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…

Now he calleth it the foolishness of God, after our opinion: because he worketh in a contemptible manner, that we might be ravished therein thinking, What is this that God will say? It seemeth that he jesteth and mocketh. We will conclude thereof even so. And this is the cause why S. Paul saith, that it is folly, because men rest themselves upon their outward senses. But howsoever it be, this surpasseth all the wisdom of the world. Mark then what we have to bear away. And when we shall well remember this lesson here, we shall not be as a great sort of giddy heads, who take all these facts at adventure, and thereupon mock themselves, as though all that were here rehearsed by Moses, were nothing else as a man would say, but foolish trifling.

Now he calleth it the foolishnesse of God, after our opiniō: because he worketh in a contemptible manner, that we might bee rauished therein thinking, What is this that God will say? It seemeth that he iesteth and mocketh. We will conclude thereof euen so. And this is the cause why S. Paule sayth, that it is folly, because men rest themselues vpon their outward senses. But howsoeuer it be, this surpasseth all the wisdome of the world. Marke then what we haue to beare away. And when we shall wel remember this lesson here, we shall not be as a great sorte of giddie heades, who take all these factes at aduenture, and therevpon mock themselues, as though all that were here rehearsed by Moyses, were nothing else as a man would say, but foolish trifling.

But when we shall have learned this which is here showed us, by S. Paul, it is certain that we shall have another manner of sobriety, and that we shall not give over to adore the secret of God, although at the first show he glorify not himself: but we shall always look to the beginning & to the end, and not to those means which may give us occasion, & engender in us some offence, or which may swallow us up. To be short, we see that God ⟨p. 151⟩directed Isaac in such sort that he was altogether blind: we will not say therefore that god gave Isaac here any sight to the end he might do that which appertained to his office, knowing well the cause why, and knowing all the proceeding of the matter: but he was blinded, and yet he held him as it were by the hand, and led him as a blind man which seeth nothing. And in deed we see in the Church, something that answereth to this, or else comes very near it: for (as it was said yesterday) The preaching of the Gospel is the power of God to salvation to all believers. When therefore we preach the grace of God whereby we are reconciled, inasmuch as our faults are pardoned us in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the blood which he shed for us, is the true purgation thereof, too cleanse us: Lo then God who openeth the Heavens, and calleth us unto himself, albeit the word proceed from the mouth of a man. But in the mean season, I know not to whom this shall be available: For every one shall be a witness of his own faith: and when I speak & have not received my part therein, woe be upon me: & I should be more then blind: as also they have bin who shall have preached the Gospel, and shall be witnesses of the grace of God, and shall draw poor sinners to salvation, notwithstanding there is nothing remaining for them but condemnation. And why so? For they are as Players in whom there is no affection nor zeal. So then, God will be served oftentimes, of a people who are worth nothing, who