A17722:37
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.
Ismael therefore might well have made his abode and nest there, if he had listed. But he went from thence: was this to obey GOD? No, For he was full of pride & rebellion. So he would rather have blasphemed God, when he had thought I am here put apart, as though I were not of my fathers house. Therefore I must stay my self in the country where I was borne. But God doth lead him thither without his knowledge, wherefore he goeth thither, yea by a secret inspiration. See how God worketh towards the unbelievers: he turneth them, he windeth them from one side to an other.
Ismael therefore might well haue made his abode and neste there, if hee had listed. But hee went from thence: was this to obay GOD? No, For he was ful of pride & rebellion. So he would rather haue blasphemed God, whē he had thought I am heere put apart, as though I were not of my fathers house. Therfore I must stay my self in the countrie vvhere I was borne. But God doth leade him thither vvithout his knovvledge, wherefore he goeth thither, yea by a secret inspiration. See hovv God vvorketh tovvards the vnbeleeuers: he turneth them, he vvindeth them from one side to an other.
We do not see apparently that it is so: but we must by faith consider therein a providence of GOD, and if we were very attentive therein, it is certain that we should have proof of that which is here written and that daily. For how is it that we are not destroyed of these mad beasts, which compass us on every side? We see what their cruelty is, and how insatiable they are in their covetousness: Whereupon then stayeth it, that we are not all swallowed up: but that God turneth away their fury, and that he knoweth how to direct them as seemeth good unto him? he vvil make them sometimes to push one another: ⟨p. 8⟩further he keepeth them there as Lyons that are enchained and holden within Iron bars. See then how God also at this day driveth and chaseth the unbelievers, where he vvill without violence at least, so as they perceive it not, even as he did that at time with Ismael. For we have already declared, that he desired nothing more than to overthrow and abolish the promise of God, which was made unto Isaac, & yet for all that he goeth not about it. And why so? Because it was not permitted unto him from above, and because God doth place him there in a dwelling out of the way, saying, Thou shalt dwell near thy brethren: but howsoever it be, thou shalt not hinder, but that they shall enjoy the region which I have assigned unto them for an inheritance. But he speaketh specially of Brethren, & yet for all that he had none but Isaac: this is to show that God had no regard to one or to two, when he so shut up Ismael: but as if the people had already inhabited the land of Canaan: the people I say, which was not yet borne, yea, which was not borne a long time after.