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…

And therefore it is that Abimilech sayeth: Thou art more strong then we. And hereupon we have to note that God admonisheth us by this common example, to carry our selves peaceably & modestly: when we have any occasion offered us to make any account of our selves: that we lay it aside, & be so much the more careful to keep our selves in our degree, yea in the basest, and in the mean while, if it please him to bring us down and to hold us in a low and despised condition, let us know that he doth it for our good, & that it is as a preservative medicine: and let us know, that if we were advanced to any high place or honour, that it would be to make us stark blind. ⟨image 110⟩And this is it that we have to bear away in this place. Now it is said afterwards: That Isaac came into the valley of Gerar.

And therefore it is that Abimilech sayeth: Thou art more stronge then wee. And hereupon wee haue to note that God admonisheth vs by this common example, to cary our selues peaceably & modestly: when wee haue any occasion offered vs to make any account of our selues: that we lay it aside, & be so much the more carefull to keepe our selues in our degree, yea in the basest, and in the meane while, if it please him to bring vs down and to holde vs in a lowe and despysed condition, let vs knowe that he doth it for our good, & that it is as a preseruatiue medicine: and let vs know, that if wee were aduaunced to any highe place or honor, that it would be to make vs starke blind. ⟨image 110⟩And this is it that we haue to beare away in this place. Now it is saide afterwardes: That Isaack came into the valley of Gerar.

He went not quite out of the country: but he went apart, to the end not to be any more in their sight, & to take away all occasion of malice, from all the inhabitants of Gerar: for we know what manner of people the Philistines were. Here we see in the first place the patience of Isaac: who not only replied not: but to purchase peace and rest, trust up his baggage & went his way, to pitch his tent elsewhere, and herein he hath showed his humility. It is true that he went not quite out of the country: but yet notwithstanding he might have made some resistance, for to have tarried in that place, where he had as it were taken a Farm. We have seen that his father Abraham had as it were prepared a little army in his house: he might have therefore done the like, and so might have withstood the wrong which was done unto him. But he is so far off from this, that he is as it were a Lamb: and Moses sayeth not, that he moved any great contention, or that he skirmished, though he were chased from them & that wrongfully, after they had received him, and after they had showed him some sign of courtesy: but he leaveth all. So then we are taught when we shall be oppressed, to bear our wrongs patiently, and not to take the sword in hand, to work our revenge, when it shall seem that we have a just