Thirteen Sermons on Free Election in Jacob and Reprobation in Esau, Sermon 1

Thirteen Sermons on Free Election in Jacob and Reprobation in Esau · Sermon 1

❧ The firſt Sermon of M^r Iohn Caluin concerning Iacob and Eſau.

Geueſ. Chap. 25. verſ. 12.

NOW theſe are the generations of Iſmael Abrahams ſonne, whome Hagar, the Egyptian Sarahs handmaide bare vntounto Abraham, &c. To the end of the 22. verſe.

WE hauehave heere to conſider the differēce that Moyſes putteth betwixte the Children of Abraham. We hauehave ſeene already that the whole ſtocke which hee had by Keturah, dwelled in a countrie farre off. Concerning Iſmael he is ſeperated farre inough from the land of Caanan notwithſtanding he be yet as one reiected. For it was neceſſary that the inheritance which was ordained to Iſaack, ſhould remaine to him. Now in the firſt place it is ſaide, that Iſmael had twelue ſonnes, the which in ſuch ſorte multiplyed, that of them came twelue Peoples. In this we ſee that God not without cauſe ſaid to his ſeruant Abraham,Gen. 17.20.22.Gen 17:20Gen 17:22 that for his ſake Iſmael alſo ſhould hauehave a certaine bleſſing: but that it ſhould be tranſitorie and fleeting, and the principall ſhould remaine to Iacob. But whatſoeuer it bee: yet ſo it is, that God did ſhewe himſelfe faithfull and true in his promiſe, the which belongeth to this temporall life. If God would that his trueth and conſtancie ſhould be knovven in theſe thinges of the vvorld, vvhichwhich ſlip avvay, and hauehave nothing elſe but a figure which vaniſheth, as S. Paul ſaith: what ſhall it bee, when the promiſes are of farre greater importance, as when he calleth vsus to the inheritāce of the kingdō of heauē? Think we thē that we cā be fruſtrate of that, ſtaying our ſelues vponupon him? See then how we muſt make our profite of this place. If God wil bee knowen firme and faithful in his word towards thoſe which are as ſtraungers, and which he hath ſhut out & reiected frō his church: what will he then doe towardes vsus which are his children, whome he hath adopted, & to whome it hath pleaſed him to ſhew himſelf nie? For if God in ſmall things, as in the ſtock, & in al other things of like ſort, wil hauehave his trueth knowen? what ſhal it be, when in the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, he ſetteth out vntounto vsus the inheritaunce of heauen, & declareth vntounto vsus that he wil be merciful vntounto vsus, & that he wil pardō our faults, that we may be reconciled to him, & that by this meanes we may be the brethren and companions of Angels, vnderunder one head, to wit, our Lord Ieſus Chriſt? Can God there faile in his promiſes? Shall they be void and without effecte and execution? It is impoſſible. This then is that wee hauehave to holde in this firſte place. And further vve hauehave next to note, that God will manifeſt him ſelfe not onelyonly to vsus in theſe his benefites, which are moſte great and excellent, but alſo in thoſe that concerne this life: and that there is nothing ſo ſmall, in which he wil p. 2not hauehave ſome markes of his fatherly goodneſſe imprinted. And for aſmuch as he hath ſaid that he will hauehave care to feede vsus, let vsus waite vppon him, for all that which belongeth to the maintenaunce of this life, and let vsus not think that it derogateth any whit from his maieſtie, in that he will hauehave vsus to call vponupon him for drinke and for foode to feede vponupon. For he will that in all and through all wee ſhold hauehave our recourſe to him: let vsus not thē dout but that God (albeit our bodies be earth & aſhes, rottennes & wormes meat, & as the cōmon ſpeech is, but carrions, which are nothing woorth) wil yet notwithſtanding prouide for all our corporall neceſſities. This is that we hauehave to adde as the ſecōd point. But now we muſt heere ſee the compariſon, which Moyſes maketh betwixt Iſmael and Iſaack. Beholde Iſmael which is cut off, & is no more reputed among the children of God, and yet notwithſtanding we ſee that he proſpereth, & that he hath a great train. For of twelue ſonnes which hee hath begotten, beholde twelue peoples that came from him. And withall of Iſaack, what? Iſaack maried at xl. yeres old: & after that his wife was barren, & that not for one yeere, nor for two, but euē for xx. yeres ſpace, he had no childrē. God had ſaid vntounto him: I wil multiply thy ſeed, at the ſtarres of heauen, & as the ſand of the ſea. This was pronoūced to his father Abrahā: but this was of ſpeciall fauour toward him. But he might hauehave beene before this time increced, as he hoped, notwithſtāding he ſaw that his wife was barren, & it ſeemed as though godminded to mock him, & declare vntounto him that thing which he hoped for, was nothing worth. When therefore he ſawe that his brother Iſmael, who had no roote in the church, who was a ſtrāger from all hope of ſaluation: vvhen he ſaw him (I ſay) to flouriſh in his ſeede, & it ſeemed that God had poured forth all his graces vpō him: & in the meane time, that he was left in his owne houſe all alone, and had none to ſucceede him: it is certaine that hee might be in great perplexitie, as if it had beene much better for him to hauehave beene like his brother Iſmael.

