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,…

Here we see what the cause is of the ruin of a great many of men: that is, their negligence and security. For, as I have already said, they think themselves to be great Doctors, when as they have learned but one sentence out of the holy Scripture: yea, they suppose that they have even enough of it. But when they shall come to the trial they vvill show themselves then to be but empty vessels: For if the Devil fi•d but the least hole to enter into them, he will poison them with his deadly poison: much like unto a broken tile upon an house, for the rain that shall run in at the brokenness thereof will in process of time, rot the whole house, Even so fareth it with such as think themselves too too well learned, and yet are in very deed most blockish dunces: whom the Devil after finding an hole in, so entereth in thereat, as that the house falleth quite and clean unto the ground. Now we must not be weary in proffering, but make a good big collection of all the promises of God, and always have a feeling of the fruit of them: and not only so, but we must also labour continually to increase our faith as it is very needful: because it will ever be weak. And to be short we must still go on from f•ith to faith. It is said that God gave the land of Canaan to Abram: It was in very deed already given him, as we have heard in the twelfth Chapter.

Here we see what the cause is of the ruine of a great many of men: that is, their negligence and securitie. For, as I haue already saide, they thinke themselues to be great Doctors, when as they haue learned but one sentence out of the holy Scripture: yea, they suppose that they haue euen inough of it. But when they shall come to the tryall they vvill shew themselues then to be but empty vessels: For if the Diuel fi•d but the least hole to enter into them, hee will poison them with his deadly poison: much like vnto a broken tile vppon an house, for the raine that shall run in at the brokennes thereof will in processe of time, rot the whole house, Euen so fareth it with such as think themselues too too well learned, and yet are in very deede most blockish dunces: whom the Diuell after finding an hole in, so entreth in thereat, as that the house falleth quite and cleane vnto the ground. Now we must not be weary in profiring, but make a good big collection of all the promises of God, and alwaies haue a feeling of the fruit of them: and not onely so, but wee must also labour continually to increase our faith as it is very needfull: because it will euer be weake. And to be short we must still go on from fith to faith. It is said that God gaue the land of Chanaan to Abram: It was in very deede already giuen him, as we haue heard in the twelfth Chapter.