The school of religion.

In chapter 6 Calvin starts his discussion on Scripture. Here is a short summary.

1. Though nature displays the knowledge of God, mankind needs a better revelation to guide and teach those who would and will come to God. This revelation is contained in the Holy Scriptures.

2. Praise God for this special gift. He speaks of Himself in authoritative volume and precision by His own lips in Scripture.

3. The church needs to remember Calvin’s statement in connection with Scripture. "God, the Artificer of the universe, is made manifest to us in Scripture, and that what we ought to think of Him is set forth there” (Pg, 71).

4. If we leave the Word to relay upon our own minds or nature's lessons we will slip away and fall into a man centred religion.

Schleiermacher, even though he did much good to free Christianity from Enlightenment rationalism, made this mistake. The Enlightenment men said rationalism was the centre of knowledge; Schleiermacher posited that centre in feeling. Both positions were man centered and failed to give attention to God’s revelation in Jesus and Scripture.
To him feeling was the foundation for faith. Pure religion existed when a man felt his full dependence upon God. Consequently, theology and dogmatics in particular were mere expressions of that feeling. Scripture too was merely a description of human feelings of absolute dependence upon God.

5. We must be introduced into the presence of God by "the thread of the Word; so that it is better to limp along this path than to dash with all speed outside it" (Pg, 73).

6. Psalm 19:7-8 " The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes."

7. Scripture is the primary and essential "school of God's children" (Pg, 73).