This was to make him giuegive ouer al, & after to be without hope, and to hauehave contemned God: he had falne euen to the vttermoſt extremitie, if he had not bene holdē in by a ſingular patience. Now then, wee hauehave heere to beholde as in a glaſſe, the condition of Gods Church, how it beginneth, & how God vpholdeth it, and multiplyeth it, that is to ſay, after ſo ſtrange a faſhion, that it ſeemeth at al aſſaies, that that ſame apparance which God ſhall hauehave giuen vsus, is nothing (as a man would ſay) but to deceiue vsus. For (in ſtead that the children of this world hauehave a goodly ſhew, & a man ſhall find thē to encreaſe to the eye) the church ſhall bee hidden vnderunder the Earth: a man ſhall ſee the earth full repleniſhed of vnbeleeuers, of contemners of God and prophane people: and where ſhall a man finde the faithfull? They ſhall bee very thin ſowen and a man ſhall not be able to perceiue them, they ſhall be deſpiſed, men ſhall treade them almoſte vnderunder their feete, and men ſhall thinke that God hath no p. 3care of his Church, and that further hee taketh pleaſure that the wicked, ſhould make their triumphes, and ſhould hauehave their braue & pompeous ſhewes.

Now then this is ſhewed vntounto vsus in the perſons of Iſaack & of Iſmael, to the end that the ſtrangeneſſe of it trouble vsus not beyond meaſure, and that we ſhould fight conſtantly againſt all doubtings which might ariſe in our imagination, as often as we do ſee a ſmal number of people which worſhip God, & that we ſee almoſt an infinite number of thoſe which ſtubbernly ſet themſelues againſt him, and which knowe not what it meaneth too beare his yoke. Nowe this doctrine is very neceſſary for vsus at this day. For how doth God worke in our time? For when he ment to reare vp againe his Goſpell, at what end began he? What people called he? And yet now, if we caſt our eye vponupon the whole world, wee ſhall finde in the firſt place, that in Aſia (which is the greateſt part thereof) all is diſordered and confuſed, and that there, ther is nothing but ſuperſtitions on the one ſide, and ſo vnruly barbarouſneſſe on the other, as pitie it is to beholde. Marke alſo the other parte of the world, to wit, Affrica, which is in the ſame order. And as concerning Europa (which men call Chriſtendom) let a man beholde that which is in Italie, in Fraunce, and other places, and a man ſhall finde that the Deuill beareth there the ſway, and that the vpholders of Antichriſt, who are deadly enemyes of the Church, what profeſſion ſoeuer they make, a man ſhall ſee them too hee as the Starres of Heauen, and as the ſande of the ſea: ſo as a man might ſay that there is nothing but for their vſe. And in deed they are very ſkilfull to make their vaunt thereof: for they make a buckler of this to contemne God, and alſo to harden them ſelues in their rebellion. They mock and deride vsus for this, that vve are ſo fevve people, and that notvvithſtanding vvee vvill bee holden for the Church. But for our part vve are deſpiſed & reiected: and moreouer, wee are farre of from approching to this great people, which aduaunce them ſelues againſt vsus: To bee ſhorte, a man would ſay, that wee are as three graines of Corne vnderunder a greate heape of Chaffe. And yet for all this it is ſo, that we hauehave this teſtimonie of God, that hee keepeth vsus and auoweth vsus to bee his houſholde ſeruants. For it is no Church, vnleſſe it be ioyned to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who is the head therof. When this faileth; all the reſt goeth to wrack and to ruine, as Saint Paule ſayth: Now wee are vnited to the ſonne of God, through the faith of his Gospel, which is the certaine and vndeceiuable bond. And howe ſhall we iudge that vve are the Church, ſeeing that we are nothing in compariſon of the vnfaithful, who are puffed vp by reaſon of their greatneſſe, and of all their other qualities, which they know wel inough how to ſet out with ful mouth? But let not vsus be aſtoniſhed for al this, ſeeing that God hath giuen vsus an allowaunce in the perſon of our father Iſaack, that the Church was as a forſaken p. 4houſe, and that he had no ſtock, and that hee had not a great number of people, and yet for all that he ceaſed not to holde it as an hidden treaſure: let vsus content our ſelues heerewith. And now for that which followeth, the perſon of Iſmael ought alſo to be wel marked: for hee came out from the houſe of Abraham, which at that time was the only Church in the whole worlde: he bare alſo circumciſion, as if he had bene an inheritour of the kingdome of God: yea he was the firſt borne, and had the ſwindge in the houſe, yea, in ſo much that he mocked his brother, as wee hauehave ſeene all ready. Now it is euē ſo likewiſe at this day concerning the Papiſts: for they are not ſtrāgers from the church, but they are as baſtard children. They will ſay alſo that they hauehave antiquitie on their ſide, and they wēt before vsus: & we ſe how they truſt in their ſucceſſion which they hauehave from the Apoſtles (as they ſay:) that at al times there hauehave been Biſhops & prelates in their church, & that herevpon a man might certainly cōclud, that the title of the church belongeth to thē. And yet for all this they are but baſtards as Iſmael was, foraſmuch as they were not begotē by the goſpel as we hauehave heard, which is the ſeede of freedome: but hauehave corrupted them ſelues. Behold, how we may account thē for Iſmalites. For albeit they be great peoples, & that we in the meane time remaine as poore vntimely fruits, yet let vsus know that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath giuen vsus ſuche an example therof, that at this day we might not be aſhamed. This then to be ſhort, is that wee hauehave heere to remember. And heerevnto wee ought alſo to apply that which we read in the prophets. For it is not for once that this hapened, that the Church hath beene brought to a ſmall number, yea & that it had nothing but horrible deſolation in it: as in the time of the captiuitie of Babylon, what was it? For therevpon it is ſaid:Eſay. 45.1.Isa 45:1 by Eſay. Reioyce O barren that diddeſt not beare: breake foorth into ioy and reioyce, thou that diddeſt not trauell with Childe: For the deſolate hath moe Children then all the maryed wiues: Albeit thou haſt beene as a widowe, God ſhall multiply thee, and thou ſhalt be a people, as it were by miracle, and aboue the iudgement and opinion of men, and when thou ſhalt hauehave ſtretched out thy Pauilions heere and there, all ſhall be filled and repleniſhed.

