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 dulled him, so that it was not of age ⟨p. 150⟩only. And this is that which I have said, that God guided his work so, that although men hinder & let it & it seemeth to have bin, as if they should draw quite contrary, nevertheless the end & issue was such, that it appeareth that God executed that which he had pronounced, following his secret election, which was made before the creation of the world. And so we know in all that Isaac did, there was nothing but a kind of sottishness, that he was so dull: he had no understanding, he discerned nothing, nor had any judgment, and yet notwithstanding God maketh this to prevail. After what manner? How is it that he maketh the bread which we eat to be of strength to nourish us? when we shall have well eaten & drunk and shall be refreshed & satisfied, so as he which neither can bow his arm nor his legs, shall have new strength to travel. Shall we say that this is because the bread hath any power, any life, or any moving? But when we see that the bread giveth us that which it hath not, and the corn and wine & other meats: this is to show us that God useth not his creatures in such sort, in any work that we should occupy our selves in that which we see with our eye: but that we should always bend to this, that as he disposeth the order of nature, and likewise guideth and governeth us, yea and that against nature: that many times he will work quite contrary to that, that is accustomed unto us, in such sort that we shall be astonished thereat: and chiefly when the question is of our salvation. And yet must not we imagine that we bring any thing thither for our part: but that it is God that must ⟨image 160⟩accomplish all, who began it and will perform it. And moreover if he work after a strange & unwonted manner, and that there be nothing but an outward show of folly: let us know (as S. Paul saith) that the folly of God is greater wisdom, then all the wisdoms of the world.

It must needes be therfore that God dulled him, so that it was not of age ⟨p. 150⟩only. And this is that which I haue said, that God guided his work so, that although men hinder & let it & it seemeth to haue bin, as if they shold draw quite cōtrary, neuertheles thend & issue was such, that it appeareth that God executed that which he had pronounced, following his secret election, which was made before the creatiō of the world. And so we know in al that Isaak did, ther was nothing but a kind of sottishnes, that he was so dul: he had no vnderstāding, he discerned nothīg, nor had any iudgment, and yet notwithstanding God maketh this to preuaile. After what maner? How is it that he maketh the breade which we eate to be of strength to nourish vs? when we shall haue wel eaten & drunk and shalbe refreshed & satisfied, so as he which neither cā bow his arme nor his legges, shall haue new strength to trauel. Shall we say that this is bicause the bread hath any power, any life, or any mouing? But whē we see that the bread giueth vs that which it hath not, and the corne and wine & other meates: this is to shew vs that God vseth not his creatures in such sorte, in any worke that we should occupy our selues in that which we see with our eye: but that we should alwaies bend to this, that as he disposeth the order of nature, and likewise guideth and gouerneth vs, yea and that against nature: that many times hee will woorke quite contrary to that, that is accustomed vnto vs, in such sort that we shal be astonished thereat: and chiefly when the question is of our saluation. And yet must not we imagine that we bring any thing thither for our parte: but that it is God that must