A17696:96
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.
Certain it is that Abram had served God so long, as that a man would have thought he might now have been very well discharged and freed, in the common & ordinary judgement of man. And therefore it must necessarily follow, that Abram was all his life long justified by the only mean of Faith. Now this would se•me somewhat obscure and dark if we should •not make it more plain and manifest. And it shall be made the plainer and manifester in giving light unto the truth by the leasings of Popery, and by the errors wherewith all those infernal schools are corrupted and infected. I have already said, that the Papists will easily enough grant, that without faith we can no ways please God, •or be in his favour. Wherefore when they have once granted this principle, that we are all ⟨p. 120⟩accursed in Adam: then may they as well say, that we must receive the first grace from Jesus Christ. That is to say, that seeing we are plunged in the bottomless pit of destruction through original sin, Jesus Christ must needs fetch us out of it. Now, from hence they draw a false and pernicious doctrine, by which they corrupt and falsify Moses conclusion, and S. Pauls also most excellent interpretation. For they say, that the righteousness which they call Initial cometh of faith, and of pure and simple Faith: but that afterward, we must be partly justified by our works. Now this is somewhat dark to be understood, howbeit I will so set it down, as that every one shall be able to understand it. This word then Initial, is as much to say as Beginning, and it is a word that is taken from the Latin: for it is as much to say, as the beginning righteousness in a pure faith. Wherefore the Papists will confess that God taketh us to be his enemies, and doth accu•se us: because we are nothing else but as it were a most filthy and stinking dunghill: a•d therefore by reason of our stains and poll• tions, he cannot choose but reject us. They will grant all this: and it seemeth at the first sight to be the way to humble us. And besides, also they show no less but that it is Jesus Christ that must help & remedy whatsoever wants ⟨p. 121⟩