A17722:43
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.
For Isaac prayed unto the Lord for his wife, and was heard, so as his wife conceived.
For Isaack prayed vnto the Lorde for his wife, and was hearde, so as his wife conceiued.
When it is said, that he prayed to the Lord, we must not think that he only waited till that time was accomplished: but seeing that his wife was barren, he had his recourse to GOD, which was the only remedy. What? seemeth it then that he lost his time, and that he caste his Prayers in the Air, and that they never came too Gods ears? For a man would say so. For if he had been heard, would not ⟨image 18⟩God then have declared by experience, that which he had promised him? But he saw nothing of all that. Then when Isaac had prayed one year, & twain: it is all one, as if he had spoken to a Rock or to a wall: God making wise as though he were deaf: that is to say, he showed not him self in any sort to have a favourable care to receive Isaacks requests: and this continued. But when this cometh unto the end of ten or twelve years, what would a man say, but that it were better to give over? For this is a marvellous hard and great temptation, that God should do nothing of that that he had promised at the end of fifteen years, But although he had put off to do it even to the twentieth year, yet nevertheless Isaac ceased not to pray, but always continued, and his prayer was a sure seal of his Faith. For he prayed not after the manner of the unbelievers, which ever wait to rage against God: but he followed the rule that is given us by Saint Paul (although it was not yet written). And that was to join thanksgiving with our prayers, referring our selves wholly unto God, & quietly waiting for such an issue from him as could not yet be seen. Like as then when Isaac continued still so to cast all his heaviness into the bosom of God, and all the care that oppressed him, and all the sorrows, griefs and anguishes, wherein he was enclosed: when he reposed all this in the bosom of God, this was a sure trial of his faith.
When it is sayd, that hee prayed to the Lorde, wee muste not thinke that hee onely wayted til that time was accomplyshed: but seeing that his wife was barren, he had his recourse to GOD, which was the onely remedy. What? seemeth it then that hee loste his time, and that hee caste his Prayers in the Ayre, and that they neuer came too Gods eares? For a man vvoulde say so. For if hee had beene hearde, would not