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…

We will be offended with a man, when he shall seduce us, we will imagine too be excused by saying, O, he did therein as much as I: we need no more but a small fly too make us too turn away from the fear of God and his obedience: and notwithstanding that GOD shall set before us so many witnesses, too prove our faith, that we ought therewith be satisfied, yet we come not to him. And if this profit us nothing, and we be not confirmed thereby, what is the cause thereof, but our own unthankfulness? And so then, so often as our faith shall be weak, that we shall have overthwartings of ignorance, as it were storms, let us think, And what? hath God begun but yesterday and to day to speak? Spake he not unto Abraham? And was not his truth certain from that time forward? and besides all the faithful which came afterwards, all the holy kings & prophets, and others, are they not so many witnesses, whom God showed unto us? Let us therefore join them too this holy assembly ⟨image 123⟩now. For how often soever the Gospel hath been preached unto us (according as the Apostle hath entreated thereof) it is not only too gather us together with all the faithful, which are living at this day, but also into the fellowship and company of all the holy spirits, whom GOD hath taken out of this world. We are therefore at this day joined in fellowship with all the holy Patriarchs and Prophets, as often as GOD speaketh unto us. But we shall be so much the more without excuse, because we know not how too make our profit of all this: seeing that GOD hath yet revealed it more clearly unto us, and in a more familiar sort in the person of his only begotten Sonne. For he is not only named at this day the GOD of Abraham, but also the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inasmuch therefore as we have the full and perfect revelation of whatsoever is profitable unto us for our salvation in this lively image in whom GOD is set forth: it is certain that we have no colour, that we can allege, why we should not have such a certainty of faith, that we should never stray hither and thither: and when the world changeth it self an hundred thousand times, yet nevertheless, that we should remain steadfast in that we have received of God, knowing that his trueth is unchangeable. This therefore shortly is that which we have too bear away concerning this text.

We will be offended with a man, when hee shall seduce vs, wee will imagine too bee excused by saying, O, hee did therein asmuch as I: wee neede no more but a small flie too make vs too turne awaye from the feare of God and his obedience: and notwithstanding that GOD shall set before vs so many witnesses, too prooue our fayth, that wee ought therewith bee satisfied, yet wee come not to him. And if this profite vs nothing, and wee bee not confirmed thereby, what is the cause thereof, but oure owne vnthankfulnes? And so then, so often as our faith shalbe weake, that wee shall haue ouerthwartings of ignorāce, as it were stormes, let vs think, And what? hath God begun but yesterday and to day to speake? Spake he not vnto Abraham? And was not his truth certaine frō that time forwarde? and besides al the faithful which came afterwards, al the holy kings & prophets, and others, are they not so many witnesses, whō God shewed vnto vs? Let vs therefore ioyne them too this holy assembly