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,…

Let us now come unto the obedience of Abram when he was ready to sacrifice his son: for if that be the cause of Abram his righteousness, it must needs be that it went before: For what a doltish speech were this, to say, that the corn that shall grow a year hence shall feed me from this day until this time twelve months. Now there is not the least child in the world which seeth not this. Now, there was a long time part before God commanded Abram to sacrifice his son, and yet was he justified before. We see then, in sum, that we need not to look for any gloss out of saint James his words; he saith, that he was justified, that is to say, that he was showed to be justified: For these Scoffers against whom he contendeth said, we are justified by faith, and therefore what need we to take any great care to serve God, seeing our works are of no worth, neither any reckoning be made of them in time to come. Now first and foremost they pervert all in saying, that there shall be no reckoning made of works: For they shall come in account with the grace of God. But when they shall scoffingly say, that it is to no purpose to do good works, is as much as if they would tear Jesus Christ in pieces. For by faith we receive him, and are united unto him with this condition, ⟨p. 203⟩that he reconcileth us unto his father, putteth away our sins, and regenerateth and governeth us by his holy spirit. And these are inseparable things as we have alleged out of saint Paul. Seeing then it is so, saint James had good cause to say, how can you be justified without works? For Faith (saith he) without works is dead. And besides, if you be the faithful children of God, you can be none otherwise justified than your father Abram was. Now Abram was so justified as that good works were joined with Faith; And therefore you must show your selves like unto him, or else you mock God, in profaning so holy and sacred a thing as the name of faith and righteousness is. Here we see saint James his meaning out of this Text: But these Popish mastiff Curs can no whit skill of this, and what is the reason? Verily because they contemn God: howbeit you shall hear them with open mouth talk of good works, and a man would think, to hear them debate thereof, that they were Angels, and yet you may see what they are.

Let vs novv come vnto the obedience of Abram vvhen he vvas readie to sacrifice his sonne: for if that be the cause of Abram his righteousnes, it must needes be that it vvent before: For vvhat a doltish speach vvere this, to say, that the corne that shall grovve a yere hence shall feede me from this day vntill this time tvvelue monethes. Novve there is not the least childe in the vvorld vvhich seeth not this. Novv, there vvas a long time part before God commaunded Abram to sacrifice his sonne, and yet vvas he iustified before. VVe see then, in summe, that vve neede not to looke for any glose out of saint Iames his vvords; he saith, that he vvas iustified, that is to say, that he vvas shevved to be iustified: For these Scoffers against vvhom hee contendeth saide, vvee are iustified by faith, and therefore vvhat need vve to take any great care to serue God, seeing our vvorkes are of no vvorth, neither any reckoning bee made of them in time to come. Novv first and formost they peruert all in saying, that there shall bee no reckoning made of vvorks: For they shal come in account vvith the grace of God. But vvhen they shall scoffingly say, that it is to no purpose to doo good vvorks, is as much as if they vvould teare Iesus Christ in pieces. For by faith vve receiue him, and are vnited vnto him vvith this condition,