Institutes of the Christian Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)
V. But why do I use such an obscure testimony? Paul invariably denies that peace or tranquillity can be enjoyed in the conscience, without a certainty that we are justified by faith.2011 And he also declares whence that certainty proceeds; it is “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost;”2012 as though he had said that our consciences can never be satisfied without a certain persuasion of our acceptance with God. Hence he exclaims in the name of all believers, “Who shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ?”2013 For till we have reached that port of safety, we shall tremble with alarm at every slightest breeze; but while God shall manifest himself as our Shepherd, we shall fear no evil even in the valley of the shadow of death.2014 Whoever they are, therefore, who pretend that we are justified by faith, because, being regenerated, we are righteous by living a spiritual life, they have never tasted the sweetness of grace, so as to have confidence that God would be propitious to them. Whence also it follows, that they know no more of the method of praying aright, than the Turks or any other profane nations. For according to the testimony of Paul, faith is not genuine unless it dictate and suggest that most delightful name of Father, and unless it open our mouth freely to cry, “Abba, Father;”2015 which he in another place expresses still more clearly: “In Christ we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”2016 This certainly arises not from the gift of regeneration; which, being always imperfect in the present state, contains in itself abundant occasion of doubting. Wherefore it is necessary to come to this remedy; that believers should conclude that they cannot hope for an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven on any other foundation, but because, being ingrafted into the body of Christ, they are gratuitously accounted righteous. For with respect to justification, faith is a thing merely passive, bringing nothing of our own to conciliate the favour of God, but receiving what we need from Christ.
1
It is not uncommon, among persons of a certain class, to represent the leading principles of Calvin as unfavourable to practical religion, and to that kind of preaching which is adapted to affect the hearts and consciences of the hearers. A reference to the most able and intelligent theologians and preachers who have held those principles, and upon whom they may reasonably be concluded to have exerted their genuine and fullest influence, will amply evince the inaccuracy of this representation. Of the excellent divine quoted above, King Charles I. was wont to say, that “he carried his ears to hear other preachers, but his conscience to hear Mr. Saunderson.”
2
Prov. xxix. 18.
3
Dan. ii. 34. Isaiah xi. 4. Psalm ii. 9.
4
Rom. xii. 6.
5
Jer. ii. 13.
6
Rom. viii. 32.
7
1 Tim. iv. 10.
8
John xvii. 3.
9
Rom. iv. 25. 1 Cor. xv. 3, 17.
10
Isaiah i. 3.
11
Mark xvi. 20.
12
Acts xiv. 3.
13
Heb. ii. 3, 4.
14
John vii. 18. viii. 50.
15
In Joan. tract. 13.
16
Matt. xxiv. 24.
17
2 Thess. ii. 9.
18
2 Cor. xi. 14.
19
Hierom. in præf. Jerem.
20
2 Thess. ii. 10, 11.
21
1 Cor. iii. 21, 23.
22
Prov. xxii. 28.
23
Psalm xlv. 10.
24
Acat. in lib. 11. cap. 16. Trip. Hist. Amb. lib. 2. de Off. c. 28.
25
Spiridion. Trip. Hist. lib. 1. c. 10.
26
Trip. Hist. lib. 8. c. 1. August. de Opere Mon. c. 17.
27
Epiph. Epist. ab. Hier. vers. Con. Eliber. c. 36.
28
Amb. de Abra. lib. 1. c. 7.
29
Gelas. Pap. in Conc. Rom.
30
Chrys. in 1 Cap. Ephes. Calix. Papa de Cons. dist. 2.
31
Gelas. can. Comperimus de Cons. dist. 2. Cypr. Epist. 2. lib. 1, de Laps.
32
August. lib. 2. de Pec. Mer. cap. ult.
33
Apollon. de quo Eccl. Hist. lib. 5. cap. 11, 12.
