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THE REFORMER CALVIN

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THE REFORMER CALVIN

11 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

July 10, 1959, it has been 450 years ago since the reformer Calvin was born. Many columns have been written in Christian papers about this great reformer Calvin, but who often confessed with Abraham of old that he was only dust and ashes. He was little in self, but great in God’s sight, great in works and great in the Church of Christ.

We also wish to remember this reformer Calvin as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, as a blessed instrument in God’s hand by which He wrought great things in different countries and the Church.

Calvin was born July 10, 1509, in Noyon, a little town in northern France, sixty-seven miles northeast of Paris, but became the reformer of Southern Switzerland. He was not of humble parentage, but belonged what the world calls a good family.

He received an excellent education and at the age of eighteen years, became a priest near his birth-place. He was a pale-faced young man with sparkling eyes, sedate and earnest beyond his years, and his happiest hours were spent among his books. His judgment was almost unerring, he was never carried away by extravagances or enthusiasm. Of all the Reformers none have conferred greater benefits upon the Church of God than John Calvin, for none of them have dug so deeply, led by the Holy Spirit, into the Scriptures. None has brought by prayerful study to the surface of human Christian understanding so much fine gold of truth from the inexhaustible mine of God’s Word as he.

While a priest, Calvin came into possession of a Bible, and studied it. He also heard of Luther’s works, and it filled him with such love to him that he at once began to defend him. When his father died in 1531 he again went to Paris to con tinue the study of theology.

In Paris he became better acquainted with the teachings of the Reformation. The Lord filled Calvin with His Spirit and a great change took place in heart and life. For some time he was really in painful soul-travail and felt himself lost without Christ Jesus. After some time he could say as the apostle Paul; that it pleased God to reveal His Son in him. Jesus became his all and in all; the only and solid foundation of his hope and salvation. His sorrow was turned into joy; his fears and restlessness into peace and rest, etc.

He now openly took the side of the despised and persecuted Protestants in Paris, visited them and comforted and helped them as much as possible. His enemies tried to lay hold on him but his friends let him down in a basket and Calvin, like Paul of old, escaped his persecutors, disguised as a farmer. His way to led to Basel, a free city, and here he was protected from the enemy. From Basel he went to Strassburg. After leading a rather fugitive life in different parts of France, he retired to Switzerland. Meanwhile he wrote his celebrated “Institutes”, a treatise of the Christian religion, which he dedicated to Francis I, king of France, hoping to convert him to the Reformed faith.

At last Calvin landed at Geneva, a city, at that time, of about 20,000 inhabitants. It was a “free state” having a constitution of its own, somewhat like that of Florence when it was under the control of Savonarola.

Geneva had heard about the Reformed doctrines. Farel, a French nobleman, was the first person who preached in the beautiful city. He had great success, although he encountered much opposition. Farel welcomed with great cordiality the arrival of Calvin, then a young man of great renown, although only twenty-eight years of age. He had asked the Lord to send a man to Geneva who was better qualified than he himself was to meet the religious and political needs of the city, and when he had met the talented Calvin he knew that God had answered his prayer. Calvin had however no intention of remaining in Geneva, on account of his youth and desire for further study. Then the old Farel rose from his chair, and, straightening himself out to his full height as his long beard swept his chest, he directed his piercing look full at the young Calvin before him and thundered: “May God curse your studies if now in her time of need you refuse to lend your aid to His Church.”

This made a deep impression upon Calvin and taking the words of Farel for a God-sent message he decided to stay at Geneva, where he soon became the recognized leader. The Lord was stronger then Calvin.

He became a great preacher in this city. He had many hearers, but Calvin was not satisfied with the people at Geneva being hearers only, he wanted them also to be doers of the Word. To that end he introduced a very strict discipline, too strict for many. The latter were called Libertines, and they practiced their assumed liberties more than they practiced Christian virtues which were strongly accentuated by Calvin and his followers.

The Libertines began to oppose Calvin and their influence gained very rapidly. Finally they won the city council for their views and their action ultimately caused Calvin, Farel, and Viret, a third minister of the Gospel to be banished from Geneva. This was a great disappointment!

Calvin found refuge and safety in the city of Strassburg. Here he became professor of theology.

After Calvin had left Geneva, matters soon grew worse in the city. The Roman Catholics tried very-hard to restore Catholicism as the religion, but in this they failed, for although the great leader had left, his influence could not be rooted out, and it was continually strengthened by the letters which he sent to the Church in Geneva.

After spending three years in Strassburg, Calvin was invited to return to Geneva. At first he refused to go. But Geneva kept calling. Not only the Church which dearly loved this true servant of God, but also the civil authorities, the city council, joined in urging him to return. In 1541 he finally consented. He was received with great joy, and at once resumed his labors to bring religious and civil life under the discipline of God’s Word.

