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…

It must needs be therefore that God stirred up these profane people, to cause them to come unto Isaac, and to submit themselves, as they do with such humility, that they entreat a poor man, a stranger, who had no great credit amongst them, nor had any but his own family, which he kept apart, without giving any token of attempting any such matter. Before God had laid the bridle in their neck, but this was to prove the patience of his servant. For when he was denied water, & that in the end it was said unto him, that he was stronger then they, & that he could be no longer suffered, there is no doubt but that God then exercised him to the end he might try what patience there was in him. And so Isaac knew, that if it had pleased God to give him peaceable dwelling in that Country where he was, that he should not have been driven thence: but inasmuch as he saw men perk up against him, he knew that it was as a passport from God for him to depart.

It must needs be therefore that God stirred vp these prophane people, to cause them to come vnto Isaack, and to submit themselues, as they doe with such humilitie, that they intreate a poore man, a stranger, who had no great credite amongst them, nor had any but his owne familie, which he kepte aparte, without giuing any token of attempting any such matter. Before God had laid the bridle in their neck, but this was to proue the patiēce of his seruāt. For whē he was denied water, & that in the end it was said vnto him, that he was strōger then they, & that he could be no longer suffred, there is no doubt but that God then exercised him to the end he might try what patience there was in him. And so Isaack knew, that if it had pleased God to giue him peaceable dwelling in that Countrie where hee was, that he should not haue beene driuen thence: but in asmuch as hee sawe men perke vp against him, he knew that it was as a pasporte from God for him to departe.

Now on the contrary we must also note, that god ⟨image 129⟩moved them upon the sudden to come towards Isaac, and to appease and abolish all enmities and quarrels, which might yet be moved either on the one side or on the other. Let us mark well then, when any outrage is done against us, and there, where, we shall have endeavoured to do pleasure and service to every one, that we shall be wonderfully pricked and tormented, that this should be done by Gods appointment, who willeth us to strive, not in doing evil, or requiting evil for evil, but by possessing our souls in patience, as also our Lord Jesus Christ hath thereto exhorted us. And likewise on the contrary, when we shall see men to be favourable unto us, and to intend no evil quarrel, or riot against us, let us know that God hath pity upon us, & that he governeth his creatures, and directeth them to such purpose as he seeth good. And likewise let us beseech God, as often as our enemies shall use any cruelty against us, and that we can not win them by any means, nor by any moderation that we can use, that it will please him to put too his hand, knowing that he can turn when it shall please him, those that are Wolves into sheep. This is, that we have to learn first of all by this History. But it is said that Isaac at their first coming spake bluntly enough on this wise: Why are you come unto me? seeing you hated me, & drave me out from amongst you?