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,…

Now the cause of the war is eftsoons set down unto us, in that Abram seeing his kinsman taken prisoner, took arms upon him. They had long before that, given him many occasions to fall out with them: and yet all the damage they had done him, and all the loss that he had received at their hands, could never induce him to make war. He bear all those things patiently: but the only captivity of his Nephew moved him thereunto. Here a question might be asked, whether it was lawful for Abram to take Arms upon him yea or no: for although (as we say in common proverb) that blood cannot lye, and that he might have such an affection to recover his Nephew, as that it could not be imputed to him as a fault: yet nevertheless •e must hold this for a general rule: That ⟨p. 6⟩it is not lawful for any man whatsoever, to take Arms upon him.¹ For it is God alone that must do that. It is he (as S. Paul saith) which armeth Kings & Princes. And when he saith, That it is they that have the right and superiority to punish the wicked, he saith, Behold why they carry the sword, It is not because they should usurp it at their pleasure, and do with it as it pleaseth other men. God then must be the Author thereof. Thus you see why I have said, that no man may use force and violence, without he receive the same from him to whom it belongeth. And therefore there are none but Kings, Princes, and Magistrates, that may take Arms upon them, and with whom men may join themselves. And this is a point upon which we must surely ground our selves and stand upon: For, what a thing were it for every man to take the fields when any wrong were done him. Without doubt that were to bring an horrible confusion every where. Moreover, Saint Paul, to keep us within compass,² and to exhort us unto patience, allegeth that saying of Moses in his Canticle,³ Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Whereupon he concludeth, that we must give place to wrath and anger. God taketh this office of revenge unto himself, if there be any extremity and wrong ⟨p. 7⟩committed, because it is his office to punish the same: now then, if every man shall take this upon him, and that every private man shall thrust himself in, to be revenged, no doubt of it that man robbeth God of his honour and right, as if he would exclude him quite and clean out of all. To the end then that we give place unto ire: