Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Wisdom of Calvin

In continuation of our Reformation celebration, I am posting some of my favorite quotes from one of the most influential theologians of this millennium, John Calvin.

Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols.

God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief.

I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels.

Is it faith to understand nothing, and merely submit your convictions implicitly to the Church?

Knowledge of the sciences is so much smoke apart from the heavenly science of Christ.

Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.

There is no work, however vile or sordid, that does not glisten before God.

There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.

Faith consists, not in ignorance, but in knowledge, and that, not only of God, but also of the divine will.


No comments:

Post a Comment