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 Isaac yet showeth his faith better in saying, He shall be blessed: For he knew that God had ordained him to this office, and that he spake not in his own name: For the sentence of God cannot be called back: it behooveth therefore that he keep him there. So we have farther to gather of this place that we have already touched: that Isaac here passed not his bound, although he had failed through ignorance, and been deceived in the person, yet he always kept a good principle: to wit, that he had executed that which GOD had committed to his charge: and that therefore this must remain concluded, and have his effect. Now this is said for our instruction: For we know that at this day our Lord would have the remission of our sins too be showed forth by the mouth of men, he would assure us of the inheritance of everlasting salvation, and also would have his adoption too be declared unto us. Now we must needs have whereupon too resolve our selves: For if we have not full assurance of our salvation, and if we cannot call upon GOD, it is as much as too shut the gate of Paradise against us. But in the mean while, Lo a man which speaketh and sayeth, that he will pardon our sins, and yet he is a sinner him self. Again, he promiseth us the Heavenly life: and […] ⟨image 174⟩brittleness. Lo then that which we have to learn upon these words, He that hath been blessed shall be blessed. And how so? Had Isaac that Privilege therein, to say that that which he had pronounced should stand? After he had eaten and drunk, and further being a poor blind man, being so blockish that he knew not what he did: being so dull that hearing the voice of his son Jacob, he suffereth him self to be led as a poor beast: and yet nevertheless saith, It shall stand? Yea but acknowledging his fault, he is confounded, and nevertheless he continueth: For he knew whereto God had established him, and thereupon he giveth glory to God, and quite casteth down him self from his own understanding, knowing well that he had nothing of his own. And so, let us learn that Isaac so ordered himself, and in such sort rested upon the word of God, that he altogether renounced his affections wherewith he was before time carried away.

Nowe Isaack yet sheweth his faith better in saying, He shall be blessed: For hee knewe that God had ordayned him to this office, and that he spake not in his owne name: For the sentence of God cannot bee called backe: it behooueth therefore that he kepe him there. So we haue farther to gather of this place that we haue alredy touched: that Isaack heere passed not his bounde, although hee had fayled through ignoraunce, and beene deceiued in the person, yet he alwayes kepte a good principle: to witte, that hee had executed that which GOD had committed to his charge: and that therefore this must remaine concluded, and haue his effect. Nowe this is sayde for our instruction: For wee knowe that at this day our Lorde woulde haue the remission of our sinnes too be shewed foorth by the mouth of men, hee would assure vs of the inheritaunce of euerlasting saluation, and also would haue his adoption too bee declared vnto vs. Nowe wee muste needes haue wherevpon too resolue our selues: For if wee haue not full assuraunce of our saluation, and if we cannot call vppon GOD, it is as much as too shutte the gate of Paradise againste vs. But in the meane while, Loe a man which speaketh and sayeth, that hee will pardon our sinnes, and yet hee is a sinner him selfe. Againe, hee promiseth vs the Heauenly life: and