For the Lord's Day

In his section in the Institutes (Book I, XVII, 6) Calvin writes concerning God's providence as solace to believers: "... the principal purpose of Biblical history is to teach that the Lord watches over the ways of the saints with such great diligence that they do not even stumble over a stone [cf. Ps. 91:12].

For the Lord's Day (early)

John Calvin: On Learning from God Yet nothing shall ever hinder me from openly avowing what I have learned from the Word of God; for nothing but what is useful is taught in the school of this master. It is my only guide, and to acquiesce in its plain doctrines shall be my constant rule of wisdom. (From History of the Christian Church, Vol. VIII: Modern Christianity: The Swiss Reformation)

From the pen of John Calvin:

On the Strength of the Church

No matter how many strong enemies plot to overthrow the church, they do not have sufficient strength to prevail over God’s immutable decree by which he appointed his Son eternal King. (From Institutes of Christian Religion) HT: Ligonier

Calvin on Salvation

Let us, therefore, understand that there is no salvation whatsoever outside of Jesus Christ, for He is the beginning and the end of faith, and He is all in all. Let us continue in humility, knowing that we can only bring condemnation upon ourselves; therefore, we need to find all that pertains to salvation in the pure and free mercy of God.(From John Calvin’s Sermons on Galatians)

Words for the Lord's Day

From the pen of John Calvin: On Our Debt to Christ (Thanks to Ligonier)

Let us draw from these words a good general principle: namely, in order to worship God, we do not need to look around either here or there to figure out how much we owe him. For we owe him a hundred thousand times more than we can ever pay, and though we try as much as possible, still we must confess that we are unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10). (From Sermons on 2 Samuel: Chapters 1–13).

Calvin (Jean Cauvin) was born July 10, 1509 in Noyon, France. Check out the events commemorating the quincentenary of his birth at Calvin500.

Calvin on Faith

John Calvin On Faith – “Faith then is not a naked knowledge either of God or of his truth; nor is it a simple persuasion that God is, that his word is the truth; but a sure knowledge of God’s mercy, which is received from the gospel, and brings peace of conscience with regard to God, and rest to the mind. The sum of the matter then is this,—that if salvation depends on the keeping of the law, the soul can entertain no confidence respecting it, yea, that all the promises offered to us by God will become void: we must thus become wretched and lost, if we are sent back to works to find out the cause or the certainty of salvation . . . for as the law generates nothing but vengeance, it cannot bring grace.”(From Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans)

HT: Ligonier on line

Book Review - John Calvin

I finished the book John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology (Reformation Trust, 2008) edited by Burk Parsons. Contributors run the gamut from senior writers like Jay Adams and John MacArthur to juniors like Thabiti Anyabwile. This is a feast for Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike because is presents a human Calvin, not an ivory tower academic or 'frozen chosen' theologian. The twenty articles (including Ian Murray's forward) cover topics like Calvin's humility, preaching, counseling and prayer life.

You can purchase the book by clicking on the Westminster bookstore link and help support my book habit!