Last night and this morning I've been reading Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion as something to compliment Harry Potter (i don't know what that means either). But in any case, i can't believe I haven't read this before. It's not near as long as I believed it to be, sure it's four books, but the books aren't as large as I would have supposed. The material is weighty but it's very readable and worth thinking through. I guess one of the reasons I've never read Calvin was because I've never been a Calvinist, but am just now realizing that if Calvin were alive, he probably wouldn't be a Calvinist either! At least, not in the way we think of it. “My meaning is: we must be persuaded not only that as he once formed the world, so he sustains it by his boundless power, governs it by his wisdom, preserves it by his goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and Judgment, bears with them in mercy, shields them by his protection; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does not flow from him, and of which he is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from him, and thankfully ascribe to him whatever we receive.” Book 1, Chapter 2:1
“For until men feel that they owe everything to God, that they are cherished by his paternal care, and that he is the author of all their blessings, so that nought is to be looked for away from him, they will never submit to him in voluntary obedience; nay, unless they place their entire happiness in him, they will never yield up their whole selves to him in truth and sincerity.” Book 1, Chapter 2:1
1 comment:
i learned a little about him this semester and i didn't like the fellow too much. i'm more of a Luther fan.
although i go to HCC, which isn't saying much. my professor though is, i believe, a brilliant person.
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