Quotes from John Calvin

O, man! learn from the precept what you ought to do; learn from correction, that it is your own fault you have not the power; and learn in prayer, whence it is that you may receive the power.

The greatest victory of God took place when Christ, having overcome sin, conquered death, and put Satan to flight, was lifted up to heaven in majesty, that he might reign gloriously over the church. Therefore

Without the Word, there is nothing left for us but darkness.

For the one who has learned to regard God in everything he does is at the same time being drawn away from every vain thought.

For this is spiritual sobriety, when we use this world so sparingly and temperately that we are not entangled with its allurements.

The language of the Apostle well agrees with this view;   for he says that he was declared by power, because power, peculiar to   God, shone forth in him, and uncontestably proved him to be God; and   this was indeed made evident by his resurrection.

The ancient proverb says, "Satiety   produces disgust

In particular, we must observe   this general rule, that we cordially desire and labor for the welfare   of the whole human race. Thus it will come to pass, that we shall not   only give way to the exercise of God's mercy, but shall also wish the   conversion of those who seem obstinately to rush upon their own   destruction. In

The blasphemy of the papists is damnable, when they pretend that the light of Scripture merely dazzles the eye. This

Our lust is furious and our greed limitless in pursuing wealth and honors, chasing after power, heaping up riches, and gathering all those vain things which seem to give us grandeur and glory. On the other hand, we greatly fear and hate poverty, obscurity, and humility, and so we avoid these realities in every way. Thus, we see that those who order their lives according to their own counsel have a restless disposition. We

It lays down a   clear distinction between spiritual and civil government, in order to   inform us that outward subjection does not prevent us from having   within us a conscience free in the sight of God.

May we be prepared, whatever happens, rather to undergo a hundred deaths than to turn aside from the profession of true piety, in which we know our safety to be laid up. And may we so glorify thy name as to be partakers of that glory which has been acquired for us through the blood of thine only-begotten Son. Amen.

He was liberal in his determination to understand the Biblical writers historically He was orthodox in his belief that the Bible was "dictated" by the Spirit. He was "neo-orthodox" in making Christ who came to save sinners central to the whole Bible.

You cannot imagine a more certain rule or a more powerful suggestion than this, that all the blessings we enjoy are divine deposits which we have received on this condition that we distribute them to others.

They who restrict this appellation to   the inferior part of the soul are greatly deceived. For since the soul   of man is vitiated in every part, and the reason of man is not less   blind than his affections are perverse, the whole is properly called   carnal.

God was pleased to indicate and typify both the gift of future and eternal felicity by terrestrial blessings, as well as the dreadful nature of spiritual death by bodily punishments, at that time when he delivered his covenant to the Israelites as under a kind of veil.

we must realize that death was not a pleasure or a game for Christ, and that he suffered excruciation to the utmost for our sakes.

The Church is our mother, inasmuch as God has committed to her the kind office of bringing us up in the faith until we attain full age.

I leave it to the philosophers to discuss these faculties in their subtle way. For the upbuilding of godliness a simple definition will be enough for us.

Whoever wishes to have the half of Christ, loses   the whole.

the mark of sound doctrine given by our Saviour himself is its tendency to promote the glory not of men, but of God (John

the only way the false teachers can make sail against us is by appearing to be endowed with the Spirit of God. But

The Bible was to him the vehicle of God's power first, and secondly of our knowledge of Him.

By the word letter Paul means preaching which is external and does not reach the heart; by Spirit he means teaching which is alive, which works mightily in the souls of men by the grace of the Spirit. Letter