34
Paphnut. Trip. Hist. lib. 2. c. 14. Cypr. Epist. 2. lib. 2.
35
Aug. cap. 2. contr. Cresc. Grammatic.
36
Isaiah viii. 12, 13.
37
Epist. 3. lib. 2. et in Epist. ad Julian. de Hæret. baptiz.
38
Matt. xxviii. 20.
39
1 Kings xix. 14, 18.
40
Contr. Auxent.
41
2 Tim. ii. 19.
42
Exod. xxxii. 4.
43
1 Kings xxii. 6, 11-23.
44
Jer. xviii. 18.
45
Jer. iv. 9.
46
Matt. xxvi. 3, 4.
47
1 Kings xviii. 17.
48
Luke xxiii. 2, 5.
49
Acts xvii. 6. xxiv. 5.
50
2 Pet. iii. 16.
51
Rom. v. 20. vi. 1, 14, 15.
52
Phil. i. 15, 16.
53
Phil. ii. 21.
54
2 Pet. ii. 22.
55
1 Pet. ii. 8.
56
Luke ii. 34.
57
2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.
58
Rom. i. 16.
59
1 Cor. xiv. 33.
60
1 John iii. 8. Gal. ii. 17.
61
Acts xvii. 2.
62
Judg. xiii. 22.
63
Gen. xviii. 27.
64
1 Kings xix. 13.
65
Isaiah vi. 2; xxiv. 23.
66
Rom. i. 20.
67
Cicer. de Natur. Deor. lib. i. Lactant. Inst. lib. iii. cap. 10.
68
Cicer. de Nat. Deor. lib. 1 & 3. Valer. Maxim. lib. 1, cap. 1.
69
In Phæd. & Theæt.
70
Rom. i. 22.
71
Psalm xiv. 1.
72
Isaiah vi. 9.
73
Psalm xxxvi. 1.
74
Psalm x. 11.
75
2 Tim. ii. 13.
76
Gal. iv. 8.
77
Eph. ii. 12.
78
Statii Thebaid. lib. 3.
79
Psalm civ. 2.
80
Heb. xi. 3.
81
Psalm xix. 1, 3.
82
Rom. i. 20.
83
Macrob. lib. 2. de Somn. Scip. c. 12. Boet. de Defin. Arist. lib. 1. de Hist. Animal.
84
Acts xvii. 27.
85
Psalm viii. 2, 4.
86
Acts xvii. 28.
87
Æneid vi. Pitt's Translation.
88
Georg. iv. Warton's Translation.
89
De Rerum Natur. lib. 1.
90
Psalm cxlv. 9.
91
Psalm cvii.
92
Psalm cvii. 43.
93
Psalm cxiii. 7.
94
1 Cor. iii. 19.
95
Acts xvii. 27.
96
Psalm cxlv. 6.
97
Aug. in Psal. cxliv.
98
De Civit. Dei. lib. 1, cap. 8.
99
Psalm xcii. 6.
100
Psalm xl. 12.
101
Plut. de Philosoph. placitis, lib. 1. Plato in Timæo. Cic. lib. 1, de Natur. Deor.
102
Lactant. Institut. div.
103
Seneca, lib. 4, de benef., &c.
104
Plutarch. lib. 1, de Isid. & Osirid. Cic. lib. 1, de Nat. Deor.
105
Cic. lib. de Nat. Deor.
106
Ephes. ii. 12.
107
Rom. i. 21.
108
Hab. ii. 18, 20.
109
John iv. 22.
110
1 Cor. ii. 8.
111
Xenoph. de Dict. et Fact. Socrat. lib. 1. Cic. de Legib. lib. 2.
112
Heb. xi. 3.
113
Rom. i. 19.
114
Rom. i. 20.
115
Acts xvii. 27.
116
Acts xiv. 16, 17.
117
Rom. x. 4.
118
1 Tim. vi. 16.
119
Ps. xciii. xcvi., &c.