When therefore wee heare that this is ſpoken to the Church, let vsus knowe that if God at this day to humble vsus or to puniſh our offences, doe diminiſh the number of them that call vponupon him: we muſt not therefore quaile, but rather followe alwayes our vocation without any aſtoniſhment at all. And further let vsus note that we ſee (ſpecially in the ſtate of the church) that which is ſpoken off in the 113. Pſalme:Pſal. 113.9.Ps 113:9 That God filleth the houſes of thoſe that were barren before, with goodly Children and a great offſpring. Let vsus waite then till our Lord doth his worke, and then we ſhall hauehave occaſion to glorifie him, knowing that it is not in vaine that he hath ſaid: that Abrahams ſeed ſhalbe multiplied: but that this muſt come after ſuch a ſort as is incomprehenſible vntounto vsus, & that the beginnings are ſmall, & as it were nothing. When then p. 5we ſhall hauehave this patience, it is certaine that God will woorke in ſuch ſort, as we ſhall hauehave alwayes whereby to be confirmed in his promiſes, ſeeing that the effecte ſhall ſhewe it ſelfe, yea and more then we could hauehave thought or wiſhed for. Furthermore this we hauehave to mark heere in this place. But there is an other difficultie: too wit, that although Iſmael bee ſo aduaunced, that he ſeeth ſo many ſucceſſours as is woonderfull, (for he liued an hundred, thirtie and vii. yeeres, and had twelue ſonnes) & might ſe a people alredy diſcēded of his ſtock. Although for a time he were ſo lifted vp, yet within a while after he was as one taken away: For Moyſes in deede rehearſeth thoſe children he had, but when he ſpeaketh thereof in the holy hiſtory, they are reiected and hauehave no fellowſhip with that true ſtock of Abraham which was bleſſed: euen ſo let vsus note that it is nothing to hauehave like authoritie, and to hauehave a greate ſhowe, and goodly hue amonge men, & to be in reputation, namely ſo as men wonder at vsus, yet all this is worth nothing in compariſon of the durable ſtate of the Church.

God ſetteth vp his houſe in ſuch ſorte, that it ſeemeth as a plaie of little Children: notwithſtanding the foundations are perpetuall. And further he continueth his grace, in ſuch ſorte; that a man may very well ſee, that it is hee which is the founder of his Church, which buildeth, finiſheth, and vpholdeth it. This plainely appeareth: yet the vnbeleeuers hauehave their diſcourſes and determinations: in ſuch ſorte, that they are as the graſſe which groweth vponupon the houſe toppes, like as it is ſaid in the 129. Pſalme: The corne ſhalbe troden vnderunder feete, and men caſt it into the earth, & it remaineth there in a lowe place, and in the meane vvhile, behold the graſſe which ſhall growe very high vponupon the houſe toppes: but in aſmuch as it is neerer to the Sunne it taketh no roote: ſo that it muſt needes wither, in ſuch ſorte that there commeth no fruite of it, as the Prophet there ſheweth. Euen ſo then, when we ſee that the Lorde keepeth vsus in this poore and lowe condition, and that not onelyonly we are deſpiſed, but as it were vtterly reiected of all: let vsus knowe, that it ought to ſuffice vsus, that wee hauehave a roote in our God, to liue by his grace for euer: that we are maintained by him, and that we are as a tree plāted by the riuers ſide, which alwayes ſhall be moyſtened with vvater to drawe out nouriſhment there from. Let vsus content our ſelues heerewith. And ſo this compariſon is not made without cauſe, when Moyſes expreſly ſaith that Iſmael begate twelue ſonnes, which were gathered into twelue peoples, & after that, hee ſtayes there, and ſo leaues them. Further he ſayth: Beholde the generations of Iſaack.

