A17696:115
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,…
Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled, Abraham's courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchizedek. Also, Abraham's faith, in believing God: comprehending four sermons. And, Abraham's obedience, in offering his son Isaac; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled, Abrahams courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchisedech. Also, Abrahams faith, in belieuing God: comprehending foure sermons. And, Abrahams obedience, in offering his sonne Isaack; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.
London: printed by John Windet, 1592London: printed by Iohn Windet, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 2: THE SECOND SERmon, of Justification.Sermon 2: THE SECOND SERmon, of Iustification.
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.
For these two words, To get, and to Receive, are clean contrary one to the other: and when God justifieth us, it is by his adoption, and because we are by nature the children of wrath, therefore he adopteth us and taketh us for his children. And what findeth he in us? nothing in the world that can induce us, to do well. And therefore the inheritance of our salvation which we hope after, and which is promised us in the Gospel, cometh from this adoption of God, and from nothing that is in us: for if we could obtain or get any thing of our selves, without doubt we would part stakes with ⟨p. 147⟩God, even as the Papists do. But because GOD so dealeth as that we do nothing, therefore is he alone to be glorified. We now presently see in sum, that the righteousness which is here spoken of, importeth nothing else but the remission of sins, and the credit which we have in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be made righteous through the merit of his obedience: but when Saint Paul would severely instruct us, according to our childishness, he bringeth in only remission of sins, & reasoneth after this sort, We cannot, saith he, be justified by our works: and why so? forsooth, because it is written:1 The man is blessed whose sin. the Lord pardoneth, and whose iniquities are remitted, and whose wickedness is not imputed unto him. Here saith he, we see all our felicity, which is, when God receiveth us to mercy, and forgetteth & burieth all our sins, whereof we are guilty before him. Seeing then it is so, it must needs follow, that we are all accursed until such time as God hath forgiven us: and if we be wicked, where then shall be found our righteousness? For, god cannot hate that which is agreeable unto his nature, for he is the fountain or all righteousness: And therefore if he find in us never so little goodness, no doubt of it he will accept of it. Wherefore we ⟨p. 148⟩must conclude, that because we are wicked, we are unrighteous and altogether accursed, and can no way be blessed without God loveth us. Now, if he loveth us, he must needs eftsoons allow and like of us, and if he allow and like of us, we must needs be righteous. These are principles which we ought to understand. Howbeit we are yet to know, that we cannot be blessed without God love us: for so long as he is our enemy, Alas, in what a woeful estate and condition are we?