Calvin had not set his heart upon money, but upon the salvation of souls and the honor of God. He rather courted poverty and refused reasonable gratuities. His salary was only fifty dollars a year, together with a house, twelve measures of corn, and two pipes of wine. At that time tea and coffee being unknown in Europe, wine was the most common beverage.

Calvin exerted a great influence upon the government of Geneva. He gave it a code of morals, and the City council made him little less than dictator. However, state and church are two separate spheres and the government of the two should not be united in one person. Savonarola made this mistake in Florence and Calvin did the same in Geneva. Calvin ordered a strict life as becomes a Christian. The law prescribed what clothes one had to wear and what food one had to eat. Arrangements of festivals and banquets were regulated by ordinance and outlined by city government. No wonder that in Geneva with its mixed population, many grew tired of these iron-clad rules. An open revolt soon broke out and Calvin became an object of hatred to many. While walking on the streets, dogs were set on him so that he often came near having his clothes torn. He bore it all very patiently. He was a follower of the meek Jesus. Calvin had the welfare of the people at heart, and the serious-minded people did not find fault with him, but lived in contentent and happiness.

In spite of opposition Calvin worked with great zeal. His body was weakened by fasting and study. He passed days without food and nights without sleep. His published works consist of forty-four large volumes.

His greatest influence was exerted through his teaching. More than one thousand students attended his lectures regularly. Inspired by the great principles which their professor with his logical mind dug from the Scriptures, and being convinced of the infallible truth of these principles, they went forth to teach and preach that truth, thus spreading the light of God’s Word.

That the Reformation was a work of God is clearly seen in the men that brought it about, each in his time and place, being fit to do what was assigned to him.

One of our American writers has written of Calvin the following: “No man who knows anything will ever sneer at Calvin. He is not to be measured by common standards. He was universally regarded as the greatest light of the theological world. When we remember his transcendent abilities, his matchless labors, his unrivalled influence, his unblemished morality, his lofty piety, his soaring soul, all flippant criticism is contemptible and mean. He ranks with immoral benefactors, and needs least of all any apologies for his defects. A man who stamped his opinions on his own age and succeeding ages can be regarded only as a very extraordinary genius. A frivolous and pleasure-seeking generation may not be attracted by such an impersonation of cold intellect, and may not rear a costly monument to his memory; but his work remains as of a great leader. . . . To have been the spiritual father of the Puritans for three hundred years is itself a great evidence of moral and intellectual excellence. From Plymouth Rock to the shores of the Pacific Ocean we see the traces of his marvelous genius, and his still more wonderful influence on the minds of men and the schools of Christian theology; so that he will ever be regarded as the great doctor of the Protestant Church.”

In the year 1562 Calvin became more sickly. He did not complain, but he was greatly hindered in the performance of his labors. His friends noticed that his strength was nearly consumed and advised him to discontinue, but the faithful man answered: “Would ye that the Lord should find me idle?” For weeks and months he was carried to different meetings which he wished to attend. On March 27th, 1564, he was carried to the City Hall where he met with the council for the last time and thanked the members for what they had done for him. And so gradually, knowing that his end was approaching, he severed the ties which bound him to this world in which he had done so much.

At the time of his death he was fifty-four years, Geneva was filled with sorrow. His funeral was simple, without any demonstrations, his grave was left unmarked as he had expressly desired, and cannot be found. After a short but fruitful life, the Lord took his servant into the land of eternal rest. John Calvin died May 27, 1564. His coat-of-arms was a hand holding a flaming heart. His motto was: “My heart for Thy cause I offer Thee, Lord, promptly and sincerely.”

In Strassburg Calvin married Idelette van Buren, a woman from the southern Netherlands. Alas! these two God-fearing people were not bound long together. After nine years of marriage she died. The three children she brought forth, soon died after birth.

Many Christian people and churches praise and exalt Calvin and want to be called “Calvinists” after him; but what would John Calvin say and do if the Lord would raise him up from death and he would behold all these sports, insurances, Christmas trees, dead bodies in the church, television, men and women choirs, the modern service of the Lord’s Supper and ministers upon and off the pulpit being dressed in their light suits? Some churches want to be called “Calvin Church”, but what would Calvin call them if he would be on earth? What does Christ and the right seers judge about them? May it please the Lord to open many blind eyes and give grace to be followers of Christ and tread in His footsteps. A God-fearing farmer said some time ago: “I do not look at their talk, but I look at their feet.” I hope, it is understood. Those which by the grace of God have the same faith and godly life as John Calvin, shall be found with Calvin in eternal glory when death comes.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.

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