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…

That is to say: I mark not who is worthy of it. For there is not one: But yet I will not cease to show mercy to some, to wit, to such as I shall have chosen. Mark then how precisely God speaketh: and this is to beat down whatsoever men can allege to shut the door against all curiosity, and set a bar against all presumption: & that we do simply reverence him, leaving that to him which he hath reserved to himself: that is to say, when he saveth, it is of his free goodness: and when he condemneth, that we should not enterprise to bark against God, but that we shut up our mouth: unless it be to glorify him. Now let us mark that this was spoken by Moses when the people already multiplied, & after that God had brought them out of Egypt. Behold a ⟨image 28⟩Church descended from the race of Jacob? For from this same barren house, and which was as it were desolate, GOD had drawn so great a multitude therefrom, that this seemed rather to be a notorious miracle, & that this promise was verified: that Abraham's seed should be at the stars of Heaven. Was not this in a goodly show in respect of men? God saith of this multitude here, I will retain as many as I shall think good: I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and let no man ask the reason thereof. It is true in deed that God hath reason, but it followeth not therefore that we can comprehend it, or that we must break out beyond our bounds into his secrets. We must therefore know that in respect of us, there is no reason: but the counsel of God ought to be unto us in all respects the rule of righteousness, wisdom and equity. Mark therefore how the exposition of S. Paul agreeth very well to that which is here pronounced: that is to wit, that there were two peoples in the belly of Rebecca, and that from her bowels two nations should be divided: and this was as much as if God had testified, that there should be such a divorce, that yet the stock of Jacob should remain blessed: Not altogether without exception, but those whom it should please GOD to keep to himself, as he had chosen them before the creation of the world. See then the sum of that which is contained here. But before we go any farther, let us well note that which hath been said:

That is to say: I mark not who is woorthy of it. For there is not one: But yet I will not cease to shew mercie to some, to witte, to such as I shall haue chosen. Marke then how precisely God speaketh: and this is to beate downe whatsoeuer men can alledge to shutte the doore against all curiositie, and set a barre against all presumption: & that we doe simply reuerence him, leauing that to him which hee hath reserued to himself: that is to say, when hee saueth, it is of his free goodnes: and whē he condemneth, that we shoulde not enterprise to barke against God, but that we shut vp our mouth: vnlesse it bee to glorifie him. Now let vs mark that this was spoken by Moyses whē the people already multiplied, & after that God had brought thē out of Egypt. Behold a