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 we have to note on the one side, that which was alleged before: that is to say, that God had reproved and chastised the kings because of his servants, albeit they were but a few in number, albeit they were as poor wandering people in the land of Canaan. And seeing GOD maintained their quarrel, and set himself against all the violence and evil that could be done unto them: hereby he showeth the singular favour that he did bear unto them. And also the Prophet addeth, that for this cause he saith: Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm.

Nowe wee haue to note on the one side, that which was alleadged before: that is to say, that God had reproued and chastised the kings because of his seruauntes, albeit they were but a fewe in number, albeit they were as poore wandring people in the lande of Canaan. And seeing GOD maintained their quarel, and set himselfe againste all the violence and euill that could bee doone vnto them: heereby hee sheweth the singular fauour that he did beare vnto them. And also the Prophet addeth, that for this cause he sayth: Touch not mine annoynted, and doe my Prophetes no harme.

It is true that there was in Abraham and Isaac excellent virtue and holiness: but howsoever it be, yet so it is that we at this day are also anointed to be under the keeping of God, and we succeed to all the promises which were given unto them. So then, though we shall be never so small a number, and as a poor despised people, as Sheep in the throat of Wolves, yet let us not doubt, but that GOD hath wherewith to defend us, and that he will display his power, as much as shall be necessary, yea and that against the mightiest Kings of the world. For sometimes ⟨image 98⟩God hath indeed suffered that those of the meaner and common sort of people have vexed and molested his servants, as we shall see hereafter, & that very shortly. Which what soever it be, when he hath declared that he foreseeth the war, & that he setteth him self in order against the Kings: Hereby he hath showed that the life of his servants is deer and precious unto him. Let us therefore hope the like, and we shall not be deceived. And when we shall see the mightiest of the world to be our enemies, and shall daily hear rumours of many tumults & troubles: let us not doubt, but that our Lord will remedy all, & will always be our buckler to put back all our blows, when it shall be most like that they must fall upon our heads. Lo what we have to put in practise by the example of Isaac. And although here God afflicted not Abimilech as before, & that he reproved him not as he had done the king of Egypt: nevertheless he keepeth him bridled, and holdeth him as it were in fear: so that although Rebecca were fair, yet it fell so out: that the king of the country desired her not, no albeit he imagined that it had bin lawful for him to have taken her to wife. Lo then on the one side what we have to mark: on the other this, that nevertheless God humbled Isaac & suffered not his infidelity to remain altogether unpunished: yet the punishment is very gentle, But howsoever it was, he was reformed. Now if nothing had happened unto Isaac, and that it had not been perceived that Rebecca had been his