120
Ps. xix. 1, &c.
121
Ps. xciii. 5.
122
John iv. 22.
123
Eph. ii. 20.
124
Contr. Epist. Fundam. cap. 5.
125
Isaiah lix. 21.
126
Isaiah xliii. 10.
127
Isaiah liv. 13.
128
Deut. xxx. Rom. x.
129
Isaiah liii. 1.
130
1 Cor. ii. 4.
131
Gen. xlix. 5.
132
Num. xii. 1.
133
Exod. xxiv. 18; xxxiv. 29; xix. 16; xl. 34. Num. xvi. 24, &c.; xx. 11; xi. 9.
134
Lev. xx. 6.
135
Exod. xvi. 7.
136
Gen. xlix. 10.
137
Deut. xxxii.
138
Isaiah xxxix. 6.
139
Isaiah xlv. 1.
140
Jer. xxv. 11, 12.
141
Isaiah xlii. 9.
142
2 Kings xxii. 8.
143
Deut. xvii. 18.
144
Lib. de Util. Credend.
145
Isaiah lix. 21.
146
1 Tim. iv. 13.
147
2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.
148
John xvi. 13.
149
2 Pet. i. 19.
150
2 Cor. iii. 6.
151
Psalm xix. 7.
152
2 Cor. iii. 8.
153
Luke xxiv. 27, &c.
154
1 Thess. v. 19.
155
Exod. xxxiv. 6.
156
Psalm cxlv.
157
Jer. ix. 24.
158
Lib. de Idolol. Vid. Aug. Epist. 43 et 44.
159
Hab. ii. 20.
160
Maximus Tyrius, Plat. Serm. 38.
161
Deut. iv. 15.
162
Isaiah xl. 18; xli. 7, 29; xlvi. 5, &c.
163
Acts xvii. 29.
164
Exod. xxxiii. 11.
165
Deut. iv. 11.
166
Exod. xxxiii. 20.
167
Matt. iii. 16.
168
Exod. xxv. 17, 18, &c.
169
Isaiah vi. 2.
170
Psalm cxxxv. 15.
171
Hor. Sat. lib. 1, 8.
172
Isaiah xliv. 9-20.
173
Isaiah xl. 21.
174
Psalm cxv. 8.
175
Jer. x. 8.
176
Hab. ii. 18.
177
Gal. iii. 1.
178
Wisdom xiv. 15.
179
Gen. xxxi. 19.
180
Joshua xxiv. 2.
181
Exod. xxxii. 1.
182
Exod. xxxii. 4-6.
183
In Psalm cxiii.
184
In Psalm cxiii.
185
Epist. 49. De Civ. Dei. lib. iv. cap. 31.
186
Gal. iv. 8.
187
Matt. iv. 10.
188
Rev. xix. 10; xxii. 8, 9.
189
Acts x. 25.
190
Zech. xiv. 9.
191
Seneca, Præf. lib. 1. Quæst. Nat.
192
John i. 1.
193
1 Pet. i. 11.
194
Heb. i. 2, 3.
195
John v. 17.
196
James i. 17.
197
Gen. i. 3.
198
John xvii. 5.
199
John i. 2.
200
Exod. vii. 1.
201
Isaiah ix. 6.
202
Jer. xxiii. 6.
203
Isaiah xlii. 8.
204
Ezek. xlviii. 35.
205
Exod. xvii. 15.
206
Jer. xxxiii. 16.
207
Judges xiii. 22, 23.
208
Hosea xii. 5.
209
Gen. xxxii. 29, 30.
210
Isaiah xxv. 9.
211
Mal. iii. 1.
212
Isaiah viii. 14.
213
Rom ix. 33.
214
Rom. xiv. 10, 11.
215
Isaiah xlv. 23.
216
Eph. iv. 8. Psalm lxviii. 18.
217
John xii. 41. Isaiah vi. 1.
