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 I would to God that the whole state of their life were not altogether dissolute; for a man shall find neither Monk nor Friar, Doctor, nor yet any of that shorne Rabble, but they are either ribalds, scorners of God, whoremongers, drunkards, blasphemers: To be short, it should seem ⟨p. 204⟩that they had conspired with the Devil to bring the whole world unto confusion. And yet for all this they vvil pretend good works, and speak of nothing else. And therefore it is no marvel although they be so blind. But to speak but a word of that which we have explained out of saint James we are to note, that we are justified but not without works, & yet we are justified without works: when we say that we are justified, but not without works, we separate not this. And how so? verily, because that he who is justified before God by faith, is as much to say; that God forgiveth him his sins; believeth in the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and knoweth that by his resurrection, he receiveth life from him. So then, whosoever believeth after this sort, is not justified without works. And why? Because that God bestoweth his holy spirit upon him, which so reformeth him, as that good works cannot be chosen but be joined together with faith. And yet is the other saying also true, to wite, that we are justified without works; that is to say, without any help of good works, so as we always remain bound unto God. Here we see two places without altering the words: wherein it should seem they were altogether divers and sundry, as to say, that we are justified without works, & that we are not justified ⟨p. 205⟩without works, howbeit the meaning is, that works are not for all this the cause of our salvation, as to make them merit any whit before God, so as to accept us according to our worthiness: But it is because that as I have already said, our Saviour Jesus Christ beareth us not only a simple grace and favour, but a double, that is to say: that on the one side he covereth all our iniquities and offences through his pure obedience, and appeaseth the wrath of God his father by that Sacrifice which he offered up once for all, to make satisfaction for our sins:

And I vvould to God that the vvhole state of their life vvere not altogether dissolute; for a man shall finde neither Monke nor Fryar, Doctor, nor yet any of that shorne Rable, but they are either rybauldes, skorners of God, vvhoremongers, drunkards, blasphemers: To bee short, it shoulde seeme