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…

Nevertheless we ought to make our profit of such examples, when we come to any entry or trial of our faith, we are altogether undone. And why? Because in time and place we are not so fenced as were necessary. Now it is said here, that for the space of xx. years it seemed that Isaac was accursed of God, & that he was in a manner a dead stock, and that he had no hope of having any children during the space of xx. years. For here is not question of having children only. As when men & women do marry, they will be glad to have children: And this is also a token of Gods favour, but here was a special reason in Isaac. For he waited not only for the people that should descend of him, but he waited for the salvation of the world. See then Jesus Christ, which is after a sort in his reins, as the Apostle saith▪ for he useth the same manner of speech there. Isaac saw that he was barren, & yet he had no other hope to be saved, he is as it were a cursed creature, & as it were at the pits brink, except he have issue: & all this while, that God which had made promise thereof in the person of his father, seemeth to mock him & leaveth him there, where he must needs languish: and that as often as he beheld his wife he might thus think with himself, ⟨image 17⟩Lo a glass, wherein I see that God hath rejected us, and that he maketh no account of us, & that he hath turned his back towards us, that his promise is frustrate, that it hath no force or efficacy towards us.

Neuerthelesse we ought to make our profite of such examples, when wee come to any entry or tryall of our faith, wee are altogether vndoone. And why? Because in time and place we are not so fenced as were necessary. Now it is said here, that for the space of xx. yeeres it seemed that Isaack was accursed of God, & that he was in a maner a deade stock, and that hee had no hope of hauing any children during the space of xx. yeeres. For heere is not question of hauing children onely. As when men & women do marry, they will be glad to haue children: And this is also a token of Gods fauour, but heere was a speciall reason in Isaack. For he wayted not onely for the people that should descend of him, but he waited for the saluation of the world. See then Iesus Christ, which is after a sort in his raines, as the Apostle saith▪ for he vseth the same maner of speech there. Isaack saw that he was barren, & yet he had no other hope to be saued, he is as it were a cursed creature, & as it were at the pittes brink, except he haue issue: & all this while, that God which had made promise therof in the person of his father, seemeth to mock him & leaueth him there, where he must needs languish: and that as often as he behelde his wife he might thus think with himself,