A17696:40
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,…
Sermon of Master John Calvin, on the history of Melchizedek Wherein is also handled, Abraham's courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchizedek. Also, Abraham's faith, in believing God: comprehending four sermons. And, Abraham's obedience, in offering his son Isaac; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.Sermon of Maister Iohn Caluin, on the historie of Melchisedech Wherein is also handled, Abrahams courage in rescuing his nephew Lot: and his Godliness in paying tithes to Melchisedech. Also, Abrahams faith, in belieuing God: comprehending foure sermons. And, Abrahams obedience, in offering his sonne Isaack; in three sermons. Translated out of French, by Thomas Stocker, Gent.
London: printed by John Windet, 1592London: printed by Iohn Windet, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And therefore it behoveth, that our Lord Jesus Christ should show himself to be both a King and a Priest, that is to say, that he should on the one side make an atonement between God and us, to the end we might boldly come when as we were driven to call upon him for aide, and assure our selves that he voweth us for his children. And all this we have by the benefit of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. For, in that he shed his blood, it was to to wash & cleanse us of all our spots: he was made a sacrifice of satisfaction, on, so that we thereby are discharged of an our debts, & the obligation that was against our salvation, was, as Saint Paul saith to the Colossians, broken & cancelled. Thus we see what it was that was accomplished in the person of the some of God,1 when as he was sent into the world: that is, that in suffering for the remission of our sins, he hath made us righteous. Not that we are in truth altogether ⟨p. 34⟩so: for there wanteth a great deal of it: but we are so far righteous, as that GOD will not judge us according to our deserts: and contrariwise, he by his infinite goodness supporteth us, and the obedience which Jesus Christ performed is approved and allowed unto us. As if any man should pay our debts: why then we are discharged. Even so is our Lord Jesus Christ as it were appointed to be the principal debtor for us, and thereby dischargeth us before God. Neither can the devil have any thing wherewith to accuse us, when as we shall trust unto the satisfaction which was paid for us by the Son of God. And therefore it is not without cause that he is called a priest. Howbeit, we for our parts are rightly to consider, what fruit and benefit we are to receive by this his office of priesthood. For it is not for him self alone but for our profit and welfare, that the father by a solemn oath bestowed this estate and dignity upon him. Now, we are here to note, that he is called a Priest for ever, to the end this honour might be reserved to him, and transported to none other. If this point then had been so well considered as it ought, and as the Apostle most notably setteth it down in the Epistle to the Hebrews.2 Hebrews. The abomination that hath been brought into the world, and which to ⟨p. 35⟩this day ruleth and reigneth therein, had never been: for the Pope maketh his priests with this condition to appease God.