Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled,…Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled,…

Now, humility is not such a manner of thing as many suppose it to be, as to show a godly and humble countenance before God, but we must be so bare and empty of any good thing in us, as that we must cast our selves down at his feet, and acknowledge that we are nothing else but miserable and wretched sinners, and so without all hope of salvation as of our selves. Thus we see how we come unto his mercy, which is by the feeling & apprehending of our miseries. And these two things cannot be separated. For why is it that God taketh pity upon us and helpeth us? Forsooth, it is because he beholdeth our miseries, and that is it which stirreth and moveth him to mercy. And see also why S. Paul treating of our salvation saith,¹ you are not ⟨p. 133⟩saved as of your selves, it is the gift of God through faith: for ye are his workmanship, because he hath created you in Christ Jesus unto good works, which he hath before ordained that ye should •oo them. Here Saint Paul excludeth whatsoever good opinion we can conceive of our own power, when as he saith, Go to now, if ye shall attribute any part of commendation of salvation unto your selves, and yet think that you have not attained thereunto as of your selves, but that you have been holpen therein: see how this gear may or can stand together? For you were created mortal men, that is to say, Sinners: and therefore all accursed, banished and estranged from the presence of God, in whom is all goodness. And therefore you must conclude, that you are all as it were dead. Wherefore there must be a new and a second amendment and reparation before you be any thing in the sight of God. And when you have been regenerated in Jesus Christ, the same then is called, a new creation. And therefore every one of you is the creature of God, when as he hath formed and called you unto himself, without any disposition thereunto for your own part, but God hath prepared good works by his holy spirit. Seeing then that it is thus, we may very well conclude, that our salvation cometh no whit of our selves, no not one drop ⟨p. 134⟩of it, but is the only mere gift of God proceeding of his own liberality. Thus then we see as touching the first point, that for the obtaining of mercy and grace at God his hands, we must truly acknowledge our selves what we are, how miserable our estate & condition is, & that we are all but castaways.