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,…

howbeit how ever it is, yet is he most like in estate and degree unto Abram, but wanteth a great piece of it. For, as we shall hear after, Abram is called the father of all the faithful and of the whole Church, and that all such as are the children of God, must be his spiritual children. And therefore Melchizedek in one respect must needs be his inferior. It is far from the meaning of Moses, to prefer him before Abram, as the Apostle very rightly doth,¹ as hereafter we shall see. Some have thought this to be Shem: but there is no likelihood of any truth therein. For if it had been so, would Abram have tarried so long before he had seen the Patriarch Shem, of whom he was descended? No doubt of it he would at the first have gone unto him, & have dwelt with him: for he was king of Salem. And in very deed, Abram might very well have shielded himself under his protection, but be wandered all the country over: and all that while there was no mention made of Melchizedek. Moreover, it was not without good cause noted of the Apostle, that Melchizedek had neither father nor mother without beginning ⟨p. 18⟩& without end, as if he had bin an immortal man immediately descended from heaven, not but that Melchizedek was a man: but the Apostle his meaning is to show, that he is brought in as though he had never bin borne. For, no man knoweth who was his father, nor yet who was his mother: no man knoweth his kindred nor yet how he lived: and besides, no man knoweth where he died: and yet he is a priest of the living God. Nevertheless, he manifestly showed himself, and eftsoons hid himself, and was buried, but no man knoweth how nor when. Whereupon the Apostle showeth, that he was a figure of our Lord Jesus Christ, who although he be the everlasting Son of God, yet notwithstanding he had no father after the common manner of men, because his divine essence is spiritual and eternal: and was also miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost, beyond the order of nature. And although he be dead, yet he liveth for ever: yea and hath obtained life for us, in that he died for us. And therefore he is without beginning & without end: without beginning, because he is God eternal: and without end, because we live for ever in him, as it is said by the Prophet Isaiah, Who shall tell the line that shall come of him?

howbeit how euer it is, yet is he most like in estate and degree vnto Abram, but wanteth a great peece of it. For, as wee shall heare after, Abram is called the father of all the faithfull and of the whole Church, and that all such as are the children of God, must be his spirituall children. And therefore Melchisedech in one respect must needes bee his inferiour. It is farre from the meaning of Moses, to preferre him before Abram, as the Apostle verie rightly doth,