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,…

For, these are the very words which he useth when he charmeth them, that is to say, he priesteth them with these words of authority: WE GIVE THEE POWER TO OFFER SACRIFICE UNTO GOD, TO APPEASE HIM. What an horrible blasphemy is this? For this is as much as to make GOD a liar, and to make void the solemn oath which he hath pronounced with his own mouth, and which is spoken of in the hundred and tenth Psalm that we have alleged, where God saith, That Jesus Christ shall be a Priest for ever, even he alone: that is, according to the order of Melchizedek, who hath not his like or match. And yet notwithstanding, behold how the Popish Priest brag that they offer up Jesus Christ, and that they are Gods Priests to make reconciliation for the sins both of the quick and of the dead. For they are not content to redeem such as by them selves out of their clutches, as out of the hands of the eves: but will have also their Priesting witchery extend it self even to the dead. We see here, that there is a constraint more then manifest, between this decree which is pronounced and spoken ⟨p. 36⟩by the holy mouth of GOD, and that which Antichrist hath falsely devised, and which even at this day he still upholdeth and maintaineth. We are therefore to note: that Jesus Christ did not offer up himself only once for all, to the end to appease the wrath of God his father towards us, and to pay all our debts: but that also the power of this oblation which he made should endure for ever, and qee permanent. And therefore we may see why the Apostle useth this similitude,¹ That the way is as it were a fresh consecrated unto us by the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord: as if he should have said, that the blood which was once shed for our salvation, is never drawn dry, but daily overfloweth our souls by the power of his holy spirit, which bedeweth us with the same, as S. Peter in the first Chapter of his first canonical Epistle speaketh. Mark also why Jesus Christ in his Supper, saith, This is my blood of the new Testament, and so consequently for ever: as if he should have said, that we should not think that he had made a reconciliation which should not endure, and as though it had bin but for a day or a year only: but that at this day he occupieth the place of a priest.

For, these are the very words which he vseth when hee charmeth them, that is to say, hee priesteth them with these words of authoritie: WE GIƲE THEE POWER TO OFFER SACRIFICE VNTO GOD, TO APPAISE HIM. What an horrible blasphemy is this? For this is as much as to make GOD a lyar, and to make voyd the solemne oath which hee hath pronounced with his owne mouth, and which is spoken of in the hundreth and tenth Psalme that wee haue alledged, where God saith, That Iesus Christ shall bee a Priest for euer, euen he alone: that is, according to the order of Melchisedech, who hath not his like or match. And yet notwithstanding, behold how the Popish Priest bragge that they offer vp Iesus Christ, and that they are Gods Priests to make reconciliation for the sinnes both of the quicke and of the dead. For they are not content to redeem such as by them selues out of their clowches, as out of the hands of the eues: but will haue also their Priesting witcherie extend it selfe euen to the dead. Wee see heere, that there is a constraint more then manifest, betweene this decree which is pronounced and spoken