(14) Of his own (q) will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of (r) firstfruits of his creatures.
(14) The fourth part concerning the excellency and fruit of the word of God, The sum is this: we must listen to the word of God most carefully and diligently, seeing it is the seed, through which God by his free favour and love has begotten us to himself, picking us out of the number of his creatures. The apostle condemns two faults, which greatly trouble us in this matter. For we so please ourselves, that we would rather speak ourselves, than hear God speaking. Indeed, we are angry when we are reproached and ignore it. Opposed to these faults, he sets a peaceable and quiet mind, and such as desires purity.
(q) This is what Paul calls gracious favour, an good will, which is the fountain of our salvation.
(r) As it were an holy type of offering, taken out of the remnant of men.