Calvin: Institutes Chapters 3.8.11. to 3.9.4.

INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION

By
John Calvin

BOOK THIRD.
THE MODE OF OBTAINING THE GRACE OF CHRIST. THE
BENEFITS IT CONFERS, AND THE
EFFECTS RESULTING FROM IT.

CHAPTER 8.

OF BEARING THE CROSS—ONE BRANCH OF SELF-DENIAL.

3.8.11.

The Scriptures teach us that God sometimes brings affliction on us for our good and our correction, in His will. To obey Him and resign to His will is prudent. The Christian responds to adversity because of the notions of “justice and equity, and then a regard to our own salvation.” Is it not right and just that our sins be corrected? “If the equity of God is undoubtedly displayed in affliction, we cannot murmur or struggle against them without iniquity.” And we patiently endure all this because it all works to our salvation.

CHAPTER 9.

OF MEDITATING ON THE FUTURE LIFE.

3.9.1.

When enduring heaven-sent trials we should always consider their purpose. “For since God well knows how strongly we are inclined by nature to a slavish love of this world, in order to prevent us from clinging too strongly to it, he employs the fittest reason for calling us back, and shaking off our lethargy.”

This world is not our home. Our “soul, ensnared by the allurements of the flesh, seeks its happiness on the earth. To meet this disease, the Lord makes his people sensible of the vanity of the present life, by a constant proof of its miseries.”

3.9.2.

It is critical that we regard this earth as worthless in estimation. We pay so little attention to the heavenly abode and pursuits of the saints. “For we form all our plans just as if we had fixed our immortality on the earth.”

3.9.3.

This world is not to be hated so that the obvious spiritual and heavenly blessings seen in it are to be despised. Everything in this world is intended to work toward the salvation of the elect. “To believers, especially, it ought to be a proof of divine benevolence, since it is wholly destined to promote their salvation.”

“For the Lord hath ordained, that those who are ultimately to be crowned in heaven must maintain a previous warfare on the earth, that they may not triumph before they have overcome the difficulties of war, and obtained the victory.”

Calvin also reminds us that the difficulties of this life, drenched with the firstfruits of grace, whet our appetite for the glories to be revealed to the elect of God when Christ comes and is glorified with His Church.

3.9.4

“In proportion as this improper love diminishes [love of this world], our desire of a better life should increase.” Now to this exhortation from our author:

“Wherefore, if it becomes us to live and die to the Lord, let us leave the period of our life and death at his disposal. Still let us ardently long for death, and constantly meditate upon it, and in comparison with future immortality, let us despise life, and, on account of the bondage of sin, long to renounce it whenever it shall so please the Lord.”

Questions to Consider:

1. What is necessary before we are aroused to contemplate the life to come?

2. Do humans generally acknowledge the vanity of this life?

3. Does contempt for this world mean ingratitude?

4. If heaven is our homeland, then what must the earth be?