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…

Mark wherein we may know whether we be well grounded in God, and stayed upon his promises: that is, when we shall be in any trouble, in any perplexity, and in any danger, if we walk on always in the path which GOD hath commanded us, and do not decline therefrom, then he will guide us in all our ways. If then we have this courage, only to repose our selves upon God, and to hope that he will help us: then see an undoubted trial and proof of our faith. But if we decline either on the one side or on the other, it is very certain that our infidelity betrayeth it self, and that we show (not having any victory against temptations) that we are not sufficiently stayed, and that we have (as a man would say) our straggling thoughts. For we see that Isaac fell to a very unlawful thing, when to save his life, he cloaked the trueth as we have seen.

Marke wherein we may knowe whether wee be well grounded in God, and stayed vppon his promises: that is, when wee shal bee in any trouble, in any perplexitie, and in any daunger, if we walke on alwaies in the path which GOD hath commaunded vs, and doe not decline therefrom, then he will guide vs in all our wayes. If then we haue this courage, onely to repose our selues vppon God, and to hope that he will helpe vs: then see an vndoubted tryall and proofe of our faith. But if we decline either on the oneside or on the other, it is very certain that our infidelity bewraieth it self, and that we shew (not hauing any victory against temptations) that we are not sufficiently stayed, and that we haue (as a man would say) our stragling thoughts. For wee see that Isaack fel to a very vnlawful thing, when to saue his life, he cloked the trueth as we haue seene.

This therefore is a token, that he had no perfect ⟨image 91⟩faith: but that he had some mistrust mingled with it. But in this he is not to be excused: and yet nevertheless he was a mirror of all holiness. So then we have all, good occasion to hang down our eyes, and to know that when we imagine that we have well profited in Gods School, yet we shall be far off from our mark. And indeed it shall be a very easy matter unto us, when we are far of from all combats, to be the valiantest in the world: but when they shall approach to buckle with us, then he hold us all afraid. Thus then let us know, that there is not one that hath not need to pray daily, that God will increase his faith, correcting the remnant of his unbelief. Mark this for one lesson. Now hereupon we have one good advertisement: and that is, that when any danger befalleth us, or that we fear to fall into any evil: that this is as it were a cloud to dazzle our eyes, in such sort that we know not what will become of us, we have no certain counsel, & the wisest are overtaken therein: Let us not presume to be subtle & sharp & to have such promptitude, to esteem that we shall always be strong and mighty, that we shall have light harts, and shall find remedies in our brain when any trouble shall come upon us, let us keep our selves from such arrogance: but let us rather acknowledge that God hath in himself the spirit of wisdom and of counsel, and let us run unto him. And when we shall be as it were oppressed and that we can not at the first resolve our selves, let us not be as those that always