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 saw yesterday, how Esau by his marriage, showed sufficiently enough, that he had no great care concerning that blessing which had bin promised to the house of Abraham his father: For this was the stock which must possess the land of ⟨p. 132⟩Canaan. It must therefore needs be, that the people which dwelled there then, must be quite rooted out: and this land be wholly dedicated to the people of God. Likewise, it must be purged from all pollutions. Lo how Esau mingleth him self amongst them, whom God had already condemned: this therefore was a sign that he was fallen from God, for otherwise he could not have drawn near too that people. And if he would have bin an heir of the promise, he should have always kept him self as one listed & chained in, and not have mingled him self, which was no other thing but to stop the course of the grace that was promised. But as we have seen, he took wives from amongest the Hittites. Mark then how he renounced, as much as lay in him the grace of God, through which the whole stock of Abraham must possess the land of Canaan for an inheritance. But there was yet a second fault: For he took two wives, which was contrary to the law of marriage, as we have seen. For the sentence which God had pronounced to rest upon, was, that a man shall have an help, and not two nor three. And further, when Eva was created, and that she was given to Adam, it is said, that they should be two in one flesh. Mark then the rule which men ought always to keep. So then we see that Esau even brake the bounds of all honesty, yea of nature it self, & that he was as a beastly man in this behalf. It is true that his grandfather Abraham had two wives: but herein he was too be condemned.

WE sawe yesterday, howe Esau by his mariage, shewed sufficiently ynough, that he had no great care concerning that blessing whiche had bin promised to the house of Abraham his father: For this was the stocke which must possesse the lande of ⟨p. 132⟩Canaan. It must therefore needes be, that the people which dvvelled there then, must be quite rooted out: and this lande be vvholy dedicated to the people of God. Likewise, it must be purged from all polutions. Loe howe Esau mingleth him selfe amongst them, whom God had already condemned: this therefore was a signe that he was falne from God, for otherwise he could not haue drawen neare too that people. And if he would haue bin an heire of the promise, he should haue alwaies kept him selfe as one listed & chained in, and not haue mingled him self, which was no other thing but to stoppe the course of the grace that was promised. But as we haue seene, he tooke wiues from amongest the Hethites. Marke then howe hee renounced, asmuch as lay in him the grace of God, through vvhich the whole stocke of Abraham must possesse the lande of Canaan for an inheritance. But there was yet a seconde faulte: For hee tooke two vviues, which vvas cōtrary to the lawe of mariage, as wee haue seene. For the sentence which God had pronoūced to rest vpō, was, that a man shall haue an helpe, and not tvvoo nor three. And further, when Eua vvas created, and that shee vvas giuē to Adā, it is said, that they should be two in one flesh. Mark then the rule vvhich mē ought alvvaies to keepe. So then vvee see that Esau euen brake the bounds of al honestie, yea of nature it selfe, & that he vvas as a beastly man in this behalfe. It is true that his graundfather Abraham had tvvo vviues: but herein hee vvas too bee condempned.