prefatory address

1230 Pages·2011·6.56 MB·English

by  Chris Lawson

The Institutes of the Christian Religion
Author(s): Calvin, John (1509-1564)
Beveridge, Henry (Translator)
Publisher: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI
Description: Published first in 1536, the Institutes of the Christian Religion
is John Calvin's magnum opus. Extremely important for the
Protestant Reformation, the Institutes has remained important
for Protestant theology for almost five centuries.Written to
"aid those who desire to be instructed in the doctrine of sal-
vation," the Institutes, which follows the ordering of the
Apostle's Creed, has four parts.The first part examines God
the Father; the second part, the Son; the third part, the Holy
Spirit; and the fourth part, the Church.Through these four
parts, it explores both "knowledge of God" and "knowledge
of ourselves" with profound theological insight, challenging
and informing all the while.Thus, for either the recent convert
or the long-time believer, for the inquisitive beginner or the
serious scholar, John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Re-
ligion is a rewarding book worthy of study!
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer
Subjects: Christian Denominations
Protestantism
Post-Reformation
Other Protestant denominations
Reformed or Calvinistic Churches
i
Contents
Title Page 1
Prefatory Material 2
Introduction 3
The Printers to the Readers. 6
The Original Translator’s Preface. 7
Table I. Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures 11
Table II. Of Hebrew Words Explained. 12
Table III. Of Greek Words Explained. 12
Index to Authors Quoted 12
Prefatory Address 13
The Epistle to the Reader 30
Subject of the Present Work 31
Epistle to the Reader. 33
Method and Arrangement, or Subject of the Whole Work. 35
General Index of Chapters. 38
BOOK FIRST. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR 42
ARGUMENT. 43
CHAPTER 1. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF OURSELVES 44
MUTUALLY CONNECTED. —NATURE OF THE CONNECTION.
CHAPTER 2. - WHAT IT IS TO KNOW GOD,—TENDENCY OF THIS 47
KNOWLEDGE.
CHAPTER 3. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD NATURALLY IMPLANTED IN 50
THE HUMAN MIND.
CHAPTER 4. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD STIFLED OR CORRUPTED, 53
IGNORANTLY OR MALICIOUSLY.
CHAPTER 5. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD CONSPICUOUS IN THE 57
CREATION, AND CONTINUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD.
ii
CHAPTER 6. - THE NEED OF SCRIPTURE, AS A GUIDE AND TEACHER, IN 70
COMING TO GOD AS A CREATOR
CHAPTER 7. - THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO GIVE 74
FULL AUTHORITY TO SCRIPTURE. THE IMPIETY OF PRETENDING THAT
THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE DEPENDS ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE
CHURCH.
CHAPTER 8. - THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE SUFFICIENTLY PROVED 80
IN SO FAR AS NATURAL REASON ADMITS.
CHAPTER 9. - ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF PIETY SUBVERTED BY FANATICS, 89
WHO SUBSTITUTE REVELATIONS FOR SCRIPTURE.
CHAPTER 10. - IN SCRIPTURE, THE TRUE GOD OPPOSED, EXCLUSIVELY, 92
TO ALL THE GODS OF THE HEATHEN.
CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO 95
GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD.
CHAPTER 12. - GOD DISTINGUISHED FROM IDOLS, THAT HE MAY BE 108
THE EXCLUSIVE OBJECT OF WORSHIP.
CHAPTER 13. - THE UNITY OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE IN THREE PERSONS 111
TAUGHT, IN SCRIPTURE, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
CHAPTER 14. - IN THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, AND ALL THINGS IN 141
IT, THE TRUE GOD DISTINGUISHED BY CERTAIN MARKS FROM
FICTITIOUS GODS.
CHAPTER 15. - STATE IN WHICH MAN WAS CREATED. THE FACULTIES 158
OF THE SOUL—THE IMAGE OF GOD—FREE WILL—ORIGINAL
RIGHTEOUSNESS
CHAPTER 16. - THE WORLD, CREATED BY GOD, STILL CHERISHED AND 169
PROTECTED BY HIM. EACH AND ALL OF ITS PARTS GOVERNED BY HIS
PROVIDENCE.
CHAPTER 17. - USE TO BE MADE OF THE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE. 179
CHAPTER 18. - THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE WICKED EMPLOYED 193
BY GOD, WHILE HE CONTINUES FREE FROM EVERY TAINT
BOOK SECOND. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE REDEEMER, IN CHRIST, 201
AS FIRST MANIFESTED TO THE FATHERS, UNDER THE LAW, AND
THEREAFTER TO US UNDER THE GOSPEL.
