This post is part of my year long study of Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. To facilitate this course of study, I am following along with Princeton University's "A Year with the Institutes", which also includes an audio reading of the text.
Calvin's Institutes - 1.6.1-4
Calvin has shown the God is, and that he has made himself known to all through his creation, such that none have excuse.
Now, however, he wants us to understand that this knowledge alone simply causes the natural man to dream up all matter of false gods and philosophies.
Therefore, the only way for God to direct man's path is to provide for us a written record.
Calvin:
"Therefore, though the
effulgence which is presented to every eye, both in the heavens and on
the earth, leaves the ingratitude of man without excuse, since God, in
order to bring the whole human race under the same condemnation, holds
forth to all, without exception, a mirror of his Deity in his works,
another and better help must be given to guide us properly to God as a
Creator. Not in vain, therefore, has he added the light of his Word in
order that he might make
himself known unto salvation, and bestowed the privilege on those whom
he was pleased to bring into nearer and more familiar relation to
himself. For, seeing how the minds of men were carried to and fro, and
found no certain resting-place, he chose the Jews for a peculiar
people, and then hedged them in that they might not, like others, go
astray. And not in vain does he, by the same means, retain us in his
knowledge, since but for this, even those who, in comparison of others,
seem to stand
strong, would quickly fall away. For as the aged, or those whose sight
is defective, when any books however fair, is set before them, though
they perceive that there is something written are scarcely able to make
out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read
distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity,
which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness,
and shows us the true God clearly. God therefore bestows a gift of
singular
value, when, for the instruction of the Church, he employs not dumb
teachers merely, but opens his own sacred mouth; when he not only
proclaims that some God must be worshiped, but at the same time
declares that He is the God to whom worship is due; when he not only teaches his elect to have respect to God, but manifests himself as the God to whom this respect should be paid."
We now have, before us, two matters that we must reconcile
- God is
- God has provided the Bible to direct our paths to him, and protect us from inventions of our natural minds.
Do you believe both of these to be true? No other text makes the claims that this text does. Unfortunately, as Calvin laments, most are too lazy to explore the sacred text, and therefore rely, unwisely, upon gods of their own imaginations.
Please dear reader, don't allow yourself to fall into this camp. Better to read and reject, then to be found an imbecile.
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