This is the 4th instalment of Calvin’s Institutes, Book II, and chapter 2. Here Calvin discusses why and to some degree why and how fallen mankind still does good and creates beautiful things.
1. Man has understanding. He has power to perceive, to feel, to think and to decide. Yes, these faculties are marred but nevertheless, are implanted in man. See Calvin’s comment that even though man has understanding and, “Some sort of desire to search out the truth,” he is nevertheless, incapable of seeking and finding the truth. (Pg., 271)
2. A man can only understand that which he is able to understand.
3. An unregenerate person (a person not saved by the grace of God in Christ), can understand earthly things. What is that? Calvin explains. Those things “Which do not pertain to God or His Kingdom, to true justice, or to the blessedness of the future life; but which have their significance and relationship with regard to the present life and are, in a sense, confined within its bounds” (Pg., 272). Men can understand government, relationships, mechanics, science, and art on an earthly level.
4. What are the results of this understanding God has graciously allowed man to retain?
5. First, social loves and social justice. Man is a social creature therefore; he will naturally “foster and preserve society.” “Consequently, we observe that there exist in all men’s minds universal impressions of a certain civic fair dealing and order. Hence no man is to be found who does not understand that every sort of human organization must be regulated by laws, and who does not comprehend the principles of those laws” (Pg., 272).
There is love in all society. There is a conscious awareness of good and evil in every culture. There is government as well. Consequently, we observe that there exist in all men’s minds universal impressions of a certain fair dealing and order, and the need for the rule of law. Every society has law codes, either written or ingrained in the tradition.
6. Though social loves and justice move by limps and staggers (which proves the weakness of man), the truth remains that the law has been implanted in men’s hearts. Calvin writes, “The fact remains that some seed of political order has been implanted in all men. And this is ample proof that in the arrangement of this life no man is without the light of reason” (Pg., 273).
7. Second, man’s ability and appreciation for art manifests that man has reason and understanding of earthly things.
8. Third, man’s endeavours in science manifests the truth that man has reason and understanding of earthly things.
9. These must be attributed to the grace of God, not to natural theology. We appreciate and admire the work of those who have benefited the human race by their profound knowledge, “But shall we count anything praiseworthy or noble without recognizing at the same time that it comes from God?” (Pg., 274)
10. God ordains whatsoever comes to pass. In God’s common grace, by the work of the Holy Spirit, God gives earthly understanding to men; some greater, some less. He gives these gifts for three reasons:
a) For the common good of man. For restraining evil, for feeding the hungry, and for eradicating disease, education, etc. But most of all even by these to bring to pass his saving purposes and the salvation of his people. Gen 8:21-22; Acts 17 these two passages are a call to preach the gospel because as God showers his care, or as the Scot John Murray said, “general benevolence” upon the world the church sees his longsuffering and forbearance the church is delighted in God and brings his gospel to the lost.
b) For the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.
c) For his own glory.
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