218
Heb. i. 6, 10.
219
John i. 1, 14.
220
2 Cor. v. 10.
221
Rom ix. 5.
222
1 Tim. iii. 16.
223
Philip. ii. 6.
224
1 John v. 20.
225
1 Cor. viii. 5, 6.
226
John xx. 28.
227
John v. 18.
228
Heb. i. 3.
229
Isaiah xliii. 25.
230
Matt. ix. 6.
231
Matt. x. 8. Mark iii. 15.
232
Acts iii. 6.
233
John v. 36; x. 37.
234
Matt. xix. 17.
235
John xiv. 1.
236
Isaiah xxviii. 16; xi. 10. Rom. x. 11; xv. 12.
237
John vi. 47.
238
Joel ii. 32.
239
Prov. xviii. 10.
240
Acts vii. 59.
241
Acts ix. 13, 14.
242
1 Cor. ii. 2.
243
Jer. ix. 24.
244
Gen. i. 2.
245
Isaiah xlviii. 16.
246
1 Cor. ii. 10, 16.
247
1 Cor. xii. 8.
248
Exod. iv. 11.
249
1 Cor. xii. 4, &c.
250
1 Cor. iii. 16; vi. 19. 2 Cor. vi. 16.
251
Acts v. 3, 4.
252
Isaiah vi. 9.
253
Acts xxviii. 25.
254
Isaiah lxiii. 10.
255
Matt. xii. 31. Mark iii. 29. Luke xii. 10.
256
Psalm xxxiii. 6.
257
Ephes. iv. 5.
258
1 Cor. xii. 11.
259
John v. 32; viii. 16, 18.
260
John i. 18.
261
John xv. 26.
262
John xiv. 16.
263
1 Pet. i. 11.
264
John xiv. 10, 11.
265
2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.
266
Joel ii. 28-32. Acts ii. 16-21.
267
Gen. i. 2.
268
Isaiah vi. 1.
269
John xii. 41.
270
Isaiah viii. 14.
271
Rom. ix. 33.
272
Isaiah xlv. 23.
273
Rom. xiv. 11.
274
Heb. i. 6, 10. Psalm cii. 25; xcvii. 7.
275
Isaiah xliv. 6.
276
Jer. x. 11.
277
Exod. iii. 14.
278
Matt. xix. 17.
279
1 Tim. i. 17.
280
Phil. ii. 10.
281
Phil. ii. 6, 7.
282
Isaiah xxv. 9.
283
Gen. i. 26.
284
John iv. 24.
285
John xvii. 3.
286
Heb. i. 10; ii. 9.
287
John xiv. 28.
288
1 Cor. xv. 24.
289
1 John v. 20.
290
Isaiah xl. 21.
291
Psalm ciii. 20.
292
Gen. ii. 1.
293
2 Cor. xii. 1, &c.
294
Daniel vii. 10.
295
Ephes. i. 21.
296
Col. i. 16.
297
Gen. xviii. 2; xxxii. 1, 28. Josh. v. 13. Judges vi. 11; xiii. 3, 22.
298
Psalm lxxxii. 6.
299
Psalm xci. 11, 12.
300
Psalm xxxiv. 7.
301
Gen. xvi. 9.
302
Gen. xxiv. 7.
303
Gen. xlviii. 16.
304
Exod. xiv. 19; xxiii. 20.
305
Judges ii. 1; vi. 11; xiii. 3, &c.
306
Matt. iv. 11. Luke xxii. 43. Matt. xxviii. 5. Luke xxiv. 4, 5. Acts i. 10.
307
2 Kings xix. 35. Isaiah xxxvii. 36.
308
Daniel x. 13, 20; xii. 1.
309
Matt. xviii. 10.
310
Luke xv. 7.
311
Luke xvi. 22.
312
2 Kings vi. 17.
313
Acts xii. 15.
314
Daniel xii. 1. Jude, ver. 9.