And why? it is for that his wife was barren, vntil that he was come to the age of Lx. yeres. Behold a wonderful thing, yea but vve ſhal find, that after God had ratified his promiſe, to wit, that hee ſhould be multiplyed in ſuch ſorte, as hee had ſhewed vntounto him, that he had not ſpoken in vaine. For what was it to ſee ſuch a multitude of people p. 6in Egypt, as if graſſe had growen in the mideſt of an hot burning Ouen? For this was as a fornace, (as the ſcripture ſpeaketh) which was the tyranny & bondage of Egypt. Behold the people as chaffe, and ſee the fire which is kindled in eueryevery place all about, and yet for all this the people is not conſumed, like as is ſhewed in the figure of the Buſhe,Exod. 3.2.3.4. Acts. 7.30.Exod 3:2Exod 3:3Exod 3:4Acts 7:30 which was as it were burning on a light fire, and yet the buſh remained whole and was not conſumed. We ſee likewiſe how the people multiplied, beeing vnderunder ſuch oppreſſion and anguiſh, that thē was not only queſtion of an hundred thouſand, or of three or foure hundred thouſande, but beholde ſix hundred thouſād iſſuing out vnderunder ſuch a captiuitie. And how was this poſſible? Beholde a miracle to rauiſh vsus in aſtoniſhment. Now then let vsus know, that as God after this maner tryed the faith and patience of Iſaack, ſo in the ende he founde a meane to accompliſh his promiſe, yea beyond the reach of man. For this came to paſſe after a ſtrāge faſhion, & which a man would not hauehave thought. Let vsus alſo at this day apply this to our ſelues, and let vsus practize that which is ſpoken in the 37. Pſal. If we ſee the wicked & the contemners of God to be aduanced as the Cedars of Libanon, let vsus wait: for there needs no more, but euen to turn our eyes,Pſal. 37.10.Ps 37:10 and loe, they are razed & cut off, and one ſhall not ſee ſo much as the place where they were. And why ſo? Becauſe they were not planted in God. Wee heare that which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſaith, Matth. 15.Matt. 15.1▪Matt 15:1 EueryEvery plant which my heauenly father hath not planted ſhall be rooted vp.

So let vsus not enuie the Children of this world, vvhen wee ſhall ſee them in high eſtate, when wee ſhall ſee them aduaunced to nobilitie and to dignitie, and in all other things: let vsus waite patiently and learne our condition peaceablie: and if the world doe mock vsus, make no accounte of vsus, and diſdaine vsus, let it ſuffice vsus notwithſtanding to bee eſteemed before God and his Angels. And in the meane time let vsus waite, till God accompliſh that he hath ſpoken in another place, The righteous ſhall flouriſh like a Palme tree, Pſal. 29.12.13.Ps 29:12Ps 29:13and ſhall growe like a Cedar in Lebanon: yea, after another faſhion: for he ſaith, he ſhalbe multiplyed in the courts of the houſe of the Lord. When it is ſaid, that they ſhall be planted in the houſe of God, that is to ſay, they ſhalbe bleſſed of him: For, beholde alſo wherein our continuall felicitie conſiſteth, ſo as from age to age, we may alwayes ſtande faſt, as it is ſaide in the 112. Pſal. That inaſmuch as God abideth for euer one, & changeth not as doth the world which waxeth olde and groweth in corruption: but that God is alwayes like himſelf: The Prophet therupon concludeth, that the faithfull ſhall hauehave their abiding: and that albeit at the firſt bluſhe a man ſee not that the grace of God is ſhewed vponupon them, yet in the end, it ſhall be knowen.

This therfore hetherto is that we hauehave to learne of this place, and of this difference which Moyſes putteth heere betwene the ſtock of Iſmael, & that of Iſaack. Beholde theſe beginnings of the church which are as a thing of nothing, but the finiſhing p. 7thereof is wonderful. Now the beginnings of the children of this world are mightie and noble, and ſuch as aſtoniſh all men: but all comes to nothing. And why ſo? Becauſe they hauehave no continuing in the promiſe of God. This is the fountaine of life: and beholde how wee may continue to the ende: this alſo is the meane to make vsus to be aduaunced aboue the world. For when the queſtion is, of our reioycing in God, and of contenting our ſelues with his fatherly goodnes, that hee hath ſhewed vntounto vsus, Let vsus not be as fooles to buſie our ſelues about that which we now ſee with the eye: For theſe preſent thinges of the worlde paſſe awaye and vaniſh: but let vsus beholde that which is inuiſible, as the true nature of Faith is,Heb. 11.Heb 11 as the Apoſtle ſaith. Now Moyſes addeth, That Iſmael dwelt ouer againſt his brethern, or in their preſence.

It is true that one hath tranſlated this to dwell, and the woorde importeth to fall: but it ſignifieth to reſte, to dwell, and to hauehave a houſe. This then is the true and natural meaning, that Iſmael vvas not farre off (as already vve hauehave ſeene) from the children of Keturah, but that hee remayned a neere neighbour of the lande of Canaan, vvhichwhich vvas promiſed to Iſaack: notvvithſtanding this is true alſo, that he poſſeſſed not that land there, for it vvas meete that he ſhould be barred from thence. And vvho is it that had driuen him thence? For after the death of Abraham, it is certain, that he might hauehave taried there if he vvold. Iſaack had nothing but the Sepulchre vvhichwhich his father had gotten: he vvas not lead thence to hauehave any greate and large poſſeſſions: hee had nothing, vnleſſe it were altogether borrowed and by the leaue of the inhabitantes.

Iſmael therefore might well hauehave made his abode and neſte there, if hee had liſted. But hee went from thence: was this to obay GOD? No, For he was ful of pride & rebellion. So he would rather hauehave blaſphemed God, whē he had thought I am heere put apart, as though I were not of my fathers houſe. Therfore I muſt ſtay my ſelf in the countrie vvhere I was borne. But God doth leade him thither vvithout his knovvledge, wherefore he goeth thither, yea by a ſecret inſpiration. See hovv God vvorketh tovvards the vnbeleeuers: he turneth them, he vvindeth them from one ſide to an other.

We do not ſee apparantly that it is ſo: but vve muſte by faith conſider therein a prouidence of GOD, and if vve vvere very attentiue therein, it is certaine that vvee ſhould hauehave proofe of that vvhichwhich is heere written and that dayly. For hovv is it that vve are not deſtroied of theſe mad beaſts, vvhichwhich compaſſe vsus on eueryevery ſide? We ſee vvhat their crueltie is, and hovve inſatiable they are in their couetouſneſſe: Whervpon then ſtayeth it, that vve are not all ſvvallovved vp: but that God turneth avvay their furie, and that hee knovveth how to direct them as ſeemeth good vntounto him? he vvil make them ſometimes to puſh one another: p. 8further he keepeth them there as Lyons that are enchained and holden vvithin Iron barres. See then hovve God alſo at this day driueth and chaſeth the vnbeleeuers, vvhere hee vvill vvithout violence at leaſt, ſo as they perceiue it not, euen as he did that at time vvith Iſmael. For we hauehave already declared, that he deſired nothing more thēto ouerthrovve and aboliſh the promiſe of God, vvhichwhich vvas made vntounto Iſaack, & yet for all that he goeth not about it. And why ſo? Becauſe it vvas not permitted vntounto him frō aboue, and becauſe God doth place him there in a dwelling out of the vvay, ſaying, Thou ſhalt dwell neere thy brethren: but hovvſoeuer it be, thou ſhalt not hinder, but that they ſhall inioy the region vvhichwhich I hauehave aſſigned vntounto them for an inheritaunce. But hee ſpeaketh ſpecially of Brethren, & yet for al that he had none but Iſaack: this is to ſhevve that God had no regarde to one or to tvvo, vvhen he ſo ſhut vp Iſmael: but as if the people had already inhabited the land of Canaan: the people I ſay, vvhichwhich vvas not yet borne, yea, vvhichwhich vvas not borne a long time after.

