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,…

To be short, we see here, that all the good which we are to desire and hope for, cometh from God alone, from whom alone we must look to receive and have the same. Every man desireth to live easily and pleasantly, and to have whatsoever he thinketh to be fit for him. And this is a wish which is common both with the good and the bad. But few there are that seek for their felicity in God. They desire all to be happy and blessed: and yet they make no account of him from whom all blessedness and felicity proceedeth. And this kind of dealing is like unto a man which were so marvellous thirsty, and feeble as that he were ready to give up the ghost withal, and another should come unto him and say, Behold here is a very fine spring of water, and yet he would not once vouchsafe to drink of it: and should have there also water and wine, and yet would not once come near to taste of the same. Even so fareth it with such as desire and covet to understand whatsoever cometh into their said brains, and which they also know to be meet and requisite for them, and yet notwithstanding do contemn GOD, and will in no wise come near him. Let us then learn, that as often as we desire to have either for our souls ⟨p. 56⟩our bodies that which is to be wished, to begin at this end, that God is merciful unto us, and doth so receive us to his mercy, as that we may approach and have entrance unto him, and may be so satisfied with his benefits as may be profitable for our salvation. Thus then we see what it is that we are to observe by this saying: That Abram is blessed, even of the most high God. After this, Melchizedek addeth a blessing, in that God had given victory unto our father Abram. AND BLESSED (saith he) BE THE LIVING GOD THAT HATH DELIVERED THINE ENEMIES INTO THINE HAND. By this we are admonished, always to join praise and thanksgiving unto God, with the petitions and supplications which we make unto him, as S. Paul also showeth unto us in his Epistle to the Philippians,¹ when he saith: Let your desires and petitions be manifest to God. That is to say, bite not upon the bit saith he, as the infidels do, when as they see this thing were good and fit for me. They complain. But wherefore? Their hearts are even closed up, and never come unto GOD to crave at his hands the things which they want.

To be short, we see here, that all the good which wee are to desire and hope for, commeth from God alone, from whome alone we must looke to receiue and haue the same. Euerie man desireth to liue easily and pleasantly, and to haue whatsoeuer he thinketh to bee fit for him. And this is a wish which is common both with the good and the bad. But fewe there are that seeke for their felicitie in God. They desire all to bee happie and blessed: and yet they make no account of him from whome all blessednes and felicitie proceedeth. And this kinde of dealing is like vnto a man which were so meruellous thirstie, and feeble as that he were readie to giue vp the ghost withall, and another should come vnto him and say, Behold here is a verie fine spring of water, and yet hee would not once vouchsafe to drinke of it: and should haue there also water and wine, and yet would not once come neere to taste of the same. Euen so fareth it with such as desire and couet to vnderstand whatsoeuer commeth into their said braines, and which they also knowe to bee meete and requisite for them, and yet notwithstandyng doo contemne GOD, and will in no wise come neere him. Let vs then learne, that as often as we desire to haue either for our soules