that Isaac had not learned this lesson, by the experience that was given to his father and mother: for they were both chastised for their over great fear. And Isaac could not be ignorant of it. There is no doubt but his father had such care (as we have seen) to teach his family, but that he had instructed his son herein: Take heed to thy self: For I have been tossed too and fro all my life long, the like may happen unto thee: For God hath yet set me four hundred years before we enter into the possession of that Country: it must needs be that thou go from one side to another. But I distrusted the protection of my God, and I have received my payment ⟨p. 81⟩for it: yea I was chastised for it by a profane king, that had no fear of God: a poor blind wretch reproved me of my fault, and God made both me and thy mother ashamed thereof, when we were so corrected there. Therefore fortify thy self. There is no doubt, but that Isaac had received such instruction: but when he came to receive the blows, he had lost all, & was devoid both of reason and counsel, and there is no doubt, but he had some distrust in him. For faith will always minister unto us an invincible constancy, to attempt nothing, but that which God alloweth.

Nowe in the first place it is saide that in steade of confessing that Rebecca was his wife, hee saide she was his sister. We sawe the like in Abraham: But this is maruelous, that Isaack had not learned this lesson, by the experience that was giuen to his father and mother: for they were bothe chastised for their ouer great feare. And Isaack coulde not bee ignoraunt of it. There is no doubte but his father had such care (as we haue seene) to teach his familie, but that he had instructed his sonne heerein: Take heed to thy self: For I haue beene tossed too and fro all my life long, the like may happen vnto thee: For God hath yet set me foure hundred yeeres before we enter into the possession of that Countrie: it must needes bee that thou goe from one side to another. But I distrusted the protection of my God, and I haue receiued my paiment ⟨p. 81⟩for it: yea I was chastised for it by a prophane king, that had no feare of God: a poore blinde wretch reproued me of my fault, and God made both me and thy mother ashamed thereof, when we were so corrected there. Therfore fortifie thy selfe. There is no doubt, but that Isaack had receiued such instruction: but when he came to receiue the blowes, he had lost all, & was deuoid both of reason and councel, and there is no doubt, but he had some distrust in him. For faith wil alwayes minister vnto vs an inuincible constancie, to attempt nothing, but that which God alloweth.