This is the ſumme of that vve hauehave further to note heere. Novv heerevpon vve may be confirmed and ſtrengthened, as often as vve ſee the vvicked and contemners of God (vvho are ſo deadly enemyes to vsus) to caſt out their froth, in that vve knovve that our Lorde can ſtay and holde them in vvell enough, and that hee vvill turne them ſome other vvay, and vvhen it ſhall ſeeme that they are to caſt and baniſh vsus out of the worlde that our Lord will holde them as Captiues, albeit they knovve not hovv. To be ſhorte, this that is heere ſet out of Iſmael, vve ſhall hauehave tryall off, ſo that vve be patient, & call vponupon God, and nothing dout, but that he hath meanes of his ovvne in him ſelfe to ſaue vsus, the vvhichwhich vve at the firſt perceiue not. But novv let vsus come to that vvhichwhich Moyſes reciteth concerning Iſaack. It is true that thereof he had already ſpoken ſome thing, but it is requiſite that it be deducted more at large. He hath ſaid, That Iſaack was fortie yeeres olde, when he tooke Rebecca to wife, & further that ſhe vvas barren. Novv it is like that Iſmael vvas maried ſooner. For vve hauehave already ſeene that Hagar his mother had giuen him wife, without mention of his age, and a man may wel gather that he was then very younge. Iſaack commeth to the age of xl. yeeres and might al ready be infeebled before he entred into mariage. See then how he was kept backe. Now let vsus note that all this while paſſed not, but he often entered into reckoning, to inquire of this promiſe, which was made vntounto him, that his ſeede ſhould be multiply-as the ſtarres of Heauen and the ſand of the ſea, and all this while he founde no wife, for he durſt not take one in the countrie. And it is like that God ſhewed him that he would keepe her barren euen til the end. But yet vvhē he vvas maried, it ſeemeth that then at the leaſt God vvould bleſſe him, & increaſe and augment him in his ſtock. But his vvife is barren, yea by the ſpace of xx. yeeres. If any ſuch teptation ſhould come vntounto any of vsus, it is p. 9certaine that the beſt of vsus ſhoulde hardely reſiſt it one day: wee lightly paſſe ouer that which is heere recited by Moyſes. And why ſo? It is becauſe we be not exerciſed with many cōflicts, yea and becauſe we ſhunne them, and alſo by reaſon of infirmitie and rudeneſſe. Neuertheleſſe we ought to make our profite of ſuch examples, when wee come to any entry or tryall of our faith, wee are altogether vndoone. And why? Becauſe in time and place we are not ſo fenced as were neceſſary. Now it is ſaid here, that for the ſpace of xx. yeeres it ſeemed that Iſaack was accurſed of God, & that he was in a maner a deade ſtock, and that hee had no hope of hauing any children during the ſpace of xx. yeeres. For heere is not queſtion of hauing children onelyonly. As when men & women do marry, they will be glad to hauehave children: And this is alſo a token of Gods fauour, but heere was a ſpeciall reaſon in Iſaack. For he wayted not onelyonly for the people that ſhould deſcend of him, but he waited for the ſaluation of the world. See then Ieſus Chriſt, which is after a ſort in his raines, as the Apoſtle ſaith▪ for he vſeth the ſame maner of ſpeech there. Iſaack ſaw that he was barren, & yet he had no other hope to be ſaued, he is as it were a curſed creature, & as it were at the pittes brink, except he hauehave iſſue: & all this while, that God which had made promiſe therof in the perſon of his father, ſeemeth to mock him & leaueth him there, where he muſt needs languiſh: and that as often as he behelde his wife he might thus think with himſelf, Loe a glaſſe, wherein I ſee that God hath reiected vsus, and that he maketh no account of vsus, & that hee hath turned his back towards vsus, that his promiſe is fruſtrate, that it hath no force or efficacie towards vsus.

See (I ſay) howe Iſaack had dayly to beare with ſuche aſſaultes: and wee ought well too waye all theſe thinges (as I hauehave already ſayde:) but foraſamuch as we doe not regard to what ende the holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh vntounto vsus of Iſaack, and becauſe we knowe not howe to apply that to our inſtruction which is here ſpoken of him: ſee why it ought to make vsus loſe no courage at all: but whē there is but one Blaſt of wind, by and by we are beaten downe. And why ſo? for we ought to hauehave thought thus on this ſort. Goe to, how is it that Iſaack hath ſo firme conſtancie, & that for the ſpace of xx yeres? he quailed not, albeit, it ſeemed to him that GOD had mocked him: this was becauſe that he was patient, & becauſe he knew, it behoued him not to ſet God the time wherin he had to performe his promiſe: but that he muſt ſubmit himſelfe to him & doe him this honor to know that his workes are incomprehenſible, and that hee knoweth the fitte times and ſeaſons, to performe that he hath pronounced: to bee ſhorte, that it is not our parte too ſet him a lawe: but that it is meete that we keepe ſcilence, and that wee murmure not, if thinges fall not out according to our appetite and deſire: but that wee muſte wayte till hee accompliſhe his owne woorkes, p. 10yea, although wee ſee all thinges contrarye: Neuertheleſſe, it behooueth that our fayth preuayle agaynſt all the worlde, euen as Saynt Iohn ſayeth in his Canonicall Epiſtle. Nowe in as muche as all this is nothing, and it vaniſheth from before our eyes: and when we reade this hyſtory, it is ſo coldely done, that wee receaue no fruite by it. See, alſo why GOD puniſheth vsus for our ingratitude: becauſe wee are ſo delicate, that aſſoone as there commeth, not a ſtorme or ſome greate Whirlewinde, but a little puffe, beholde wee are foorthwith ſhaken, and in the ende doe fall away.

So muche the rather then it behooueth that wee marke well that which is heere ſpoken: too witte, that Iſaack continued to truſte in GOD, although that by the ſpace of twentie yeeres, it ſeemed that he could hauehave no iſſue. Nowe that he perſeuered, it appeareth by that which Moyſes ſayth.

For Iſaack prayed vntounto the Lorde for his wife, and was hearde, ſo as his wife conceiued.

