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 have seen already why altars were erected by the holy fathers, & to what intent: but yet we must here speak somewhat of it, even as the place requireth. The altar which Isaac erected, was to this end, that he might make profession of his faith. Thus much concerning the first point. For if we pray unto God, we have no need to erect an altar unto him: the service of God is, of it self, spiritual. Isaac therefore erected not an altar that he might only invocate and call upon the name of God, or make his prayers & supplications unto him: but to the intent that his faith might be known, & that God might be glorified before men. For although we ought to serve God in spirit, and inwardly in our heart: yet notwithstanding this letteth not also, but that we must give him that praise which he deserveth before men, and that we protest as much as lieth in us, that we are wholly his, both body and soul.

We haue seene already why altars were erected by the holy fathers, & to what intent: but yet wee must here speake somewhat of it, euen as the place requireth. The altar which Isaack erected, was to this end, that he might make professiō of his faith. Thus much concerning the first point. For if wee pray vnto God, we haue no neede to erect an altar vnto him: the seruice of God is, of it self, spiritual. Isaack therfore erected not an altar that hee might only inuocate and call vpon the name of God, or make his praiers & supplications vnto him: but to the intent that his faith might be knowen, & that God might be glorified before men. For although we ought to serue God in spirite, and inwardly in our heart: yet notwithstanding this letteth not also, but that wee must giue him that prayse which hee deserueth before men, and that wee protest asmuch as lyeth in vs, that wee are wholy his, both bodye and soule.

Here therefore we are instructed, that the faithful after they have put their trust in God, & shall have called upon him, & given unto him the praise of all his benefits that they must yet further make a confession of their faith before men, to the intent they may wholly (as also all is his) dedicate themselves to him. There is also a second reason: And that is that by reason of our sloth and slackness, we have need every manner of way to be pricked forwards, to the end too stir us up, to march cheerfully forwards in the service of God. How so? It is true, that when we pray unto God, he embusieth him self with no ceremonies: and yet for all that, we bow our knees, we hold up our hands towards heaven, and uncover our head. And why so? First of all, in respect of men. For (as I have already said) it must needs be that we do homage unto God with our bodies, which he hath created, and which he hath appointed to his glory, & to the crown of immortality. But, howsoever it be, forasmuch as we are slack, it behoveth us that these means stand us in stead to provoke us too have a more fervent zeal to pray unto God, and with a more hearty affection. Lo then, why it is meet for us to have our joined hands lifted up, too kneel upon our knees, and have our head uncovered: For it is too show, that we present our selves before God as if we should say: And poor wretch, who art thou? with what lowliness oughtest thou too come before him, who hath created and fashioned thee, and to whom thou haste to