The Institutes of the Christian Religion Author(s): Calvin, John (1509-1564) Beveridge, Henry (Translator) Publisher: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI Description: Published first in 1536, the Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's magnum opus. Extremely important for the Protestant Reformation, the Institutes has remained important for Protestant theology for almost five centuries.Written to "aid those who desire to be instructed in the doctrine of sal- vation," the Institutes, which follows the ordering of the Apostle's Creed, has four parts.The first part examines God the Father; the second part, the Son; the third part, the Holy Spirit; and the fourth part, the Church.Through these four parts, it explores both "knowledge of God" and "knowledge of ourselves" with profound theological insight, challenging and informing all the while.Thus, for either the recent convert or the long-time believer, for the inquisitive beginner or the serious scholar, John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Re- ligion is a rewarding book worthy of study! Tim Perrine CCEL Staff Writer Subjects: Christian Denominations Protestantism Post-Reformation Other Protestant denominations Reformed or Calvinistic Churches i Contents Title Page 1 Prefatory Material 2 Introduction 3 The Printers to the Readers. 6 The Original Translator’s Preface. 7 Table I. Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures 11 Table II. Of Hebrew Words Explained. 12 Table III. Of Greek Words Explained. 12 Index to Authors Quoted 12 Prefatory Address 13 The Epistle to the Reader 30 Subject of the Present Work 31 Epistle to the Reader. 33 Method and Arrangement, or Subject of the Whole Work. 35 General Index of Chapters. 38 BOOK FIRST. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR 42 ARGUMENT. 43 CHAPTER 1. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF OURSELVES 44 MUTUALLY CONNECTED. —NATURE OF THE CONNECTION. CHAPTER 2. - WHAT IT IS TO KNOW GOD,—TENDENCY OF THIS 47 KNOWLEDGE. CHAPTER 3. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD NATURALLY IMPLANTED IN 50 THE HUMAN MIND. CHAPTER 4. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD STIFLED OR CORRUPTED, 53 IGNORANTLY OR MALICIOUSLY. CHAPTER 5. - THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD CONSPICUOUS IN THE 57 CREATION, AND CONTINUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD. ii CHAPTER 6. - THE NEED OF SCRIPTURE, AS A GUIDE AND TEACHER, IN 70 COMING TO GOD AS A CREATOR CHAPTER 7. - THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO GIVE 74 FULL AUTHORITY TO SCRIPTURE. THE IMPIETY OF PRETENDING THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE DEPENDS ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCH. CHAPTER 8. - THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE SUFFICIENTLY PROVED 80 IN SO FAR AS NATURAL REASON ADMITS. CHAPTER 9. - ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF PIETY SUBVERTED BY FANATICS, 89 WHO SUBSTITUTE REVELATIONS FOR SCRIPTURE. CHAPTER 10. - IN SCRIPTURE, THE TRUE GOD OPPOSED, EXCLUSIVELY, 92 TO ALL THE GODS OF THE HEATHEN. CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO 95 GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. CHAPTER 12. - GOD DISTINGUISHED FROM IDOLS, THAT HE MAY BE 108 THE EXCLUSIVE OBJECT OF WORSHIP. CHAPTER 13. - THE UNITY OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE IN THREE PERSONS 111 TAUGHT, IN SCRIPTURE, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. CHAPTER 14. - IN THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, AND ALL THINGS IN 141 IT, THE TRUE GOD DISTINGUISHED BY CERTAIN MARKS FROM FICTITIOUS GODS. CHAPTER 15. - STATE IN WHICH MAN WAS CREATED. THE FACULTIES 158 OF THE SOUL—THE IMAGE OF GOD—FREE WILL—ORIGINAL RIGHTEOUSNESS CHAPTER 16. - THE WORLD, CREATED BY GOD, STILL CHERISHED AND 169 PROTECTED BY HIM. EACH AND ALL OF ITS PARTS GOVERNED BY HIS PROVIDENCE. CHAPTER 17. - USE TO BE MADE OF THE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE. 179 CHAPTER 18. - THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE WICKED EMPLOYED 193 BY GOD, WHILE HE CONTINUES FREE FROM EVERY TAINT BOOK SECOND. