A17696:129
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 3: THE THIRD SERMON of Justification.Sermon 3: THE THIRD 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.
He is angry with Satan and with whatsoever is against us, as if he would have said, seeing that we have forsaken all our arrogancy, and have no such imagination as once to think that we can bring any thing of our own with us unto God to make us acceptable, considering that we know that it is of his own free mercy and goodness that he hath chosen us, as also called us unto him self by the Gospel, let the devil with all his suppostes accuse us as much as they lust, yet will he justify & pardon us: & how? Forsooth saith he, behold how our Lord Jesus Christ maketh intercession for us, & by the power and virtue of this prayer, forsomuch as he is our Advocate for the appeasing of the wrath of God his Father, by this we see how we are pardoned. And this is the certainty whereof he speaketh in another place, as we have already said.1 This also is showed unto us in the person of the poor publican, that is to say, of the customer whom the people scorned when he came unto God to pray.2 He came not unto him after a bragging sort, howbeit, he verily believed that God would have mercy upon him: & therein he was bold as we all also must be, as in the Epistle to the Ephesians it is said.3 ⟨p. 168⟩But when he looked towards him, he humbled himself, and was ashamed, craving nothing but pardon: and Jesus Christ said, that he was justified even with that only speech. And we see that the Pharisee was rejected, because he so foolishly presumed of his works. And the Publican who plainly and simply confessed himself to be a miserable sinner, and so wretched and damned a soul departed justified before God: and yet notwithstanding the Pharisee commended not himself by reason of his merits, for he said not, I have done this, and I have done that, and therefore God is beholden unto me for them: but said only thus, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, an extortioner, unjust, a thief, nor an Adulterer, nor as this Publican. A man would think this to be a jolly entrance, when as he submitted himself wholly unto God, and protested that whatsoever goodness and virtue was in him, proceeded from the mere gift of the holy Ghost: but what of all this? yet was he so proudly and arrogantly puffed up, as that he thought himself to be allowed and liked of for his works. And therefore we see why God condemned him: