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 sooth even then, when he had had so notably travelled & endured such ⟨p. 123⟩trials, as that he might have been the very pattern as it were of all Angelic virtues, for his chastity, for his patience, for his obedience towards God, for his piety: to be short, he mortified all his affections, that he might frame himself wholly unto the righteousness of God. And when he had done all this, yet (as Saint Paul saith) had he nothing whereof to glory: but must stop his mouth, until such time as he was justified by faith, and therefore we see by the circumstance of the time, that the righteousness of faith whereof we now speak, is not such as the Papists imagine. But it is as much as if the scripture should say, seeing then that we are poor miserable sinners engaged unto God, and under the condemnation of eternal death: it must needs be that he must accept of us by some other mean, that is, he must not examine what we are, nor yet look to find any thing in us which any way might make us acceptable in his sight, but hold us to be righteous, because it is his good pleasure so to do, or else because we rest upon his promises, by which he hath prevented us. Here we see the righteousness that endureth, which extendeth it self both in life and death. But we are now to set down these things more largely and plainly. And first we are to remember that which erst I touched, that is▪ we must ⟨p. 124⟩seek for our righteousness else where then in our selves, because there is none in us. And see why S. Paul so greatly insisteth and standeth upon the curse of mankind, when as he would drive us to this point, that God freely justifieth us: for there he showeth that the Heathen are also condemned, although they have neither law, scripture, nor Prophets, and saith, that they are of themselves already damned, and need never go any farther. For God hath manifested himself to all in general, in giving us eyes to behold the creation of the world. Now we see that we smother and suppress the glory which we ought most manifestly to behold. And therefore we must conclude, that we are all yea most unthankful sacrilegers, because we rob God of that honour that is due unto him. As for those that are under the law, there is a double condemnation upon their heads, for they sin wittingly, because they know the will of God plainly manifested unto them.