On the second day the first paper was given by Ian Hamilton from Cambridge. His subject was Calvin the Reformer. The focus was to be on reform apart from the work in Geneva. Ian began by warning us against idealising or even idolising the man. There were plenty of faults. Nevertheless he was the Reformer of his age. In looking at his work it is important to remember certain factors always in the background - the precarious political situation of war and rumour of war; internecine strife in the Reformed world and his own constant ill health. Often the cause of Christ, humanly speaking, hung by a thread. He was a colossus but this was not always obvious at the time. He was constantly under great pressure.Calvin it seems had no great strategy but in the providence of God he took up as many opportunities as he could. He pursued Protestant unity until it exhausted him. He had a concern not just for Geneva and France but for all of Europe and the whole world.
“In short, while my one great object was to live in seclusion without being known, God so led me about through different turnings and changes that he never permitted me to rest in any place, until in spite of my natural disposition, he brought me forth to public notice.” What drove Calvin as a reformer was these five things
1. The spiritual dynamic that captivated him - he was not his own.
It comes out in his willingness to return to Geneva and in so many other ways. This created an atmosphere of gospel credibility about him and so he was able to achieve great things.
2. The way he was animated by the desire to recover the truth of justification and other Christian truths.
His desire for reformation was very great. He had an unremitting zeal for the pure worship of God.
3. The passion for unity that pervades all that he does.
To Cranmer he wrote "This other thing also is to be ranked among the chief evils of our time, viz., that the Churches are so divided, that human fellowship is scarcely now in any repute amongst us, far less that Christian intercourse which all make a profession of, but few sincerely practice ... Thus it is that the members of the Church being severed, the body lies bleeding. So much does this concern me, that, could I be of any service, I would not grudge to cross even ten seas, if need were, on account of it .... Now, seeing that a serious and properly adjusted agreement between men of learning upon the rule of Scripture is still a desideratum, by means of which Churches, though divided on other questions, might be made to unite, I think it right for me, at whatever cost of toil and trouble, to seek to obtain this object." It is this desire that lays behind his attempts to find unity on the communion question. Perhaps he was naive to think that others longed for unity as much as he did. He showed great wisdom and moderation as a reformer recognising how slow people can be to change. Nevertheless, he was quite clearly opposed to the Nicodemites, which shows that he was more concerned with what honoured God rather than simply what might promote reformation. "If we let love be our guide, all will be safe" he says in Book 4 of The Institutes regarding the matter of kneeling. This is typical of his attitude. There is such a thing as godly ecumenism.
4. He felt compelled to seek reformation beyond Geneva.
Geneva became a school of missions and many went out to take the gospel, especially in France. These men often went to their death but they had a tremendous impact despite severe opposition. Millions were converted.
5. His drive for a well educated ministry meant a doctrinally well taught church
Calvin produced around a hundred thousand pages of print every year. There was a vast amount of other literature that went out too.
There was no time to consider the Geneva Psalter or Calvin's letters as desired.
Discussion followed mainly on the matter of unity - the surprising burden of the message.
“In short, while my one great object was to live in seclusion without being known, God so led me about through different turnings and changes that he never permitted me to rest in any place, until in spite of my natural disposition, he brought me forth to public notice.” What drove Calvin as a reformer was these five things
1. The spiritual dynamic that captivated him - he was not his own.
It comes out in his willingness to return to Geneva and in so many other ways. This created an atmosphere of gospel credibility about him and so he was able to achieve great things.
2. The way he was animated by the desire to recover the truth of justification and other Christian truths.
His desire for reformation was very great. He had an unremitting zeal for the pure worship of God.
3. The passion for unity that pervades all that he does.
To Cranmer he wrote "This other thing also is to be ranked among the chief evils of our time, viz., that the Churches are so divided, that human fellowship is scarcely now in any repute amongst us, far less that Christian intercourse which all make a profession of, but few sincerely practice ... Thus it is that the members of the Church being severed, the body lies bleeding. So much does this concern me, that, could I be of any service, I would not grudge to cross even ten seas, if need were, on account of it .... Now, seeing that a serious and properly adjusted agreement between men of learning upon the rule of Scripture is still a desideratum, by means of which Churches, though divided on other questions, might be made to unite, I think it right for me, at whatever cost of toil and trouble, to seek to obtain this object." It is this desire that lays behind his attempts to find unity on the communion question. Perhaps he was naive to think that others longed for unity as much as he did. He showed great wisdom and moderation as a reformer recognising how slow people can be to change. Nevertheless, he was quite clearly opposed to the Nicodemites, which shows that he was more concerned with what honoured God rather than simply what might promote reformation. "If we let love be our guide, all will be safe" he says in Book 4 of The Institutes regarding the matter of kneeling. This is typical of his attitude. There is such a thing as godly ecumenism.
4. He felt compelled to seek reformation beyond Geneva.
Geneva became a school of missions and many went out to take the gospel, especially in France. These men often went to their death but they had a tremendous impact despite severe opposition. Millions were converted.
5. His drive for a well educated ministry meant a doctrinally well taught church
Calvin produced around a hundred thousand pages of print every year. There was a vast amount of other literature that went out too.
There was no time to consider the Geneva Psalter or Calvin's letters as desired.
Discussion followed mainly on the matter of unity - the surprising burden of the message.
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