QUOTE: Scripture
notes a twofold equity on which this commandment is founded. Man is both the
image of God and our flesh. Wherefore, if we would not violate the image of
God, we must hold the person of man sacred—if we would not divest ourselves of
humanity we must cherish our own flesh. The practical inference to be drawn
from the redemption and gift of Christ will be elsewhere considered. The Lord
has been pleased to direct our attention to these two natural considerations as
inducements to watch over our neighbour's preservation, viz., to revere the
divine image impressed upon him, and embrace our own flesh. To be clear of the
crime of murder, it is not enough to refrain from shedding man's blood. If in
act you perpetrate, if in endeavour you plot, if in wish and design you conceive
what is adverse to another's safety, you have the guilt of murder. On the other
hand, if you do not according to your means and opportunity study to defend his
safety, by that inhumanity you violate the law. But if the safety of the body
is so carefully provided for, we may hence infer how much care and exertion is
due to the safety of the soul, which is of immeasurably higher value in the
sight of God.
AUTHOR: John Calvin (French: Jean Calvin, born Jehan Cauvin: 10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was an influential French theologian
and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development
of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained
as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530.
After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising against Protestants in
France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where he published the first edition
of his seminal work The Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536. In
that year, Calvin was recruited by William Farel to help reform the church in
Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of Calvin and Farel's
ideas, and both men were expelled. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin
proceeded to Strasbourg, where he became the minister of a church of French
refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and was
eventually invited back to lead its church. Following his return, Calvin
introduced new forms of church government and liturgy, despite the opposition
of several powerful families in the city who tried to curb his authority.
During this time, the trial of Michael Servetus was extended by libertines in
an attempt to harass Calvin. However, since Servetus was also condemned and
wanted by the Inquisition, outside pressure from all over Europe forced the
trial to continue. Following an influx of supportive refugees and new elections
to the city council, Calvin's opponents were forced out. Calvin spent his final
years promoting the Reformation both in Geneva and throughout Europe. Calvin
was a tireless polemic and apologetic writer who generated much controversy. He
also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including
Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition to the Institutes,
he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible, as well as theological
treatises and confessional documents. He regularly preached sermons throughout
the week in Geneva. Calvin was influenced by the Augustinian tradition, which
led him to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty
of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation.
Calvin's writing and preachings provided the seeds for the branch of theology
that bears his name. The Reformed and Presbyterian churches, which look to
Calvin as a chief expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world.
Please go to this previous blog post
to learn about Romans 13:4.
No comments:
Post a Comment