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 so? The promises have this use and benefit that they draw us unto faith, and when we have gotten it, they are to lead us to the right way, to encourage and stir us up to go on valiantly, to refresh us when we are almost weary, to augment our virtue when it beginneth to fail and to be weak. Here (I say) we see why our Saviour Jesus Christ testifieth & declareth unto us of his mere goodness that he is our God: that is, to begin faith in us; or else to bring it to perfection. And therefore we must conclude that it was needful for Abram to go somewhat further. And hereby we see that although our faith be unperfect, yet that God ceaseth not to justify us. And what is the reason? Because he imputeth not the infirmity that is in it unto us: but how ever it is, we are here admonished by this place not to be prevented by any foolish opinion of our own, as a great many of men are, who think themselves to be such great Clerks, as that they will not once vouchsafe to come any more unto ⟨p. 207⟩the school of God. Let us therefore understand and know: that although our faith were greater and more powerful than now it is; yet must we be scholars all our life long to have the word of God sounding in our cares, and to have our memories rubbed over & refreshed, that we might not forget that which we have learned; that that which hath not taken deep root in our hearts, may receive a better and deeper impression: and that God when he hath cast his seed into us (according to saint Paul his comparison) we may daily water it in us: For, it were not enough to have the seed cast into the ground without God should send down rain from heaven and bedew it: for when the husband-man shall have done his duty in tilling the land, it is to no purpose without GOD should give increase thereof from heaven. Even so must it be with us when as we shall have received the seed of the incorruptible life, GOD must rain down from heaven; that is to say, he must continually benefit and strengthen our faith: which cannot be except we be daily instructed from his mouth. Let us now come to the contents of this sentence,

And why so? The promises haue this vse and benefit that they draw vs vnto faith, and when wee haue gotten it, they are to leade vs to the right way, to incourage and stirre vs vp to goe on valiantly, to refresh vs when we are almost weary, to augment our vertue when it beginneth to faile and to be weake. Here (I say) we see why our Sauiour Iesus Christ testifieth & declareth vnto vs of his meere goodnes that he is our God: that is, to begin faith in vs; or els to bring it to perfection. And therefore wee must conclude that it was needfull for Abram to goe somewhat further. And hereby we see that although our faith be vnperfect, yet that God ceaseth not to iustifie vs. And what is the reason? Because he imputeth not the infirmity that is in it vnto vs: but how euer it is, wee are here admonished by this place not to bee preuented by any foolish opinion of our owne, as a great many of men are, who thinke themselues to be such great Clarks, as that they will not once vouchsafe to come any more vnto