When it is ſayd, that hee prayed to the Lorde, wee muſte not thinke that hee onelyonly wayted til that time was accomplyſhed: but ſeeing that his wife was barren, he had his recourſe to GOD, which was the onelyonly 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 God thē hauehave declared by experience, that which hee had promiſed him? But he ſaw nothing of all that. Then when Iſaack had prayed one yeere, & twaine: it is all one, as if hee had ſpoken to a Rock or to a wall: God making wiſe as though hee were deafe: that is to ſay, hee ſhewed not him ſelfe in any ſorte to hauehave a fauourable care to receiue Iſaacks requeſtes: and this continued. But when this commeth vntounto the ende of tenne or twelue yeeres, what would a man ſay, but that it were better to giuegive ouer? For this is a maruelous harde and great temptation, that God ſhould doe nothing of that that hee had promiſed at the end of fifteene yeeres, But although hee had put off to doe it euen to the twentith yeere, yet neuertheleſſe Iſaack ceaſed not to pray, but alwayes continued, and his prayer was a ſure ſeale of his Faith. For he prayed not after the maner of the vnbeleeuers, which euer waite to rage againſt God: but hee followed the rule that is giuen vsus by Saint Paaule (although it was not yet written). And that was to ioyne thankeſgiuing with our prayers, referring our ſelues wholly vntounto God, & quietly wayting for ſuch an iſſue from him as coulde not yet bee ſeene. Like as then when Iſaack continued ſtil ſo to caſt all his heauineſſe into the boſom of God, and all the care that oppreſſed him, and all the ſorrowes, griefes and anguiſhes, wherein hee was encloſed: when hee repoſed all this in the boſom of God, this was a ſure tryall of his faith.

