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…

And so we ought not to think it strange, if in such anguish, she would rather have chosen too die, than to see so monstrous a thing, which was altogether contrary to the order of nature. Notwithstanding it is said, that in this so great heaviness, she left not off, to have recourse unto God. And in very deed she obtained an answer to comfort her: not but that there was also some grief mingled therewith, but yet God did moderate this passion, that was so grievous unto her, and said, that she had two peoples in her womb: as if he should have said, that this was not only for the two children's sakes, which she bare, but that this had a farther respect: that is to say, that they should be divided the one from the other. And howsoever both two were the sons of Abraham, and that it had been said unto Abraham, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed, yet it must needs be that from Isaac such must descend, as God should cut of from his Church, who should be rejected, and so consequently should be the enemies of the Church of God. Now it is very true that this might have wounded both Isaac and Rebecca with a deadly sorrow: but yet in the mean time they see that the goodness of God was no whit quenched & that God showed himself faithful in that he had once pronounced. For he had said.

And so we ought not to thinke it straunge, if in such anguishe, she woulde rather haue chosen too die, thē to see so monstrous a thing, which was altogither cōtrary to the order of nature. Notwithstanding it is saide, that in this so great heauines, she left not off, to haue recourse vnto God. And in very deede shee obtayned an answere to comfort her: not but that there was also some griefe mingled therewith, but yet God did moderate this passion, that was so grieuous vnto her, and said, that she had two peoples in her wombe: as if he shoulde haue saide, that this was not onelie for the two childrens sakes, which shee bare, but that this had a farther respect: that is to say, that they should be deuided the one from the other. And howsoeuer both two were the sonnes of Abraham, and that it had beene saide vnto Abraham, that in his seede all the nations of the earth should be blessed, yet it must needes be that from Isaack such must descend, as God shuld cut of from his Church, who should be reiected, and so consequently should be the enemyes of the Church of God. Now it is very true that this might haue wounded both Isaack and Rebecca with a deadly sorow: but yet in the meane time they see that the goodnesse of God was no whit quenched & that God shewed himselfe faithful in that he had once pronounced. For he had sayd.