A17722:333
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…
Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in Jacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherein every Christian may see the excellent benefits of God towards his children, and his marvellous judgements towards the reprobate, first published in the French tongue, & now translated into English, by John Field, for the comfort of all Christians.Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in Iacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherin euery Christian may see the excellent benefites of God towardes his children, and his maruelous iudgements towards the reprobate, firste published in the French toung, & now translated into English, by Iohn Fielde, for the comfort of all Christians.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Toby Cooke, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Tobie Cooke, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Mark how faulty the virtues of the faithful are, to the end that we may learn, only to rest our ⟨p. 141⟩selves in the mere goodness of God, & to the end it would please him to pardon our offences, & also to accept that for righteousness which he might justly condemn. Howe then is it that our works are acceptable unto God? how is it that he calleth sacrifices of a sweet smelling savour, and that they are so acceptable before him, that they shall have a reward? Alas, it is not any merit as the Papists imagine: but it is because that God hath justified that, which he might rightly reject, and account as it were abominable. So let us mark that in the faith of Isaac, we may behold the imperfections which are in us, whiles that we live in this world, albeit that God have renewed us in part by his holy spirit, and again let us know that God worketh in such sort that the evil which is in us, hindereth not him to accomplish his work even by our mean. As for example, If we will search till we find an Angelical perfection in a mortal man, there shall never any be found that hath it, neither was ever any found who was not tainted with some kind of fault: and therefore the Priests which were figures and representations of our Lord Jesus Christ, first of all asked pardon for their offences, although that they made intercession for the people, and were as it were mediators, and that by their sacrifices they abolished sins: yet notwithstanding must they begin at them selves. But now by the way if we will seek ministers of the word, in whom there is no fault, it is certain that we cannot find any: ⟨image 150⟩[…] ⟨p. 141⟩[…] ⟨image 151⟩and it must needs be that the most excellent men be examples unto us, of the brittleness and weakness of men. But now if we will conclude: and how then shall I find my salvation by their means? For I see yet that they are full of imperfections. But let us learn (as I have said) in the person of Isaac that God leaveth not off too accomplish his work, although there be yet ignorance in them, who ought too lead us, who when they distribute unto us spiritual gifts, which they have committed unto them, and whereof GOD hath made them keepers, although they be not altogether such as they ought too be: notwithstanding we leave not off too make our profit of them: