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 if it were in us to order this matter, we would that God should use rather an equal and like measure: yea, but he knoweth wherefore, he chooseth rather such a diversity. And therefore (as I have said) it is for us to content our selves with his pleasure. And so when it pleaseth him to make his servants to prosper in such sort, that we may know for a surety that his blessing resteth in their persons, it is a testimony of his goodness: and hereof they ought to make their profit. But when there is any sourness mingled with it, they ought to think, GOD would not that I should sleep here, nor rest my self so upon these earthly benefits, that they should make me to forget everlasting life. It behoveth therefore that the faithful have this wisdom and consideration in them, that always they know how to make their profit, of those benefits that God bestoweth upon them: & in the mean time that they forget not the favour that he hath showed unto them? although that they have many cares, griefs, troubles and wrongs, which shall be done unto them by men. And namely here both the rich & poor, are taught their duty. When a man shall be afflicted with poverty and need, yet in the mean time god will not suffer him ⟨image 107⟩to be so destitute and forsaken, but that always he shall have some little portion, too the end he may feel that God hath care of him. And therefore when the faithful have not all that they desire: but God leaveth them there as if he forsook them: they must not therefore murmur against him nor think that he hath cast them off: but how little so ever it be, that he hath given them (yea be it never so little) they must apply it to taste the goodness of God, so that they may call upon him as their father, and put their trust in him, and patiently bear their condition, which otherwise would be hard and miserable unto them. And as for the rich, when they shall have more wealth then they have need off, if this breed them any care, and bring some grief as the common Proverb is: He that hath land, hath war at hand. If a man have but an Acre of ground, he shall either be drawn into suit of law, or else he shall have some other trouble about it.

Nowe if it were in vs to order this matter, wee woulde that God should vse rather an equall and like measure: yea, but he knoweth wherefore, he chuseth rather such a diuersitie. And therefore (as I haue said) it is for vs to cōtent our selues with his pleasure. And so when it pleaseth him to make his seruants to prosper in such sorte, that wee may know for a suretie that his blessing resteth in their persons, it is a testimonie of his goodnesse: and heereof they ought to make their profite. But whē there is any sowrenes mingled with it, they ought to thinke, GOD woulde not that I should sleepe heere, nor rest my selfe so vppon these earthly benefites, that they should make mee to forget euerlasting life. It behoueth therefore that the faithfull haue this wisdom and consideration in them, that alwayes they know how to make their profite, of those benefites that God bestoweth vpon them: & in the meane time that they forget not the fauour that he hath shewed vnto thē? although that they haue many cares, griefes, troubles and wronges, which shalbe done vnto them by mē. And namely here both the rich & poore, are taught their duety. When a man shall be afflicted with pouertie and need, yet in the meane time god wil not suffer him