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,…

Paul saith, That Love is greater then Faith. True it is, that they mistake this place: but admit, that love were more worthy then faith. For we do not now speak about such trifling toys, as to say, that he were worthy to be the greatest king in the world, that could may nure and dress the ground as well as any husband man or vine-dresser. And even so fareth it with faith, for, it justifieth us not as I have already said, for any excellency that is in it self, but because it borroweth that of Jesus Christ which is wanting in us. And therefore is it that S. Paul saith, That the righteousness of faith overthroweth and maketh void all the righteousness of works, and whatsoever worldly glory else. And therefore the Papists are herein too too blockish, and we for our parts are so much the rather to rest upon this point which we have already spoken of, that is to say, that we are justified by faith, to wit, that the way to make us to be acceptable unto God is, to have us lay open a ready way unto our Lord Jesus Christ, that thereby he may apply his righteousness unto our selves. Here we see then, that faith is the only mean and instrument: but that God is the cause and author, ⟨p. 185⟩and that all praise belongeth unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the right and true matter and substance thereof. And this is it that we are here to remember. And consequently, we see also that the Papists do too too foolishly cavil to say, that faith it self is a work, and that if we be justified by faith, that then works are not excluded. And to prove their matter withal, they allege that which is written in the sixth of Saint John, ¹This is the work that God requireth of you, that you believe in his only Son: Now Jesus in this place, calleth faith a work, as if he should have said, you see whereat you must aim, and apply your whole study: for the question is not that the work should merit. And besides, if we did confess that faith were a work, which indeed it is not, yet justifieth it not as a work done by us: for if I give alms, and pretend thereby to merit before God, see how I should be justified by my works: if I help my neighbour, and travel to do good unto this man or unto that, as they shall have need: Lo how I should be justified by my works. Now the reason is clean contrary in faith:

Paul saith, That Loue is greater then Faith. True it is, that they mistake this place: but admit, that loue were more worthy then faith. For we do not now speake about such trifling toyes, as to say, that hee were worthie to be the greatest king in the world, that could may nure and dresse the ground as wel as any husband man or vine-dresser. And euen so fareth it with faith, for, it iustifieth vs not as I haue already said, for any excellency that is in it selfe, but because it borroweth that of Iesus Christ which is wanting in vs. And therefore is it that S. Paul saith, That the righteousnes of faith ouerthroweth and maketh voyd all the righteousnes of workes, and whatsoeuer worldly glory else. And therefore the Papists are herein too too blockish, and wee for our partes are so much the rather to rest vpon this point which we haue already spoken of, that is to say, that we are iustified by faith, to wit, that the way to make vs to bee acceptable vnto God is, to haue vs laie open a ready way vnto our Lord Iesus Christ, that thereby hee may applie his righteousnes vnto our selues. Here wee see then, that faith is the only meane and instrument: but that God is the cause and author,