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE REDEEMER, IN CHRIST, 201 AS FIRST MANIFESTED TO THE FATHERS, UNDER THE LAW, AND THEREAFTER TO US UNDER THE GOSPEL. ARGUMENT. 202 CHAPTER 1. - THROUGH THE FALL AND REVOLT OF ADAM, THE WHOLE 203 HUMAN RACE MADE ACCURSED AND DEGENERATE. OF ORIGINAL SIN. iii CHAPTER 2. - MAN NOW DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM OF WILL, AND 213 MISERABLY ENSLAVED. CHAPTER 3. - EVERY THING PROCEEDING FROM THE CORRUPT NATURE 238 OF MAN DAMNABLE. CHAPTER 4. - HOW GOD WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN. 254 CHAPTER 5. - THE ARGUMENTS USUALLY ALLEGED IN SUPPORT OF 260 FREE WILL REFUTED. CHAPTER 6. - REDEMPTION FOR MAN LOST TO BE SOUGHT IN CHRIST. 279 CHAPTER 7. - THE LAW GIVEN, NOT TO RETAIN A PEOPLE FOR ITSELF, 285 BUT TO KEEP ALIVE THE HOPE OF SALVATION IN CHRIST UNTIL HIS ADVENT. CHAPTER 8. - EXPOSITION OF THE MORAL LAW. 299 CHAPTER 9. - CHRIST, THOUGH KNOWN TO THE JEWS UNDER THE 344 LAW, YET ONLY MANIFESTED UNDER THE GOSPEL. CHAPTER 10. - THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT 349 AND THE NEW. CHAPTER 11. - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TESTAMENTS. 366 CHAPTER 12. - CHRIST, TO PERFORM THE OFFICE OF MEDIATOR, 378 BEHOVED TO BECOME MAN. CHAPTER 13. - CHRIST CLOTHED WITH THE TRUE SUBSTANCE OF 386 HUMAN NATURE. CHAPTER 14. - HOW TWO NATURES CONSTITUTE THE PERSON OF THE 392 MEDIATOR. CHAPTER 15. - THREE THINGS BRIEFLY TO BE REGARDED IN 401 CHRIST—VIZ. HIS OFFICES OF PROPHET, KING, AND PRIEST. CHAPTER 16. - HOW CHRIST PERFORMED THE OFFICE OF REDEEMER 408 IN PROCURING OUR SALVATION. THE DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST. CHAPTER 17. - CHRIST RIGHTLY AND PROPERLY SAID TO HAVE 427 MERITED GRACE AND SALVATION FOR US. BOOK THIRD. THE MODE OF OBTAINING THE GRACE OF CHRIST. THE 433 BENEFITS IT CONFERS, AND THE EFFECTS RESULTING FROM IT. ARGUMENT. 434 CHAPTER 1. - THE BENEFITS OF CHRIST MADE AVAILABLE TO US BY 435 THE SECRET OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT. iv CHAPTER 2. - OF FAITH. THE DEFINITION OF IT. ITS PECULIAR 439 PROPERTIES. CHAPTER 3. - REGENERATION BY FAITH. OF REPENTANCE. 477 CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON 500 OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. CHAPTER 5. - OF THE MODES OF SUPPLEMENTING SATISFACTION—VIZ. 537 INDULGENCES AND PURGATORY. CHAPTER 6. - THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN MAN. SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENTS 549 EXHORTING TO IT. CHAPTER 7. - A SUMMARY OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. OF SELF-DENIAL. 554 CHAPTER 8. - OF BEARING THE CROSS—ONE BRANCH OF SELF-DENIAL. 564 CHAPTER 9. - OF MEDITATING ON THE FUTURE LIFE. 572 CHAPTER 10. - HOW TO USE THE PRESENT LIFE, AND THE COMFORTS 578 OF IT. CHAPTER 11. - OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. BOTH THE NAME AND 583 THE REALITY DEFINED. CHAPTER 12. - NECESSITY OF CONTEMPLATING THE JUDGMENT-SEAT 606 OF GOD, IN ORDER TO BE SERIOUSLY CONVINCED OF THE DOCTRINE OF GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION. CHAPTER 13. - TWO THINGS TO BE OBSERVED IN GRATUITOUS 613 JUSTIFICATION. CHAPTER 14. - THE BEGINNING OF JUSTIFICATION. IN WHAT SENSE 618 PROGRESSIVE. CHAPTER 15. - THE BOASTED MERIT OF WORKS SUBVERSIVE BOTH OF 634 THE GLORY OF GOD, IN BESTOWING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OF THE CERTAINTY OF SALVATION. CHAPTER 16. - REFUTATION OF THE CALUMNIES BY WHICH IT IS 641 ATTEMPTED TO THROW ODIUM ON THIS DOCTRINE. CHAPTER 17. - THE PROMISES OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL 645 RECONCILED. CHAPTER 18. - THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF WORKS IMPROPERLY INFERRED 660 FROM REWARDS. CHAPTER 19. - OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. 