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 it is said, that Isaac asked first, Who art thou? And hearing that it is Esau, he was astonished, yea Moses further addeth more, with a won derful fear. If Isaac had not known how much worth that blessing had bin, and that it should be confirmed by God, if he had not known, that he being called too the dignity and office of a Patriarch, must be a witness of the inheritance of salvation, he had not bin so astonished: For he had done as other men used too do. I have been deceived by my son. He had stormed & chaffed against Jacob, yea and he would have cursed ⟨p. 162⟩him: and he would nevertheless have concluded, O, I will keep my right, howsoever it be, this shall no whit prejudice me therein, and I have my authority frank and free. Lo then how Isaac might have used him self therein, after the common manner. But he knew that God had ordained him the minister, to cause that the inheritance of salvation should rest in his house: and he knew that he was but an instrument therein, and that this was not because God had resigned his office to him, albeit he had communicated it unto him. For if God communicate his authority too those, whom he hath established in the ministry of his word, this is not meant that he depriveth him self of it therefore, neither that he giveth over his right therein, in any sort whatsoever. Isaac knew then, that forasmuch as he was but an instrument of the holy ghost, that that which he had pronoun ced must stand: & there is no doubt also but that it was revealed unto him. For before he was as it were, restrained: the love which he bare to his eldest son had so besotted him, that he had quite lost the remembrance of that which we have seen before: For he was not ignorant of that which God had determined, That the greater should serve the lesser. And yet nevertheless, he is a man as it were altogether senseless & devoid of reason, always addicted to his son Esau, & thought not to yield him self to be governed by God. Now this was not of any deliberate and set rebellion, (as we have declared before:) but it was love that blinded ⟨image 170⟩him, and for that he marked not that he should simply have rested in the will of God.

Nowe it is sayde, that Isaack asked firste, Who art thou? And hearing that it is Esau, he was astonished, yea Moyses further addeth more, with a wō derful feare. If Isaack had not knowen how much worth that blessing had bin, and that it should bee confirmed by God, if he had not knowen, that he beeing called too the dignitie and office of a Patriarch, must bee a witnesse of the inheritance of saluation, he had not bin so astonished: For hee had done as other men vsed too doo. I haue beene deceyued by my sonne. Hee had stormed & chaffed agaynst Iacob, yea and hee would haue cursed