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…

For the matter is not as I have said, of our estimation, or of our poising and weighing it in our balance, that is to say, if we have an excellent faith to obtain the grace of God, and that which is necessary for our salvation: but the question only is, that when God hath declared that he will be our father, that we embrace this promise, & stay our selves thereupon. And if there be any doubts or distrusts, that we resist them, and that we hold fast this conclusion, O we are yet sure that God will not disappoint us. Mark then what we have here too hold, aswell by the example of Rebecca, as by the example of Isaac. But Moses saith now expressly that Jacob refused, saying: And how shall this be? I am not hairy as my brother is, and if my father shall find the deceit, he will curse me.

For the matter is not as I haue sayde, of our estimation, or of our paising and waying it in our ballance, that is to say, if wee haue an excellent faith to obtaine the grace of God, and that which is necessarie for our saluation: but the question only is, that when God hath declared that he wil be our father, that we imbrace this promise, & stay our selues therevppon. And if there bee any doubtes or distrustes, that we resist them, and that we holde fast this conclusion, O wee are yet sure that God will not disapoint vs. Marke then what we haue here too holde, aswell by the example of Rebecca, as by the example of Isaack. But Moyses sayth nowe expressely that Iacob refused, saying: And howe shall this be? I am not hairie as my brother is, and if my father shall finde the deceyte, hee will curse mee.

Here we see as it seemeth, two great vices in Jacob: The one is, that he feared his father more than God. It is true that it might so be judged thereof: ⟨image 153⟩but when all shall be well marked, it is certain, that it was the fear of God that moved him thereunto. For concerning the curse of his father, he was no otherwise careful of it, then in this, that it was imprinted in his heart, that his father was established to be as it were a witness of the promise which God had given unto him. Seeing therefore that Jacob had this, it is a sign that he rested not upon any thing from man: but that in the person of his father he considered that which God had decreed. The other evil was, that he doubted. Now we know that in our life if we be not well certified, we shall not remove so much as one finger, to the end we sin not, and that God be not offended. And why so? Obedience is more worth than sacrifice. When therefore we shall attempt to do any thing, not knowing whether it be lawful for us, and whether God do allow it: this is as much as if we should despite God: so that we should not know how to eat or to drink, or to be short, to do any thing: no not so much as to remove a mote, but that all our actions should be condemned, and that god should have them in utter detestation: & S. Paul also pronounceth it. For by this word of faith he understandeth certainty in the 14. to the Rom. that we be assured that that which we do is permitted of God, and is agreeable to his word. But see Jacob who sayeth, how shall this be? I am not hairy as my brother is. He doubteth: that therefore is a sign that after that he hath obeyed his mother, he should commit evil, & that all