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,…

For, where shall we find a man that when he shall be thus cast down in himself, as to be no body as it were, and confess himself to be altogether accursed, & whatsoever goodness is in him to come of Gods own mere liberality, so as God is therefore to be exalted & magnified, & himself to be nothing, to the end he might acknowledge & humble himself unto God & say, that all which he hath, he receiveth from his mere goodness? Yea but we have already said that if we be doubting, then are heaven gates shut up against us. Now we cannot choose but doubt, or else be stark staring mad when as we regard our own works. Admit that god by his holy spirit hath regenerated a man, & doth only thank God as the Pharisee did, ⟨p. 171⟩and say, surely all that I have I have from God, and yet notwithstanding when he prayeth, he must pray confidently and in full assurance. And how shall he do that? For whilst he is yet imperfect and weak, the virtues which God hath bestowed upon him shall be mingled with many vices: yea & these virtues also shall be corrupt, because I say, he shall not be fully cleansed of the spots of the flesh. When a man shall find himself thus as a man would say, half seas over, & yet be far from the end and mark whether he would go, how can he otherwise do but doubt? Let us therefore now conclude, that it is nothing to confess & say that our salvation proceeded from the mere grace & favour of God, because he governeth us with his holy spirit, but that we must fly unto the remission of our sins. And so they that play the wrangling so sophisters herein, saying, that we are not justified by our works, because the good works are not ours, but the gifts of the holy Ghost, forget that point which we erst touched, that is to say, that our faith must be certain, & that it cannot be certain except Jesus Christ be our advocate, & his death a satisfaction for our sins, so as we cannot do it without we confess the debt, as by the example of the publican which we have alleged may be seen. And we see also, that this righteousness must not be for a day only, but must continue all the days ⟨p. 172⟩of our lives. For although we have profited by serving of God, yet for all that it hath bin in imperfection. And therefore it is plain faith that must justify us.

For, where shal we find a man that when he shall be thus cast down in himself, as to be no bodie as it were, and confesse himself to be altogither accursed, & whatsoeuer goodnes is in him to come of Gods owne meere liberalitie, so as God is therfore to be exalted & magnified, & himselfe to be nothing, to the ende hee might acknowledge & humble himselfe vnto God & say, that all which he hath, he receiueth from his meere goodnes? Yea but we haue already said that if we be doubting, then are heauen gates shut vp against vs. Now we cānot chuse but doubt, or els be starke staring mad when as we regard our own works. Admit that god by his holie spirit hath regenerated a man, & doth onely thanke God as the Pharisie did,