ARGUMENT. 202
CHAPTER 1. - THROUGH THE FALL AND REVOLT OF ADAM, THE WHOLE 203
HUMAN RACE MADE ACCURSED AND DEGENERATE. OF ORIGINAL SIN.
iii
CHAPTER 2. - MAN NOW DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM OF WILL, AND 213
MISERABLY ENSLAVED.
CHAPTER 3. - EVERY THING PROCEEDING FROM THE CORRUPT NATURE 238
OF MAN DAMNABLE.
CHAPTER 4. - HOW GOD WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN. 254
CHAPTER 5. - THE ARGUMENTS USUALLY ALLEGED IN SUPPORT OF 260
FREE WILL REFUTED.
CHAPTER 6. - REDEMPTION FOR MAN LOST TO BE SOUGHT IN CHRIST. 279
CHAPTER 7. - THE LAW GIVEN, NOT TO RETAIN A PEOPLE FOR ITSELF, 285
BUT TO KEEP ALIVE THE HOPE OF SALVATION IN CHRIST UNTIL HIS
ADVENT.
CHAPTER 8. - EXPOSITION OF THE MORAL LAW. 299
CHAPTER 9. - CHRIST, THOUGH KNOWN TO THE JEWS UNDER THE 344
LAW, YET ONLY MANIFESTED UNDER THE GOSPEL.
CHAPTER 10. - THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT 349
AND THE NEW.
CHAPTER 11. - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TESTAMENTS. 366
CHAPTER 12. - CHRIST, TO PERFORM THE OFFICE OF MEDIATOR, 378
BEHOVED TO BECOME MAN.
CHAPTER 13. - CHRIST CLOTHED WITH THE TRUE SUBSTANCE OF 386
HUMAN NATURE.
CHAPTER 14. - HOW TWO NATURES CONSTITUTE THE PERSON OF THE 392
MEDIATOR.
CHAPTER 15. - THREE THINGS BRIEFLY TO BE REGARDED IN 401
CHRIST—VIZ. HIS OFFICES OF PROPHET, KING, AND PRIEST.
CHAPTER 16. - HOW CHRIST PERFORMED THE OFFICE OF REDEEMER 408
IN PROCURING OUR SALVATION. THE DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND
ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
CHAPTER 17. - CHRIST RIGHTLY AND PROPERLY SAID TO HAVE 427
MERITED GRACE AND SALVATION FOR US.
BOOK THIRD. THE MODE OF OBTAINING THE GRACE OF CHRIST. THE 433
BENEFITS IT CONFERS, AND THE EFFECTS RESULTING FROM IT.
ARGUMENT. 434
CHAPTER 1. - THE BENEFITS OF CHRIST MADE AVAILABLE TO US BY 435
THE SECRET OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT.
iv
CHAPTER 2. - OF FAITH. THE DEFINITION OF IT. ITS PECULIAR 439
PROPERTIES.
CHAPTER 3. - REGENERATION BY FAITH. OF REPENTANCE. 477
CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON 500
OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED
BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION.
CHAPTER 5. - OF THE MODES OF SUPPLEMENTING SATISFACTION—VIZ. 537
INDULGENCES AND PURGATORY.
CHAPTER 6. - THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN MAN. SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENTS 549
EXHORTING TO IT.
CHAPTER 7. - A SUMMARY OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. OF SELF-DENIAL. 554
CHAPTER 8. - OF BEARING THE CROSS—ONE BRANCH OF SELF-DENIAL. 564
CHAPTER 9. - OF MEDITATING ON THE FUTURE LIFE. 572
CHAPTER 10. - HOW TO USE THE PRESENT LIFE, AND THE COMFORTS 578
OF IT.
CHAPTER 11. - OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. BOTH THE NAME AND 583
THE REALITY DEFINED.
CHAPTER 12. - NECESSITY OF CONTEMPLATING THE JUDGMENT-SEAT 606
OF GOD, IN ORDER TO BE SERIOUSLY CONVINCED OF THE DOCTRINE
OF GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION.
CHAPTER 13. - TWO THINGS TO BE OBSERVED IN GRATUITOUS 613
JUSTIFICATION.
CHAPTER 14. - THE BEGINNING OF JUSTIFICATION. IN WHAT SENSE 618
PROGRESSIVE.
CHAPTER 15. - THE BOASTED MERIT OF WORKS SUBVERSIVE BOTH OF 634
THE GLORY OF GOD, IN BESTOWING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OF THE
CERTAINTY OF SALVATION.
CHAPTER 16. - REFUTATION OF THE CALUMNIES BY WHICH IT IS 641
ATTEMPTED TO THROW ODIUM ON THIS DOCTRINE.
CHAPTER 17. - THE PROMISES OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL 645
RECONCILED.
