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,…

And yet notwithstanding they rest themselves upon this free goodness which is promised them, because they fly unto our Saviour Jesus Christ. Here we see how grossly the Papists are deceived. For from this word Reward, they draw the word Merit, as if they would play the Alchemists. Now there is great difference between the one and the other: For what importeth this word Merit. To Merit, is to make God bound unto us, that we might say, I have well deserved this thing or that; I am worthy of it: And he which doth not acknowledge the Merit, is unthankful, if he discharge his duty unto him, unto whom he is bound and beholden. If we could then deserve any thing at Gods hands, it must needs follow, that he for his part should he beholden unto us, and do us wrong if he paid us not that which he ought us. True it is that he is purr debtor; but a voluntary debtor: For he shall never find any thing in us why he should be beholden unto us; but bindeth himself by his promises. Now in very deed he hath promised us Reward, but it is of his own free gift, and of no desert of ours: for that were to come from a post to a pudding-prick, to go so from one to another, and to conclude that these two ⟨p. 195⟩words are all one, where there is so great diversity. Wherefore let us not marvel though the Papists still conclude their Arguments thus, and storm when we say, That works cannot justify us. For their supposal is false, that is to say, that if GOD rewardeth those that are his, that therefore he is bound to do it, and that they are also worthy of it, and that their works import some Merit; Now all this is not worth a straw. The reason I have already showed, to wit, that when God promiseth us Reward it is not because that we are worthy thereof, but because it pleaseth him to add grace unto grace, and all of his mere mercy, goodness and liberality. Now we are always to keep this in mind: and in very deed what should we look for at his hands, if we had nothing but that that we deserve? Assuredly, we should be driven to that unquietness whereof we erst spake, that we should always be in doubt and perplexed. And therefore our faith must be certain. And this is that in sum which here we are to remember.

And yet notwithstanding they rest themselues vpon this free goodnes which is promised them, because they flie vnto our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Heere wee see how grosly the Papists are deceiued. For from this word Reward, they draw the word Merite, as if they would play the Alcumistes. Now there is great difference betweene the one and the other: For what importeth this word Merite. To Merite, is to make God bound vnto vs, that we might say, I haue wel deserued this thing or that; I am worthy of it: And he which doth not acknowledge the Merite, is vnthankfull, if hee discharge his duetie vnto him, vnto whom he is bound and beholden. If we could then deserue any thing at Gods handes, it must needs follow, that he for his part should he beholden vnto vs, and doo vs wrong if he paid vs not that which he ought vs. True it is that he is pur debtor; but a voluntary debtor: For hee shall neuer find any thing in vs why hee should be beholden vnto vs; but bindeth himselfe by his promises. Now in very deede hee hath promised vs Reward, but it is of his owne free gift, and of no desert of ours: for that were to come from a poste to a pudding-prick, to go so from one to another, and to conclude that these two