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…

In the first place, he that hath made that writing, were it Sebastian Chastalio or some such like: to show that God hath created all the world to be saved, he allegeth that he laboureth to draw unto him all that went astray: the which I confess in respect of the doctrine of faith and repentance, the which he propoundeth to all in general: be it to draw his elect unto him, or to make other inexcusable. God then calleth every one to repentance and promiseth all those that return unto him, too receive them to mercy. But this meaneth not that he toucheth to the quick by his holy spirit, all those to whom he speaketh: as it is said by Isay in the 53. chapter. His arm is not revealed to all those that hear. To which agreeth the sentence of our lord Jesus Christ None can come unto me, except my father draw him. And ⟨p. 172⟩the holy scripture showeth throughout, that conversion is a special gift of God. And in deed the place of Ezekiel, whereof this troublecoast maketh his buckler, very well confirmeth my saying. For the Prophet having said, that God will not the death of a sinner, addeth, but rather will that he return and live. Whereby he signifieth that God biddeth and exhorteth all which are gone astray too return to the right way. But not that in deed he leadeth them all to himself by the power of his spirit. The which he promiseth not, but to a certain number, which appeareth aswell in the 31. chapter of Jeremiah, as in the 37. of Ezekiel and in the 11. and throughout the whole scripture.

In the firste place, hee that hath made that writing, were it Sebastian Chastalio or som such like: to shew that God hath created all the world to be saued, he alledgeth that he laboureth to draw vnto him all that went astray: the whiche I confesse in respect of the doctrine of faith and repentaunce, the which he propoundeth to all in generall: be it to draw his elect vnto him, or to make other inexcusable. God then calleth euery one to repentance and promiseth all those that returne vnto him, too receiue them to mercie. But this meaneth not that he toucheth to the quick by his holy spirit, al those to whom he speaketh: as it is said by Isay in the 53. chapter. His arme is not reuealed to al those that heare. To which agreeth the sentēce of our lord Iesus Christ None can come vnto me, except my father draw him. And ⟨p. 172⟩the holy scripture sheweth throughout, that conuersion is a speciall gifte of God. And in deede the place of Ezechiel, whereof this troublecoast maketh his buckler, very wel confirmeth my saying. For the Prophet hauing saide, that God wll not the death of a sinner, addeth, but rather will that hee returne and liue. Whereby he signifieth that God biddeth and exhorteth all which are gone astray too returne to the right way. But not that in deede he leadeth them all to himselfe by the power of his spirit. The which hee promiseth not, but to a certain nūber, which appeareth aswel in the 31. chapter of Ieremie, as in the 37. of Ezechiel and in the 11. and throughout the whole scripture.