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…

Behold then what we shall gain when we open our throat, to caste forth blasphemies against God: For we shall but cast out our darts & stones into the air: but they shall not reach unto him, it shall be rather that we be pierced and wounded by them, and that we remain confounded in that our rashness and overweening. Thus, let us content our selves with that which God hath pronounced, that is to say: that he hath hated Esau and loved Jacob. Now by this the Children of Jacob were aswell convinced, that they had nothing whereof they might glory in them selves, and that there rested nothing, but that they made an acknowledgement unto God of such a liberal and bountiful goodness which he had used towards them, and whereof none could find any reason, unless in this that it so pleased him. But notwithstanding they were full of impiety against ⟨image 33⟩God, and would hold this privilege: but God showeth them, that it doth not belong unto them, and that if they accounted him for their father, they must be his children. But hereby we are admonished, that although our salvation proceed from the only grace of God, and that therein it consisteth to the end: Notwithstanding it followeth not, that under the shadow hereof, we can let loose our selves to evil, and give over our selves thereto. But there are villains & dogs that bark against God, & there are also Hogs, which overthrow this doctrine of election, by their loose and lewd life. For there are two sorts of people, that are enemies to this doctrine. The one are as dogs, & the other as Hogs. The one, which are they? they which will and come to show their teeth, and who despite God by their wicked questions: as we see at this day in those villains who make no scruple, to rend in pieces all the holy Scripture to corrupt, pervert, falsify & adulterate all, so that they may darken the election of God, to wit, to make nothing of all. And mark whereunto this tendeth, to make this doctrine odious. For they will say, that they that thus speak, they put no more any difference betwixt good and evil, & that God by this mean should become unrighteous, if he should put any difference between one and an other, & that there should be acceptance of persons in him. Behold then the dogs that bark and whet their teeth against this doctrine.

Beholde then what wee shall gaine when wee open our throte, to caste foorth blasphemyes against God: For we shall but cast out our dartes & stones into the ayre: but they shall not reach vnto him, it shalbe rather that we be pearced and wounded by them, and that we remaine confounded in that our rashnesse and ouerweening. Thus, let vs content our selues with that which God hath pronounced, that is to say: that hee hath hated Esau and loued Iacob. Now by this the Children of Iacob were aswell conuinced, that they had nothing whereof they might glory in them selues, and that there rested nothing, but that they made an acknowledgement vnto God of such a liberall and bountiful goodnesse which hee had vsed towardes them, and whereof none coulde finde any reason, vnlesse in this that it so pleased him. But notwithstāding they were ful of impietie against