"JOHN CALVIN."

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 191, 14 August 1899, Page 2

"JOHN CALVIN."

At Knox Church, Parnell, on Sunday evening, the Rev. 11. Kelly preached on the above subject, lie based his remarks on Ist chapter of Nehemiah, and went on to say: God Almighty's Nehemiaha did not live in any one age, or belong to any one nation. The Nehemiah of the 16th century was John Calvin. Nehemiah the Jew came back from the captivity, cleansed the city, rebuilt the walls, and reorgani ised the temple and service. Nehemiah the Frenchman, that is to say, John Calvin in the days of the Reformation, restored the primitive doctrine and, discipline of the Church, purified Geneva, and left a deep and lasting mark upon the whole history of Europe. Luther, you will remember, in his robust, imaginative fashion, spoke of the -Middle Ages period as the Babylonish captivity of the church, and when the work of the Restoration came to be taken in hand its guiding; mind was unmistakeably that of John Calvin. At the early age of 16 years we find him a student in Paris. B$ this time some of Luther's friends had come to this great, city. Persecution had arisen. Faggots had been piled high and set ablaze at Notre Dame. A heretic was to be burned, and when that ceremony, that ghastly ceremony, was about to take place, a bell waa rung-, and one of those who heard it was John Calvin. He was a lad ot somewhat pale complexion and of middle stature, but his whole appearance indicating uncommon activity and earnestness. He had come from l'icardy n 1509, where his father was Notary Fiscal, and desiring that his son should have the very best education that the country could afford, he was sent to Paris to complete his education. He was of a wonderfully austere demeanour. There was nothings light or frivolous about him. So strict was lie in his morals, and so ready to censure others for their shortcomings, that he earned for himself the nickname of the "Accusative Case." The hour was at hand when his life was to be turned into a new channel. Strange to say, we have no particulars of Calvin's conversion, and it is a curious thing that in all his writings there is only one solitary reference to it, "God drew me to Himself bjr a sudden conversion." After dealing with several noted men and women contemporaneous with Calvin's earlier years, the preacher said that what Luther did for the German language in the way of giving it its permanent form, -that same service did John Calvin render to the language of the French, it is said that at the age of 22 he was a scholar without an equal in Europe. The Reformation had suffered from the abuses and caricatures of jts doctrines. There had been a very large measure of desire in Geneva to carry its doctrines, and especially its discipline, too far. Even innocent amusements were forbidden under penalties. But these things seemed to receive a check, a reaction set in, confusion and strife arose, and just then John Calvin came on the scene. The first work he set himself to do was that of teaching. These abuses must be prevented. The people must be taught from the Word of God and led to see the truth as it is there revealed. One thing, I think, cannot be denied, that his policy was moulded too largely on Old Testament lines. The slightest offences were severely punished. Servetus, a learned Spaniard, was burned at the stake for denying the doctrine of the Trinity. ' For that deed Calvin's name has been made a bye-word and a reproach. No Protestant now living dreams of vindicating the execution of Servetus. But something, nevertheless, is to be said for Calvin. He did not make the laws. The laws as they stood on the Statute Book had to be administered. An eminent German historian declares that Calvin was consulted only as a theological expert in the case, and although Calvin approved of the execution of Servetus he disapproved of the method in which it was done, advocating instead the more merciful form of beheading. Calvin's power now became greater than ever. Geneva became the city of refuge for the Protestants of Europe. It was the home of even John Knox for a time. Calvin was in correspondence not only with theologians, but with princes and potentates. Everywhere reformers looked to him for counsel. His hand was on the helm of civilisation. Before he died he had the joy of seeing the city free and prosperous. In the cause of truth Calvin was utterly reckless of danger. His enemies fired guns under his windows at night and set dogs on him in the street. His name to-day is mentioned by ignorant persons as that of a man who burned another. But a deeper prejudice exists against him as the writer who gave to modern times the dark and awful doctrine of "Predestination," and in the minds of many people, who ought to know better, this is considered sufficient justification for the views held concerning him. He made it the central feature of his whole system. Even the sin of Adam was decreed. Man is entirely dependent on the sovereign grace of God. Calvin does not pretend to fathom mysteries, but he holds both to the sovereign right of God and the responsibility of man. It is said that in his later years he considerably modified his views of the nature of t the divine decree. His views are sub- i stantially embodied in the articles of , the Church of England and in the ; creed of the largest church in Christendom. Perhaps his mistake was the common one of seizing upon one iso- ; lated doctrine as essential and paramount, and from it deducing an articulated system. Let it. be noted, however, that Calvin claims simply to set forth a systematic outline of the teaching of Scripture; and it does , teach the sovereignty of God as well , as the freedom of man. God has ' many things to say unto us and I be.Ue.ve we cannot bear them now. But.

herein lies, in my judgment, the merit

of John Calvin

It was he who sound-

Ed the watchword of liberty. It was

he who set up boldly the truth that I Martin Luther had not attained to, I "that the church must be free from all State interference. His was a severe and masterful attempt to make j the will of God an authoritative guide for the community. Proude declares j that but for the Calvinist the Reformation woxild have been crushed. John Morley is an agnostic, and what does he say; "He who tries to read the history of Christendom and leaves out Calvin reads it with one eye shut." Mark Patterson says "Calvin saved Europe." The judicious Hooker says "Calvin was the most incomparable man France has produced." And this doctrine of Predestination at which men are so apt to scoff means that God has a plan of life for all penitents, and when man feels that his life is a, plan it gives it a new dignity, irrespective of his position in the social scale; irrespective of every other consideration in the world. The system of Calvin brings man to the dust only that it may exalt him. And awful as you may deem these doctrines that John Calvin has laid down, they are the very doctrines that have won for us the liberties the world to-day enjoys. John Calvin says a man's place is in the dust at the feet of God. Your place is in the dust. God has arranged all about your way of salvation, lie will life you up. Humble 3'ourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due time.