John Calvin Quotes
-
Many people have accused me of such ferocious cruelty that (they allege) I would like to kill again the man I have destroyed. Not only am I indifferent to their comments, but I rejoice in the fact that they spit in my face.
-
Bestow upon me, O Lord my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee.
-
There are people who are known to be very liberal, yet they never give without scolding or pride or even insolence.
-
How can it be said that the weakness of the human will is aided so as to enable it to aspire effectually to the choice of good, when the fact is, that it must be wholly transformed and renewed?
-
Indeed, a Christian ought to be disposed and prepared to keep in mind that he has to reckon with God every moment of his life.
-
Faith consists not in ignorance, but in knowledge - knowledge not of God merely...but when we recognize God as a propitious Father through the reconciliation made by Christ, and Christ as given to us for righteousness, sanctification, and life.
-
The glory of God shines, indeed, in all creatures on high and below, but never more brightly than in the cross.
-
If God contains the fullness of all good things in Himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond Him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness.
-
Justification by faith is the hinge on which all true religion turns.
-
Faith is tossed about by various doubts, so that the minds of the godly are rarely at peace.
-
If the gospel be not preached, Jesus Christ is, as it were, buried.
-
The door is closed to prayer unless it is opened with the key of trust.
-
...nothing good can proceed from our will until it be formed again, and that after it is formed again in so far as it is good, it is of God, and not of us.
-
The one condition for spiritual progress is that we remain sincere and humble.
-
Nobody seriously believes the universe was made by God without being persuaded that He takes care of His works.
-
If people mean that man has in himself the power to work in partnership with God's grace they are most wretchedly deluding themselves.
-
Let this point therefore stand: that those whom the Holy Spirit has inwardly taught truly rest upon Scripture, and that Scripture itself is self-authenticated. . . . Therefore, illumined by his power, we believe neither by our own nor by any one else's judgment that Scripture is from God; but above human judgment we affirm with utter certainty (just as if we were gazing upon the majesty of God himself) that it has flowed to us from the very mouth of God by the ministry of men.
-
For so great is the difference between just and unjust, that it is visible even in the lifeless image of it. For what order will be left in the world, if these opposites be confounded together? Such a distinction as this, therefore, between virtuous and vicious actions, has not only been engraven by the Lord in the heart of every man, but has also been frequently confirmed by his providential dispensations.
-
Our physical illnesses serve us for medicines to purge us from worldly affections and retrench what is superfluous in us, and since they are to us the messengers of death, we ought to learn to have one foot raised to take our departure when it shall please God.
-
True it is, that he who has taken off his affection from the goods of this world has already sold all, and has made himself poor, so far as depends upon himself; but the fruit and the proof of this spiritual poverty are, patiently to endure the loss of worldly goods, and without any regret, when it pleases our heavenly Father that we should be despoiled of them.
-
The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.
-
As by the revolt of the first man, the image of God could be effaced from his mind and soul, so there is nothing strange in His shedding some rays of grace on the reprobate, and afterwards allowing these to be extinguished.
-
Satan, who is a wonderful contriver of delusions, is constantly laying snares to entrap ignorant and heedless people.
-
Let our chief goal, O God, be your glory, and to enjoy You forever.