A17722:361
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.
My friend there be not two blessings, seeing that is taken from me, it must stand, and God hath blessed him whom I have blessed, forasmuch as he hath appointed me the minister thereof, it must needs be that it even so stand, as it hath been don, I have no more right in it: I must hold my self contented to have blessed once: & yet afterwards he blesseth Esau notwithstanding. And how? What, is there any contradiction? no not so: but this is to show us, that there was not any other heavenly blessing, to say, that he whom he blessed should be the head of the church, & that Jesus Christ should come of his race: this was no longer in the hand of Isaac, as he confesseth. But concerning the benefits of this world, and that which might satisfy the creatures, he gave him more abundantly, then he did to Jacob. Now then we may easily see, that Isaac speaking here of the dew of Heaven, of the fat of the earth, ⟨p. 156⟩and of great quantity of corn and wine, he meaneth not that his son should trouble him self therein: but he simply setteth these figures before him, which were pledges (as I have said) to draw him further of: This therefore is the thing that we have to mark. And withal let us note, that when it is said that Isaac had declared: The voice is the voice of my son Jacob: but the hand is as the hand of Esau.
My friend there be not twoo blessings, seeing that is taken from mee, it must stand, and God hath blessed him whom I haue blessed, forasmuch as hee hath appointed me the minister therof, it must needes be that it euen so stand, as it hath beene don, I haue no more right in it: I must holde my selfe contented to haue blessed once: & yet afterwards he blesseth Esau notwithstanding. And how? What, is there any contradiction? no not so: but this is to shewe vs, that there was not any other heauenly blessing, to say, that he whom he blessed should be the head of the church, & that Iesus Christ should come of his race: this was no longer in the hand of Isaack, as he confesseth. But concerning the benefites of this worlde, and that which might satisfie the creatures, hee gaue him more abundauntly, then he did to Iacob. Now then we may easely see, that Isaack speaking heere of the deawe of Heauen, of the fatte of the earth, ⟨p. 156⟩and of great quantitie of corne and wine, he meaneth not that his sonne shoulde trouble him selfe therein: but he simply setteth these figures before him, which were pledges (as I haue sayd) to draw him further of: This therfore is the thing that we haue to marke. And withall let vs note, that when it is sayd that Isaack had declared: The voyce is the voyce of my sonne Iacob: but the hande is as the hand of Esau.