CHAPTER 18. - THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF WORKS IMPROPERLY INFERRED 660
FROM REWARDS.
CHAPTER 19. - OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. 670
CHAPTER 20. - OF PRAYER—A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. THE 682
DAILY BENEFITS DERIVED FROM IT.
v
CHAPTER 21. - OF THE ETERNAL ELECTION, BY WHICH GOD HAS 738
PREDESTINATED SOME TO SALVATION, AND OTHERS TO
DESTRUCTION.
CHAPTER 22. - THIS DOCTRINE CONFIRMED BY PROOFS FROM 747
SCRIPTURE.
CHAPTER 23. - REFUTATION OF THE CALUMNIES BY WHICH THIS 759
DOCTRINE IS ALWAYS UNJUSTLY ASSAILED.
CHAPTER 24. - ELECTION CONFIRMED BY THE CALLING OF GOD. THE 772
REPROBATE BRING UPON THEMSELVES THE RIGHTEOUS DESTRUCTION
TO WHICH THEY ARE DOOMED.
CHAPTER 25. - OF THE LAST RESURRECTION. 791
BOOK FOURTH. OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH 808
ARGUMENT. 809
CHAPTER 1. - OF THE TRUE CHURCH. DUTY OF CULTIVATING UNITY 810
WITH HER, AS THE MOTHER OF ALL THE GODLY.
CHAPTER 2. - COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FALSE CHURCH AND THE 834
TRUE.
CHAPTER 3. - OF THE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH. 844
THEIR ELECTION AND OFFICE.
CHAPTER 4. - OF THE STATE OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH, AND THE 856
MODE OF GOVERNMENT IN USE BEFORE THE PAPACY.
CHAPTER 5. - THE ANCIENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT UTTERLY 867
CORRUPTED BY THE TYRANNY OF THE PAPACY.
CHAPTER 6. - OF THE PRIMACY OF THE ROMISH SEE. 880
CHAPTER 7. - OF THE BEGINNING AND RISE OF THE ROMISH PAPACY, 893
TILL IT ATTAINED A HEIGHT BY WHICH THE LIBERTY OF THE CHURCH
WAS DESTROYED, AND ALL TRUE RULE OVERTHROWN.
CHAPTER 8. - OF THE POWER OF THE CHURCH IN ARTICLES OF FAITH. 915
THE UNBRIDLED LICENCE OF THE PAPAL CHURCH IN DESTROYING
PURITY OF DOCTRINE.
CHAPTER 9. - OF COUNCILS AND THEIR AUTHORITY 928
CHAPTER 10. - OF THE POWER OF MAKING LAWS. THE CRUELTY OF 938
THE POPE AND HIS ADHERENTS, IN THIS RESPECT, IN TYRANNICALLY
OPPRESSING AND DESTROYING SOULS.
CHAPTER 11. - OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE CHURCH, AND THE 962
ABUSES OF IT, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PAPACY.
vi
CHAPTER 12. - OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH, AND ITS PRINCIPAL 976
USE IN CENSURES AND EXCOMMUNICATION.
CHAPTER 13. - OF VOWS. THE MISERABLE ENTANGLEMENTS CAUSED 995
BY VOWING RASHLY.
CHAPTER 14. - OF THE SACRAMENTS. 1013
CHAPTER 15. - OF BAPTISM. 1034
CHAPTER 16. - PÆDOBAPTISM. ITS ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1050
INSTITUTION OF CHRIST, AND THE NATURE OF THE SIGN.
CHAPTER 17. - OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, AND THE BENEFITS CONFERRED 1077
BY IT
CHAPTER 18 - OF THE POPISH MASS. HOW IT NOT ONLY PROFANES, 1126
BUT ANNIHILATES THE LORD’S SUPPER.
CHAPTER 19. - OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS, FALSELY SO CALLED. THEIR 1141
SPURIOUSNESS PROVED, AND THEIR TRUE CHARACTER EXPLAINED.
CHAPTER 20. - OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 1167
ONE HUNDRED APHORISMS, 1193
BOOK 1 1194
BOOK 2 1196
BOOK 3 1200
BOOK 4 1204
Indexes 1208
Index of Scripture References 1209
Index of Pages of the Print Edition 1219
vii
This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of
the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world.
• This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, Kindle, and other formats. See
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html.
• A free audio narration is available at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/mp3.
• Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/2805.
The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the
Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing
countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please
send a request by email to [email protected].
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at
Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit
http://www.ccel.org/give.
This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely
copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re-
served. Written permission is required for commercial use.
viii
Title Page
INSTITUTES
OF i
THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION
By
John Calvin
Translated by
HENRY BEVERIDGE
1