Reformed Classics

Sections 1. Absurd fictions of opponents first refuted, and then certain passages of Scripture explained. Answer by a negative. Confirmation of the answer. 2. Another absurdity of Aristotle and Pelagius. […]

Sections 1. Connection of this chapter with the preceding. Augustine’s similitude of a good and bad rider. Question answered in respect to the devil. 2. Question answered in respect to […]

Sections 10. A fourth Objection. Answer. Fifth Objection. Answer. Answer confirmed by many passages of Scripture, and supported by a passage from Augustine. 11. Perseverance not of ourselves, but of […]

Sections 5. Though man has still the faculty of willing, there is no soundness in it. He falls under the bondage of sin necessarily, and yet voluntarily. Necessity must be […]

Sections 1. The intellect and will of the whole man corrupt. The term flesh applies not only to the sensual, but also to the higher part of the soul. This demonstrated from […]

Sections 21. Fourth argument. Scripture ascribes the glory of our adoption and salvation to God only. The human intellect blind as to heavenly things until it is illuminated. Disposal of […]

Sections 14-20 14. The power of the intellect, secondly, with regard to the arts. Particular gifts in this respect conferred on individuals, and attesting the grace of God. 15. The […]

Sections 9. The language of the ancient writers on the subject of Free Will is, with the exception of that of Augustine, almost unintelligible. Still they set little or no […]

Sections 5. Certain things annexed to Free Will by the ancient theologians, especially the Schoolmen. Many kinds of Free Will according to them. 6. Puzzles of scholastic divines in […]

1. Connection of the previous with the four following chapters. In order to lay a proper foundation for the discussion of free will, two obstacles in the way to be […]

Sections 8. Definition of original sin. Two parts in the definition. Exposition of the latter part. Original sin exposes us to the wrath of God. It also produces in us […]

Sections 4. In considering this latter part, two points to be considered; 1. How it happened that Adam involved himself and the whole human race in this dreadful calamity. This […]

Sections The knowledge of ourselves most necessary. To use it properly we must be divested of pride, and clothed with true humility, which will dispose us to consider our fall, […]

Sections The carnal mind the source of the objections which are raised against the Providence of God. A primary objection, making a distinction between the permission and the will of […]

Sections 11. The use of the foregoing meditation. 12. The second part of the chapter, disposing of two objections. 1. That Scripture represents God as changing his purpose, or […]

Sections 6. A holy meditation on Divine Providence. 1. All events happen by the ordination of God. 2. All things contribute to the advantage of the godly. 3. The hearts […]

Sections 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and […]

Sections 5. Special Providence of God asserted and proved by arguments founded on a consideration of the Divine Justice and Mercy. Proved also by passages of Scripture, relating to the […]

Sections 1. Even the wicked, under the guidance of carnal sense, acknowledge that God is the Creator. The godly acknowledge not this only, but that he is a most wise […]

Sections 5. The dreams of the Manichees and of Servetus, as to the origin of the soul, refuted. Also of Osiander, who denies that there is any image of God […]

Sections 1. A twofold knowledge of God—viz. before the fall and after it. The former here considered. Particular rules or precautions to be observed in this discussion. What we are […]

Sections 17. Though the devil is always opposed in will and endeavour to the will of God, he can do nothing without his permission and consent. 18. God so overrules […]

Sections 12. Use of the doctrine of Scripture concerning the holy angels. 13. The doctrine concerning bad angels or devils reduced to four heads. 1. That we may guard […]

Sections 7. A kind of prefects over kingdoms and provinces, but specially the guardians of the elect. Not certain that every believer is under the charge of a single angel. […]

1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to Gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of […]

Sections 26. Previous refutations further explained. 27. Reply to certain passages produced from Irenaeus. The meaning of Irenaeus. 28. Reply to certain passages produced from Tertullian. The meaning […]

Sections 21. Refutation of Arian, Macedonian, and Anti Trinitarian heresies. Caution to be observed. 22. The more modern Anti Trinitarians, and especially Servetus, refuted. 23. Other Anti Trinitarians […]

Sections 16. What view to be taken of the Trinity. The form of Christian baptism proves that there are in one essence. The Arian and Macedonian heresies. 17. Of […]

Passages from the New Testament in which the Son is acknowledged to be the Lord of Hosts, the Judge of the world, the God of glory, the Creator of the […]

After the definition of the term follows a definition and explanation of the thing meant by it. The distinction of Persons. Proofs of the eternal Deity of the Son. The […]

Sections Scripture, in teaching that the essence of God is immense and spiritual, refutes not only idolaters and the foolish wisdom of the world, but also the Manichees and Anthropomorphites. […]

Sections Scripture, in teaching that there is but one God, does not make a dispute about words, but attributes all honour and religious worship to him alone. This proved, 1st, […]

Sections Whether it is expedient to have images in Christian temples. Absurd defence of the worship of images by the second so-called Council of Nice. Sophisms or perversions of Scripture […]

Sections Of the worship of images. Its nature. A pretext of idolaters refuted. Pretexts of the heathen. Genius of idolaters. Evasion of the Papists. Their agreement with ancient idolaters. Refutation […]

Sections Objection,—That images are the books of the unlearned. Objection answered, 1. Scripture declares images to be teachers of vanity and lies. Answer continued, 2. Ancient Theologians condemn the formation […]

Sections God is opposed to idols, that all may know he is the only fit witness to himself. He expressly forbids any attempt to represent him by a bodily shape. […]

Sections Explanation of the knowledge of God resumed. God as manifested in Scripture, the same as delineated in his works. The attributes of God as described by Moses, David, and […]

Sections The temper and error of the Libertines, who take to themselves the name of spiritual, briefly described. Their refutation. 1. The Apostles and all true Christians have embraced the […]

Sections Secondary helps to establish the credibility of Scripture. I. The arrangement of the sacred volume. II. Its dignity. III. Its truth. IV. Its simplicity. V. Its efficacy. The majesty […]

Sections The authority of Scripture derived not from men, but from the Spirit of God. Objection, That Scripture depends on the decision of the Church. Refutation, I. The truth of […]

John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion translated by Henry Beveridge. Book 1, Chapter 6. Sections God gives his elect a better help to the knowledge of himself—viz. the Holy […]

This chapter consists of two parts: 1. The former, which occupies the first ten sections, divides all the works of God into two great classes, and elucidates the knowledge of […]

Sections. 1. The knowledge of God suppressed by ignorance, many falling away into superstition. Such persons, however, inexcusable, because their error is accompanied with pride and stubbornness. 2. Stubbornness the […]

Book 1, Chapter 3 from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. 1. The knowledge of God being manifested to all makes the reprobate without excuse. Universal belief and acknowledgement […]

John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 1, Chapter 2. 1. By the knowledge of God, I understand that by which we not only conceive that there is some […]

John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 1, Chapter 1. 1. Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely […]