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 show that God is not in heaven as fantastical heads imagine, as to say that he sitteth there, only to behold that which is done in the world: & contenteth himself that he once made all things: & now letteth us alone skipping & leaping here below up & down like Frogs. But Abram showeth that he had not so blockish an opinion of his majesty, but attributeth unto him an infinite power that spreadeth it self all over both heaven & earth. And this is done to make us walk in his fear, and to advertise us that we are always before his eyes: & that both our wits & very thoughts shall come in a reckoning before him: for God is not the possessor of heaven & earth to eat & feed, & to do nothing else: he is not possessor of them to make nothing but dumb shows with them: but contenteth himself also with his alone & infinite majesty, having in himself all blessedness.

to shewe that God is not in heauen as fantasticall heads imagine, as to say that he sitteth there, onely to behold that which is done in the world: & cōtenteth himself that he once made all things: & now letteth vs alone scipping & leaping here below vp & downe like Frogs. But Abram sheweth that he had not so blockish an opinion of his maiesty, but attributeth vnto him an infinit power that spreddeth it self all ouer both henen & earth. And this is done to make vs walke in his fear, and to aduertise vs that we are alwaies before his eies: & that both our wits & very thoughts shal come in a reckning before him: for God is not the possessor of heauen & earth to eate & feed, & to do nothing els: he is not possessor of thē to make nothing but dumbe shews with thē: but cōtenteth himself also with his alone & infinit maiesty, hauing in himself all blessednes.

And although he had never created any thing, yet had he been thereby no whit either lessened nor increased. And therefore when he is thus called, it is to show, that he hath all things in subjection, and that we must all answer before him: and that he so ruleth the world, as that nothing is hid from him: and that his office is so to sound the thoughts, and to examine all our words and deeds, as that being possessor both of heaven & earth, he is also with all, our Lord and Judge. Thus we see why this title is imposed upon him, because we might walk here as before his majesty. We should have a wise catch of it to hunt after secret corners, seeing that all things shall come to light: and if so be we did think at this day to deceive him with our cunning shifts, yet will it in the end light all upon our own heads. Again, when as God is named to be possessor of heaven & earth, we are advertised to love him as our nurse Father, and to fear him as our Judge. For, he is possessor of heaven and earth, because he is the chief ruler over us, and must appear before his judgement seat, to receive whatsoever we have done in our bodies, whither it be good or ill. This is the possession which he hath in heaven and earth. Now he possesseth not this for himself only: but bountifully of his infinite goodness, bestoweth