670 CHAPTER 20. - OF PRAYER—A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. THE 682 DAILY BENEFITS DERIVED FROM IT. v CHAPTER 21. - OF THE ETERNAL ELECTION, BY WHICH GOD HAS 738 PREDESTINATED SOME TO SALVATION, AND OTHERS TO DESTRUCTION. CHAPTER 22. - THIS DOCTRINE CONFIRMED BY PROOFS FROM 747 SCRIPTURE. CHAPTER 23. - REFUTATION OF THE CALUMNIES BY WHICH THIS 759 DOCTRINE IS ALWAYS UNJUSTLY ASSAILED. CHAPTER 24. - ELECTION CONFIRMED BY THE CALLING OF GOD. THE 772 REPROBATE BRING UPON THEMSELVES THE RIGHTEOUS DESTRUCTION TO WHICH THEY ARE DOOMED. CHAPTER 25. - OF THE LAST RESURRECTION. 791 BOOK FOURTH. OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH 808 ARGUMENT. 809 CHAPTER 1. - OF THE TRUE CHURCH. DUTY OF CULTIVATING UNITY 810 WITH HER, AS THE MOTHER OF ALL THE GODLY. CHAPTER 2. - COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FALSE CHURCH AND THE 834 TRUE. CHAPTER 3. - OF THE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH. 844 THEIR ELECTION AND OFFICE. CHAPTER 4. - OF THE STATE OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH, AND THE 856 MODE OF GOVERNMENT IN USE BEFORE THE PAPACY. CHAPTER 5. - THE ANCIENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT UTTERLY 867 CORRUPTED BY THE TYRANNY OF THE PAPACY. CHAPTER 6. - OF THE PRIMACY OF THE ROMISH SEE. 880 CHAPTER 7. - OF THE BEGINNING AND RISE OF THE ROMISH PAPACY, 893 TILL IT ATTAINED A HEIGHT BY WHICH THE LIBERTY OF THE CHURCH WAS DESTROYED, AND ALL TRUE RULE OVERTHROWN. CHAPTER 8. - OF THE POWER OF THE CHURCH IN ARTICLES OF FAITH. 915 THE UNBRIDLED LICENCE OF THE PAPAL CHURCH IN DESTROYING PURITY OF DOCTRINE. CHAPTER 9. - OF COUNCILS AND THEIR AUTHORITY 928 CHAPTER 10. - OF THE POWER OF MAKING LAWS. THE CRUELTY OF 938 THE POPE AND HIS ADHERENTS, IN THIS RESPECT, IN TYRANNICALLY OPPRESSING AND DESTROYING SOULS. CHAPTER 11. - OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE CHURCH, AND THE 962 ABUSES OF IT, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PAPACY. vi CHAPTER 12. - OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH, AND ITS PRINCIPAL 976 USE IN CENSURES AND EXCOMMUNICATION. CHAPTER 13. - OF VOWS. THE MISERABLE ENTANGLEMENTS CAUSED 995 BY VOWING RASHLY. CHAPTER 14. - OF THE SACRAMENTS. 1013 CHAPTER 15. - OF BAPTISM. 1034 CHAPTER 16. - PÆDOBAPTISM. ITS ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1050 INSTITUTION OF CHRIST, AND THE NATURE OF THE SIGN. CHAPTER 17. - OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, AND THE BENEFITS CONFERRED 1077 BY IT CHAPTER 18 - OF THE POPISH MASS. HOW IT NOT ONLY PROFANES, 1126 BUT ANNIHILATES THE LORD’S SUPPER. CHAPTER 19. - OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS, FALSELY SO CALLED. THEIR 1141 SPURIOUSNESS PROVED, AND THEIR TRUE CHARACTER EXPLAINED. CHAPTER 20. - OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 1167 ONE HUNDRED APHORISMS, 1193 BOOK 1 1194 BOOK 2 1196 BOOK 3 1200 BOOK 4 1204 Indexes 1208 Index of Scripture References 1209 Index of Pages of the Print Edition 1219 vii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, Kindle, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html. • A free audio narration is available at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/mp3. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/2805. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. viii Title Page INSTITUTES OF i THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION By John Calvin Translated by HENRY BEVERIDGE 1