RA Blogs the Institutes. 4.2.6-4.2.12

Calvin’s Institutes, IV.2.6-IV.2.12.

Calvin cites Cyprian that all heresies and schisms arise “because men return not to the Source of truth, seek not the Head, and keep not the teaching of the Heavenly Master. The Romanists evicted the Reformers and “expelled them with anathemas and curses, e.g. Leo’s Ex Surge Domine (15 June 1520). As such, they condemned the Apostles as schismatics and heretics. Exaggeration or truth on Calvin's part? We believe the latter.

Calvin compares Rome to Israel under Jeroboam, calling it a “Roman idol’s factory.” Israel retained circumcision and the Scriptures, although Israel sank into idolatry and superstition; yet, they “partly lost that privilege,” to wit, the name of the Church. Despite the idolatry, there were traces of the Church among the Jews. The Jews fell by degrees until the worship was entirely corrupted with “wicked superstitious customs” and “perverted rites.” Exaggeration or truth on Calvin's part? We believe the latter.

The Papal church “corrupt and to be repudiated.” Calvin says that Rome is worse than the times of Jeroboam by a “grosser idolatry.” Rome is not “one droplet purer.” They exhibit “manifest idolatry.” Their chief bond is the Mass, which the Reformers “abominate as the greatest sacrilege.” One will not find these words in Christianity Today or in other centres of advertisement and publicity. Exaggeration? We don't believe so.

Having said this, Calvin does not deprive Rome of “traces of the church which the Lord willed should among them survive the destruction.” The covenant signs remained and God’s fidelity to His covenant, although, en masse, there was “treachery,” “unclean hands,” and other profanations. The language by Calvin is extremely strong for a modern, Western ear. Exaggeration on Calvin's part? We don't think so.

So it was when Christ established His Church in “France, Italy, Germany, Spain and England” with His covenant signs. Despite “the tyranny of Antichrist,” two means were used by Christ: (1) the retention of baptism, a witness to the covenant, maintained by the LORD Himself with His authority and (2) “other vestiges” which remained. As such, this was done that “the church might not utterly die.” The foundations and ruins are but remains. This all sounds like Richard Hooker, if memory serves us here.

Even with the vestigial remains, this does not make Rome a “true church.” The term “Antichrist” is frequent with Calvin as it was with Wycliffe and Luther. Calvin says: “With us, it is the Roman pontiff we make the leader and standard bearer of that wicked and abominable kingdom. The fact that his seat is placed in the Temple of God signifies that his reign was not to be such as to wipe out either the name of Christ or of the Church.” While churches under Roman “tyranny” remain vestigial churches, Calvin goes on to speak of the “sacrilegious impiety, afflicted by his inhuman domination, corrupted and well-night killed by his evil and deadly doctrines, which are like poisoned drinks. In them Christ lies hidden, half buried, the gospel overthrown, piety scattered, the worship of God nearly wiped out.” As such, Calvin avers: “I say that every one of their congregations and their whole body lack the lawful form of the church." Exaggeration on Calvin's part? No.

Calvin would never have signed The Evangelical-Catholic Together as did so many “so-called evangelicals.” We won’t find this in Christianity Today. In fact, we just won’t hear much about it at all.

To be continued.