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,…

These words here are inserted for Abram to cause him to eschew all Idolatry and superstition wherein he had been heretofore brought up. For as it is often showed unto us out of the holy Scripture, that we must not worship God confusedly, nor imagine him to be such a one as we think: But we must know what God that is which we must fly unto, and must be separated & distinguished from all the imaginations & devises of mans brain, whereby we so greatly deceive our selves, and are also deceived by Satan. And that is the reason which S. Paul maketh in his Epistle to the Hebrews, the eleventh Chapter and the sixth verse: saying, When we will come unto God, we must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. We cannot come then unto God, except we believe that God is, that is to say: we must not be wavering nor doubtful; but we must be firmly and constantly assured, that that God which created heaven and earth is he who showeth himself unto us, and whose will we know both by the law and Gospel: and not to reason what God is, as the poor heathen have done, who have been so marvellously tormented about it, and have run themselves so far into such a Labyrinth and Maze, as that they could never wind themselves out of it again. But we know that God is manifested unto us ⟨p. 209⟩in that he is beneficial unto us for our salvation. And thus much for the first point. The second is, that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Now this word Rewarder, importeth not that God rendereth that unto us which he oweth us, but that we shall not be frustrate in putting our trust in him. And therefore we must look after what manner we ask him: For if we vvill bring our works with us; that is even to kick against God: so far off is it for us to be united unto him by that means. And saint Paul saith, that when the Jews thought to trust in their works and put their hope of salvation in them, that they hurt and undid themselves: and that was the cause of their break neck instead of going forward. Wherefore if we vvill seek God aright, we must without all doubt cast from us all vain presumption of our own strength: For seeing he hath adopted us of his mere favour and grace, it is most certain, we shall never be accepted of him, except it be because he forgiveth us our sins.

These words here are inserted for Abram to cause him to eschew all Idolatry and superstition wherein he had been hertofore brought vp. For as it is often shewed vnto vs out of the holy Scripture, that we must not worship God confusedly, nor imagine him to bee such a one as we thinke: But wee must know what God that is which we must flie vnto, and must bee separated & distinguished from all the imaginations & deuises of mans braine, whereby we so greatly deceiue our selues, and are also deceiued by Sathan. And that is the reason which S. Paul maketh in his Epistle to the Hebrewes, the eleuenth Chapter and the sixth verse: saying, When wee will come vnto God, wee must beleeue that God is, and that hee is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him. VVee cannot come then vnto God, except we beleeue that God is, that is to say: we must not be wauering nor doubtfull; but wee must bee firmely and constantly assured, that that God which created heauen and earth is hee who sheweth himselfe vnto vs, and whose will wee knowe both by the lawe and Gospell: and not to reason what God is, as the poore heathen haue done, who haue beene so maruellously tormented about it, and haue runne themselues so farre into such a Labyrinth and Maze, as that they could neuer winde themselues out of it againe. But we know that God is manifested vnto vs