315
1 Thess. iv. 16.
316
Daniel x. 13, 21; viii. 16; ix. 21. Luke i. 19, 26. Tob. iii. 17; v. 5.
317
Matt. xxvi. 53.
318
Daniel vii. 10.
319
Psalm xxxiv. 7.
320
Luke xv. 10; iv. 10; xvi. 22. Psalm xci. 12. Matt. iv. 6; xviii. 10.
321
Acts vii. 53. Gal. iii. 19.
322
Matt. xxii. 30; xxiv. 36; xxv. 31. Luke ix. 26.
323
1 Tim. v. 21.
324
Heb. i. 4; ii. 16.
325
Heb. xii. 22, 23.
326
1 Peter i. 12.
327
Heb. i. 6.
328
Mal. iii. 1.
329
Col. i. 16, 20.
330
Rev. xix. 10; xxii. 8, 9.
331
2 Kings vi. 15, 16, 17.
332
Gen. xxviii. 12.
333
John i. 51.
334
Gen. xxiv. 7, 12, 27, 52.
335
2 Cor. iv. 4. John xii. 31.
336
Matt. xii. 29. Luke xi. 21.
337
Ephes. ii. 2.
338
1 Peter v. 8, 9.
339
Ephes. vi. 12, &c.
340
Mark xvi. 9.
341
Matt. xii. 43-45.
342
Luke viii. 30.
343
Matt. xxv. 41.
344
Matt. xiii. 25, 28.
345
John viii. 44.
346
John viii. 44.
347
2 Peter ii. 4. Jude, ver. 6.
348
1 Tim. v. 21.
349
Job i. 6; ii. 1.
350
1 Kings xxii. 20, &c.
351
1 Sam. xvi. 14; xviii. 10.
352
Psalm lxxviii. 49.
353
2 Thess. ii. 9, 11.
354
Ephes. iv. 27.
355
1 Peter v. 8.
356
2 Cor. xii. 7.
357
Gen. iii. 15.
358
2 Sam. xxiv. 1. 1 Chron. xxi. 1.
359
2 Tim. ii. 26.
360
Rom. xvi. 20.
361
John xiv. 30.
362
Luke x. 18.
363
Luke xi. 21.
364
John xii. 31.
365
2 Cor. iv. 4.
366
Eph. ii. 2.
367
Rom. ix. 22.
368
John viii. 44.
369
1 John iii. 10.
370
Matt. xii. 43. Jude 6.
371
John viii. 44. 1 John iii. 10.
372
Jude 9.
373
Job i. 6; ii. 1.
374
Matt. viii. 29.
375
Matt. xxv. 41.
376
2 Peter ii. 4.
377
Gen. i. 28; ix. 2.
378
Gen. ii. 7; iii. 19, 23.
379
Eccles. xii. 7.
380
Luke xxiii. 46.
381
Acts vii. 59.
382
Job iv. 19.
383
2 Cor. v. 4.
384
2 Peter i. 13, 14.
385
2 Cor. v. 10.
386
2 Cor. vii. 1.
387
1 Peter ii. 25.
388
1 Peter i. 9, 22; ii. 11.
389
Heb. xiii. 17.
390
2 Cor. i. 23.
391
Matt. x. 28. Luke xii. 4, 5.
392
Heb. xii. 9.
393
Luke xvi. 22.
394
2 Cor. v. 6, 8.
395
Acts xxiii. 8.
396
Gen. i. 27.
397
Ovid's Metam. lib. 1. Dryden's Translation.
398
Gen. i. 26.
399
Matt. xxii. 30.
400
1 Cor. xv. 45.
401
Col. iii. 10.
402
Eph. iv. 24.
403
2 Cor. iii. 18.
404
1 Cor. xi. 7.
405
John i. 4.
406
Gen. ii. 7.
407
Acts xvii. 28.
408
2 Cor. iii. 18.