p. 11This then is that we hauehave to learne by his example: to wit, that we think not that God hath boūd himſelf vntounto vsus to do al that he hath ſpoken at the firſt daſh: but after that hee hath once ſpoken, hee will not giuegive any ſigne to accompliſh his worke and we will think that all that hee had promiſed was nothing elſe (as men ſay,) but woordes and winde. It behoueth then that we be holden in, with ſuch patience: (as alſo the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus heretoo,Heb. 10.37.Heb 10:37 in the tenth Chapter too the Hebrues) that from day to day, from yeere to yeere, and all our life long, and as if nothing were, that we holde our ſelues there in quiet and holde our peace before God, to the end weſkirmiſh not, nor make any broyle, nor pleade againſt him, nor ſomon him, according as our fickle appetites wold moue vsus. And heerevpon wee hauehave to put that in practiſe which the Apoſtle alleadgeth out of the Prophet Habacuc: That if hee forſlowe his promiſe, we ſhould waite, and it ſhall not linger. Hee there ſetteth downe two things: hee ſaith in deede that the promiſe of God ſhall not be foreſlowed: that is to ſay, that it ſhall hauehave a certaine & vndouted execution, and in it, ſeaſon: But concerning vsus and our ſenſe or feeling, he ſayeth, it ſhall linger: ſo that we hauehave neede patiently to wait. Beholde then howe our faith muſt be tried. For if we hope that God will ſhewe himſelfe faithfull towardes vsus, and that we remaine firme and cōſtant, it behoued that we be often againe and againe exerciſed in prayers and ſupplications: for faith muſt not be idle, to be ſhort, if we hauehave to liue here beneath, as poore miſerable wretches, & that ſome muſt bee afflicted with diſeaſes, and others with pouertie, that eueryevery one hath to endure many afflictions & miſeries: that neuertheleſſe we goe forwarde, and that we know, when God promiſeth vsus to be our father, it is not that he meaneth to ſhew it alwaies apparātly to the eye. He wil giuegive vsus in deed ſōe taſt of his goodnes, aſmuch as ſhalbe neceſſarie, yea we ſhal hauehave therin to ſatiſfy our ſelues, ſo that our faith be alwaies ioyned therunto: in ſuch ſorte that we ſhall feele, that that which he hath pronoūced is not to deceiue vsus.Pſal. 81.11.Ps 81:11 Open thy mouth & I wil fil it. But howſoeuer it be, it behoueth that we waite alwaies by faith, for that which yet appereth not, & which is as it were far from vsus, and ſeemeth to bee impoſſible. Again, when we ſhalbe thus grounded and ſtayed vponupon the truth of God, & that we ſhall ſuffer our ſelues to be afflicted by many miſeryes, that yet, we hauehave that care and zeale to pray & cal vpō God both morning & euening, & hauehave our recourſe vntounto him: for this is our only cōfort. This therefore is not a thing lightly to be paſſed ouer, when Moyſes rehearſeth, that Iſaack prayed vntounto god for the barennes of his wife, & that God hard him. For on the one ſide we ſee the perſeueraunce which Iſaack had in ſtaying himſelf vponupon God, & making requeſt vntounto him: on the other ſide we ſee that God was not deaf to his requeſts: but this was not, for that he ſhewed himſelfe at the firſt daſhe. For a man wold hauehave ſaid, that Iſaack was abuſed p. 12to run ſo vntounto God morning and euening, & that it had bene better that he had giuen ouer all: but at the end of xx. yeeres, God came ſuddainly, to the end he might ſhew that men are too haſty & hedlong in their deſires: & heere ſee, what is the cauſe that often times his name is blaſphemed, & men will accuſe him for that he worketh not according to our fantaſie: this (ſay I) proceedeth of impatiencie. Now we hauehave alſo to note, that Iſaack knew that it was a great benefite of God, to giuegive him iſſue. For when God had pronoūced,Gen. 1.28.Gen 1:28 Encreaſe and multiply, according as we hauehave ſeen, it is to ſhew that neither men nor beaſts could bring forth and increaſe, but by his power, that we ſhuld not think that it came by aduēture. If therfore Bulls, horſes, and Aſſes cannot ingender, vnles God ſhed out his bleſſing & ſecret power, what ſhall be of men? For we are far more noble creatures, inaſmuch as god hath formed vsus according to his owne image. So that when we ſee that both men and beaſts are increaſed by generation, we muſt therby call to memorie that this is from the worde of God, which hath iſſued out of his mouth, Encreaſe and multiply, which yet euen at this day ſheweth it ſelfe, but we muſt go farther: to wit, that God keepeth this bleſſing & liberalitie to himſelfe, to the end to diſtribute it as he ſeeth good. For we ſe that al engender not alike: Some hauehave no Children, others one or twoo, and others againe hauehave them by dozens. So then when wee ſee ſuche an inequalitie, it behooueth is too acknowledge that it is a ſpeciall benefite of God to hauehave children: as alſo it is expreſſely ſayde in the Pſalme, that the fruite of the wombe (for ſo the Scripture ſpeaketh) is a rewarde of God.Pſal. 127.3.Ps 127:3 And ſo we muſt in this behalfe, hauehave recourſe vntounto him. And therfore thoſe that deſire ſo greatly to hauehave children, they muſt follow alwaies the example of Iſaack. For they wil ſay in deede, ô I woulde hauehave Children: but of thinking vpō God, there is neither mention, nor newes. And foraſmuch as God is defrauded of his honor, loe, why he withdraweth his hand: or rather if he giuegive an ofspring, foraſmuche as they are a prophane people, hee will giuegive them children which ſhall ſcratch out their eyes. For their children are as young ſerpents, or thornes, for to pricke and pierce them euen to the hart. Behold therefore what is the cauſe that many hauehave no ofſpring to ſucccede them: or if they hauehave, it is for their farther euil: foraſmuch as they hauehave not addreſſed thēſelues to God, to obtaine all of his bleſſing. Let vsus therfore mark wel, that that which is heere ſhewed as concerning our father Iſaack, is that he ſeeing his wife barren, prepared himſelf to God knowing very well, that it was of him that he ought to demaunde iſſue. And in deede, what will men alledge heere againſt this bleſſing? If we marke that which is written in Iob, that when a childe commeth into the worlde,Iob. 14.Job 14 it is as a liuely image of the incomprehenſible power of God, which cannot be ſufficiently eſteemed. For wherof is it that an infant is ingendered, and after it p. 13is conceiued, howe commeth it in … the wombe of the mother? And further, howe is it, that hee commeth foorth? If a man marke all theſe things, who will be ſo brutiſh, to ſay that men engender them by their owne ſtrength and induſtrie? Let vsus then holde faſt this leſſon: which is that they that are married and deſire offſpring, that they aſke it of God: & that for two reaſons. The firſt, becauſe God hath reſerued this in his owne hand, as wee hauehave euen now alledged out of the Pſalme. The ſecond is, that it is not inough that their houſes be ful of children, vnleſſe that God alwayes gouerne them. For it were much better that they had no ofſpring at all, then to hauehave a peruerſe ſeede, accurſed and ful of miſchiefe. So then let fathers learne (in this behalfe) to followe the example of Iſaack. But let vsus alſo diligently note, that Iſaack prayed not for an ofſpring, only after the natural appetite of men: But he looked vp higher: that is to ſay, becauſe that it behoued that of him ſhould proceede the ſaluation of the worlde in the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, the which ſhall bee deducted more at large heereafter.

But now let vsus fall downe before the holy maieſtie of our good God, in acknowledging our faultes, and praying him that he will make vsus too feele them more and more, and that it may be to humble vsus, and to bring vsus to true repentaunce: and that we may bee in ſuch ſorte touched with feare, that we may deſire nothing but to bee ſtripped of all our earthly affections and luſtes to the ende wee may bee cloathed with his righteouſneſſe, vntill that hee ſhall hauehave drawen vsus to a ful and perfect perfection. And that he wil not only doe this good vntounto vsus, &c.