All Articles For Calvin, John

 * Tractate XLV, Chap. X, 1-10, “Homilies on the Gospel of John” in A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nice Fathers of the Christian Church, v. VII, Philip Schaff, Ed. Grand Rapids; Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1986. 253-254. I bare still a subject of concern, and what concerns me I shall impart to you…. Hear, then, what it is that moves me. By the Prophet Ezekiel the Lord rebukes the shepherds, and among other things says of the sheep, “The wandering sheep have ye not recalled.” He both declares it a wanderer, and calls it a sheep. If, while wandering, it was a...

* Calvin’s preface to the Geneva Psalter of 1543. As to public prayers, there are two kinds: the one consists of words alone; the other includes music. And this is no recent invention. For since the very beginning of the church it has been this way, as we may learn from history books. Nor does St. Paul himself speak only of prayer by word of mouth, but also of singing. And in truth, we know from experience that song has a great power and strength to move and inflame the hearts of men to invoke and praise God with a...

Sermons on Election and Reprobation by John Calvin (Audubon, NJ: Old Paths Publications, 1996). The excerpt is published with permission from Old Paths. … and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:21-23 It is...

* An excerpt from a sermon by John Calvin on Luke 2:1-14. This, no doubt, is the sermon that, according to the translator, Calvin preached on Christmas Day. The complete sermon is found in the recent publication, Sermons on the Deity of Christ (by John Calvin). The book consists of 20 sermons by John Calvin on the birth, passion, resurrection (one of which was preached by Calvin on Easter Sunday), ascension, and final advent of Jesus Christ, and on Pentecost. The book is published by Old Paths Publication, 223 Princetown Road, Audubon, NJ 08106. It sells for $25.00. The excerpt...

O man who art thou that pleadest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?  Romans 9:20 Dearly Beloved Brethren, We must not be amazed if the article of the everlasting predestination to God, be so assaulted and fought against by Satan’s maintainers, seeing it is the foundation of our salvation, and also serveth for the better magnifying of the free goodness of God towards us. On the other side those Dogs which bark against it thinking to have a good and favorable cause are therein more hardy: as in...

* This is sermon 19 in the recently reprinted volume of sermons by John Calvin entitled, Sermons on the Deity of Christ. The book is reviewed elsewhere in this issue. I have broken up the lengthy paragraphs, shortened the sermon, and added the title. The sermon is published here with permission from Old Paths Publications. Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you through works of power, through marvels, and through signs, which God did in the midst of you, as also you know; Him (I say) being delivered through the definite...

Calvin’s commentary on Zechariah 4:10, and his prayer after the commentary. This doctrine may be also applied to us: for God, to exhibit the more his power, begins with small things in building his spiritual temple; nothing grand is seen, which attracts the eyes and thoughts of men, but everything is almost contemptible. God indeed could put forth immediately his power, and thus rouse the attention of all men and fill them with wonder; he could indeed do so; but as I have already said, his purpose is to increase, by doing wonders, the brightness of his power; which he...

Excerpts from Calvin’s Institutes, Book II, Chapter 1, Beveridge Translation (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1957). The reader who makes it through this unusual choice for our “meditation” this month will be richly rewarded. As long as “meditation” doesn’t imply “light,” in your mind, you will see why we made this choice. The reader will recognize Calvin’s influence on the Reformed confessions, not only in content and argument (if the sin of Adam was passed on only by imitation, is the righteousness of Christ available in the same way?), but even in wording. As you read this (perhaps) on a...

* Excerpted and adapted, with permission, from Sermons on Election & Reprobation by John Calvin, Old Paths Publications, 1 Bittersweet Path, Willow Street, PA. Rebekah knew that of her, howsoever it should be, should come that blessed seed who had been promised. See in brief the whole that is here rehearsed. But all would be dark, if it were not declared particularly. Let us note here then, that they that are called into the church do not always remain there, as we have seen a notable example in Ishmael, who was the eldest son of Abraham. Notwithstanding, he was banished...

Excerpted, by permission, from Sermons on Galatians, Old Paths Publications, 1 Bittersweet Path, Willow Street, PA 17584. Although John Calvin did not give titles to his sermons, we suggest that this, indeed, was his ‘theme’ of this part of “The Thirtieth Sermon . . . .” “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not...