A17696:116
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.
Whereupon then dependeth our felicity? Forsooth even herein, when as God loveth us. We are now to consider how it is that he loveth us: he must needs allow and like of us, as I have already said, for he cannot deny himself. For if he reject & abhor us, how shall we be reconciled unto him? Now let us see by what means: for God cannot be transfigured, and if (as S. Paul saith) we should pretend any such thing it were in vain: for he will continue always like himself, & knoweth well enough to separate us with all our leasings, and race us out of his Roll: and how ••all God then allow & like of us? Well sir, we must be righteous. Now, what righteousness is it? It is not that righteousness which we suppose to have in our works, ne that we are able to acquire our selves before him, or yet satisfy by any duty that we can perform: ⟨p. 149⟩none of all this will serve our turns. What righteousness then is it? Forsooth even this, that God must pardon our sins, forget our iniquities, and not impute our offences unto us. And therefore David had reason to use these three manner of speeches: for a man would think, this to be a superfluous kind of language: but he especially reiterateth this, because the condition of man wherein he is borne and drowned over head & ears, is not only a bottomless depth, until such time as God draweth him out thereof, but the bottomless depth of all depths, that is, it is the bottomless depth of hell. And therefore God must deal herein after a singular manner. And therefore we see why he also soon after speaketh, and that in the spirit in whom is no deceit: for it is meet we should understand how necessary the mercy of God is for us, because our sins are so filthy and horrible, as that they are able to infect and poison both heaven & earth, and not to provoke God alone against us, but also the Angels, the Sun and Moon & all the hosts both of heaven and earth. Wherefore we see why David so highly magnifieth the forgiveness of sins. And thereupon S. Paul himself also concludeth, and showeth us wherein our whole righteousness consisteth, which is, that our sins are forgiven us. And let us likewise ⟨p. 150⟩note as I have already said, that David speaketh & setteth it down in the spirit, in whom is no guile: for he showeth that we cannot have our sins forgiven us, albeit God offereth us forgiveness: