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,…

To this we answer, when God at the first justifieth us, that is to say, when he hath mercy upon us, and plucketh us out from that condemnation wherein we were, he useth then a general ⟨p. 174⟩pardon: and then when he justifieth us afterward, he then acknowledgeth the benefits which he hath bestowed upon us, and avoweth & alloweth them, for he cannot deny himself: & when he governeth us by his holy spirit, although sin dwelleth in us, yet reigneth it not in us, as it is written, Although we do not the good which we would, yet we strive to do it. And therefore God alloweth and liketh of that, because it cometh from him: but here we are to note, that he justifieth us both in our persons and also in our works by faith only. For when he receiveth us at the first, he cannot justify any works that are in us. And why so? because they are all wicked. For as we have already said, what fruit can a rotten tree bring forth. And therefore when God draweth unto him miserable sinners, that are banished and cast out of his kingdom and Church, he doth not justify their works: but beholding their miseries, and having compassion of their perdition, lo, for that cause he justifieth them. Now after that he hath received them, he justifieth them in their persons, that is to say, he accepteth them as his children, and after that, he justifieth their works: and how doth he that? Forsooth, not by calling them to an account, nor judging them rigorously: for there will be always, as I have said, some corruption ⟨p. 175⟩amongst, or else some slips and by slidings and such like things which will mar all. For if a man put the best wine in the world into an unsavoury hogshead, or into a fusty bottle, the wine will be all marred. Even so fareth it with all our works: for so long as God guideth and governeth us by his holy spirit, they are good, holy, & commendable: but mark what vessels we are, surely very filthy & corrupt. Even so are our works, & therefore God must purge & cleanse them. And how is that? verily even by his grace in pardoning the faults & imperfections which are in them. Wherefore even as there is diversity between a faithful man, & whom God calleth at the beginning unto the Gospel, so also is there some diversity in justification.

To this we answere, when God at the first iustifieth vs, that is to saie, when hee hath mercy vpon vs, and plucketh vs out from that condemnation wherein we were, he vseth then a generall