A17722:95
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.
That those that his heavenly father had given him, should not perish, but that he would keep them to the end.
That those that his heauenly father had giuen him, shoul• not perishe, but that he would keepe them to the ende.
Now when he saith, they which are given me of my father: he calleth us to that eternal election. He sayeth also in an other place: Thine they were, & thou gavest them unto me. 1And wherefore is it that the one belong unto God & not the other? This is not in respect that they are mortal men: For our nature is alike: we are all created by one father: but the one belongeth unto God, and the other are cast off from him, because it so pleased him. He acknowledgeth and accepteth the one for his own: ⟨p. 34⟩& the other although they be his creatures, nevertheless they have no acquaintance with him: he accepteth them not of his household, inasmuch as he hath shut them out from his election. We see then here, how faith is a special gift of God, which proceedeth not from our free will, not that we can of our selves go forward, and that some are more able to comprehend then others: but for that it hath pleased God to reveal his secrets to those whom he hath elected. And therefore see also why it is said in Isaiah: Who is he that will believe our hearing? For Isaiah2 had preached of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ: as if he had displayed the banner, to declare that every one should come to be reconciled to God, & that poor sinners should be received to mercy, that their satisfaction & righteousness is altogether ready, & that God desireth nothing but to be merciful to those that seek him: hath Isaiah preached so? but he crieth out forthwith Who will believe our hearing? And why so? For he saw in spirit the presumption & rebellion of unbelievers, because they cannot yield themselves to be ordered by God: but are wild & have always their mouth open to reply against God: & forthwith they have a wan dring fantasy they may not obey. He showeth that his doctrine shall not be received of the greatest nun ber: and addeth the reason: that the arm of god, that is to say, his strength & power is not revealed to all: he showeth there that it is not in our selves that we have either moving, or entrance, nor preparation nor any thing whatsoever it be: but that it must be God that must work therein. Now if it be so in