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,…

And in very deed there are two sorts of people, which make no account of our Lord Jesus Christ, robbing themselves of all the benefits which we have by him, and of the salvation also which we have by his death and resurrection. The one sort are they which persuade themselves to have some worthiness in them, and thereupon in the abundance of their pride despite God: and such are your jolly rabble of Monks, Friars, and their like: who have a certain glorious glittering show of righteousness, counterfeiting a marvellous, and as it were, Angelic holiness. These men, I say, shut up the Gate and have no entrance vuto Jesus Christ: for the thrust him far enough of from themselves. The second sort are they which are negligent and secure, & think not themselves to be righteous. And why so? for some of them are whoremasters, some are thieves, some drunkards, some effeminate persons, and some such contemners of God, as that little children may judge them to be so. These men are not deceived by pride and arrogancy, but are made so drunk by satan, as that they never think of everlasting life, but are become altogether brutish. And see why Solomon saith, ⟨p. 144⟩That he is happy and blessed who is careful over his own heart. And which feareth, and watcheth to understand his sins and wretchedness. We see then that the law was not given after the promise for any other reason, but to condemn us, to the end we might seek for all our righteousness in God, and to give all praise unto him for our salvation. Let us then here note this final cause, and therefore S. Paul in the first Chapter to the Ephesians, discourseth of this matter more at large. For he passeth it not over slightly, but handleth the matter so as if he would thunder it in our cares, to the end saith he, That the glory of God might be known, he alone to be glorified, he alone to be known righteous, that we might know that from him we have all. For we must know saith he, That without his mere favour and grace we are all camned. Here we see I say in sum what God his pretence is, when he taketh from us all opinion of our own power and strength, that is, he meaneth that he would have him self to be known to be only just, and us to be lost and damned souls of our selves.

And in verie deed there are two sortes of people, which make no account of our Lorde Iesus Christ, robbing themselues of all the benefites which we haue by him, and of the faluation also which we haue by his death and resurrection. The one sort are they which persuade themselues to haue some worthines in them, and therupon in the aboundance of their pride despite God: and such are your iolly rable of Monkes, Friers, and their like: who haue a certaine glorious glittering shew of righteousnes, counterfetting a maruellous, and as it were, Angellike holines. These men, I say, shut vp the Gate and haue no enterance vuto Iesus Christ: for the thrust him farre inough of from themselues. The second sort are they which are negligent and secure, & think not themselues to be righteous. And why so? for some of them ar whoremaisters, some are theeues, some drnnkards, some effeminate persons, and some such contemners of God, as that little children may iudge them to be so. These men are not deceiued by pride and arrogancy, but are made so drunke by satan, as that they neuer thinke of euerlasting life, but are become altogither brutish. And see why Salomon saith,