Sermon on the History of Melchizedek, Title page – Errata

Sermon on the History of Melchizedek · Title page – Errata

SERMON of Maiſter Iohn Caluin, on the Hiſtorie of Melchiſedech: Wherein is alſo handled, Abrahams courage in reſcuing his Nephew Lot: and his Godlines 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 Iohn Windet, and are to be ſold at the ſhop of Andrew Maunſell, in the Royall Exchaunge. 1592.

TO THE RIGHT HONOrable Syr Robert Cycill Knight, one of her Maieſties moſt honourable priuie Councell.

AS it hath been for the moſt part (right Honorable) a very commendable and orderlie courſe amongeſt the learned, as well diuine as prophane writers, to publiſh their workes to bee read and heard of the common people, either in their owne vulgare toong for their benefit, or els in Hebrew, Greeke, or Latin, for the learneder ſort: ſo hath been alſo their maner to dedicate them vntounto ſome honorable or worſhipfull perſonages, for the patronizing of thoſe their paines and trauels: which their doings, hauehave at this preſent made mee preſume vppon your honourable curteſie, to dedicate this my trauell of theſe Sermons of Maiſter Iohn Caluin, tranſlated by me out of French into Engliſh, for the benefit of my Country men, that vnderſtand not the ſame language. Moſt humbly beſeeching you Sir, to accept hereof, as a tokē of my pore good will towards you, not in reſpect of my trauell which is but rude and of no worth, but in regard of the worthines of the matter, and of the graue and reuerend handling thereof by mine Authour. The Lord of Lords increaſe all honorable and godly vertues in you (that you may be as excellent a Magiſtrate in this commonweale as your honourable and moſt wiſe father hath of long time been and ſtil is,) with proſperitie in this life, to his diuine pleaſure, and after the courſe of this time ended, perpetuall ioy and felicitie.

Your Honors at commandment, Thomas Stocker.

The Tranſlator to the Chriſtian Reader.

THou ſhalt receiue here (Chriſtiā Reader) theſe fewe Sermons of Maiſter Iohn Caluin, for thy benefit, if thou wilt diligently read them without a preiudicate mind. Where, in the firſt three, thou ſhalt finde how Abram deliuered his nephew Lot from the hands of thoſe which had taken him priſoner, and wherein alſo is handled who they are that ought to take warre in hand, and how farre they ought to proceed therein. In the next foure is handled the doctrine of iuſtification and ſaluation, by Faith onelyonly: whereby ſuch as are ledde away by a falſe opinion of their good workes and frree will, may greatly profit themſelues, and lay faſt hold vponupon Ieſus Chriſt alone, for their righteouſnes and ſanctfication, knowing how greatly theſe two graces muſt bee diſtingu…ſhed and not confuſed, and that although they bee neuer ſo cloſely tied and linked togither, yet whoſoeuer he is that will be ſaid to be reputed to be righteous and acceptable before God, by the benefit of his onelyonly beloued ſonne, and in the meane while hauehave no care nor conſcience, ne yet will ſhew any ſigne and token of the amendment of his life, and liue in an holy conu…rſation, that man I ſay muſt needs diuide them, and cut in ſunder the inſeperable bond of them, & as much as in him lieth, ſtriueth to diſmember Ieſus Chriſt, who by his righteouſnes, hauing made vsus good trees, doth alſo ſanctifie vsus, to cauſe vsus beare & bring forth good fruit. In the laſt three, there is hādled Abrahās obedience in the ſacrificing of his ſon Iſahac, which was a wōderfull trial, ſo that in this thou maiſt ſee that Abraham who is by the ſpirit of God named the father of the faithfull, was all the courſe of his life maruellouſly tried. And therfore as many as will be indeed the children of faithful Abraham, muſt walke in his ſteppes and abide many hard trials all their life long, except it ſhall pleaſe the Lord in great mercy to forbeare them. Let vsus therfore beſeech the Lord of all mercy, in the name of this great mediator, by whom alone we hauehave acceſſe vntounto the throne of grace, daily to purge vsus more and more, to the end, that by his holie ſpirit we may bring foorth more and better fruit, then we hauehave yet heretofore dene, that it may all ſerue for his glory, and the edification of his whole Church.

Farewell.

Faultes eſcaped in the Printing