Friday, January 9, 2009

The marks of the church and the devils ire.

Today I finish summarizing Calvin’s Preface to Francis.

1. The Roman Church levelled a "double-horned" argument against the Reformers view of the church. They said the Reformers did not recognize the visible church, by which they meant the visible Roman Catholic Church. Calvin responded to this by asserting the invisibility of the church.

2. This is not to say Calvin denied the visible church. He did not. He believed the visible church to be real even when corrupt. He uses the example of Elijah, Abraham, and other OT examples to show that though the church was very small and corrupt God still had his people. The Westminsiter Confession of Faith put it something like this, "At times the visible church is so corrupt that she can even look like a synagogue of Satan." He maintained the church of Christ would continue and was continuing in the Reformation Churches.

3. Why the Reformation Churches? Calvin and the Reformers believed the visible church of Jesus existed wherever the mark of the pure preaching of the Word and the faithful administration of the sacraments existed. These marks, not loyalty to the Roman Church hierarchy were the movements of a true church.

4. Calvin splendidly shows that whenever true Biblical preaching is done, the devil is aroused and the depraved nature in man is irritated. The prophets and apostles all received harsh treatment from wicked men. In contrast, Calvin wanted to point out, when the gospel is not preached the devil and sinful man sleep in comfort and consequently no tumult results.

5. He admonishes the King to "not at all be moved those vain accusations with which our adversaries are trying to inspire terror in you." He asks the King to read this Institute in a "Quiet, composed mood" in hopes of gaining his favour.

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