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 why then doeth S. James use here this word? And why do we use this word, Church? This word Bishop? this saying Gods service? Devotion, & Zeal? But when we speak of the Papists, we never yield unto them in truth that they have any church which is to be obeyed: For in deed they have nothing but some ruins of a Church, and a certain canvassing and tossing of service of their own devising, and (as they thought) to serve God withal. But that is the Church where God dwelleth by his word. Afterward, when we speak of them, we use honourable words, and yet our meaning is none other, but that they usurp these titles with jolly shows & marks. Howbeit we do not altogether stand upon words. And after this manner dealeth S. James: for he standeth not upon the word, but taketh upon him to speak of the frivolous vaunting which was in the mouth of these scoffers that would be taken for good Christians, & saith, your faith; that is to say: that faith which you talk of is nothing: As if we should ask the question at this day: what is ⟨p. 200⟩the Catholic Church which the Papists so brag of? Surely it is a very harlot. For we know that the true Church is the spouse of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which ought to be purged and washed with his blood,¹ that she might be as saint Paul saith without spot or wrinkle, and after that to be the pillar of truth: And in stead hereof; behold a den of the eves, and an harlot which hath corrupted all the service of God, and begot nothing but Bastards. Thus should we say, and then we see that we should not think saint James his phrase of reasoning to be strange, because it is an ordinary and common thing amongst us. We now then first see, that when it is said that Faith justifieth us, we speak not of Faith but after the accustomed manner. But when saint James saith that faith without works is dead, it is to bar such as abuse this name and have a jollity to brag and glory thereof: but in deed have it not. Let us come now to the second part, when saint James saith that we are justified by our works, it should by this seem that he is contrary unto saint Paul. Now works must not be joined with faith to part half stakes with it, as we have already said: For if that were so, then we should never be certain and sure.

And vvhy then doeth S. Iames vse here this vvord? And vvhy do vvee vse this vvorde, Church? This vvorde Bishop? this saying Gods seruice? Deuotion, & Zeale? But vvhen vve speake of the Papistes, vve neuer yeelde vnto them in truth that they haue any church vvhich is to be obeyed: For in deed they haue nothing but some ruynes of a Church, and a certaine canuassing and tossing of seruice of their ovvn deuising, and (as they thought) to serue God vvithall. But that is the Church vvhere God dvvelleth by his vvorde. Aftervvard, vvhen vvee speake of them, vvee vse honourable vvordes, and yet our meaning is none other, but that they vsurpe these titles vvith iolly shevves & markes. Hovvbeit vvee do not altogether stand vpon vvords. And after this manner dealeth S. Iames: for he standeth not vpon the vvorde, but taketh vpon him to speake of the friuolous vaunting vvhich vvas in the mouth of these scoffers that vvould be taken for good Christians, & saith, your faith; that is to saie: that faith vvhich you talke of is nothing: As if vvee should aske the question at this day: vvhat is