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The Believer's Patience
These things should be mentioned so that devout minds may be kept from despair; that they may not hurriedly give up their desires for patience because they cannot lay off their natural inclination toward sorrow. For despair will be the end of those who let their patience slip into indifference and who contend that a man is strong and courageous when he makes himself a senseless block. On the contrary, Scripture praises the saints for the patience when they are severely afflicted by their adversities, but not broken and overcome by them; when they are bitterly distressed, but nevertheless filled with spiritual joy; when they are weighted down by anxiety and become exhausted, and yet leap for joy because of the divine consolaton.
Posted by Deejay August 26, 2008@17:30
All Sorrow is Not Sinful
And no wonder, for if he condemned all tears, what must we judge of the Lord Himself from whose body flowed tears of blood?
If every fear be labeled unbelief, what name shall we give to that anxiety of which we read that it depressed and amazed him?
If all sorrow is displeasing, how can we be pleased with his confession that his soul was "sorrowful even unto death" (John 16:20; Matt 5:5; Luke 22:44)
Posted by Deejay August 21, 2008@22:25
Jesus Was Not a Stoic
But we have nothing to do with such a harsh and rigorous philosophy which our Lord and Master Jesus has condemned in word and example
For he mourned and wept for his own calamities as well as for those of others, and he did not teach his disciples any different way.
"The world," said he, "shall rejoice, but ye shall weep and lament."
And that no man might call sadness a vice, he has pronounced a blessing on them that mourn.
Posted by Deejay August 19, 2008@17:56
New Forum for Daily Calvin Quotes
Stoicism
At present there are among Christians, modern Stoics who think it is wrong to groan and weep and even to grieve in loneliness.
Such wild opinions generally come forth from men who are more dreamers than practical men, and who, therefore, cannot produce anything more than fantasies.
Posted by Deejay August 18, 2008@18:06
The Cross Should Not Make us Indifferent
The struggle of believers against their natural emotions of sorrow while they try to build up patience and moderation has been fully described by Paul in these words: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (2 Cor 4:8-9).
It is clear that bearing the cross patiently does not mean that we harden ourselves and do not feel any sorrow; according to the old notion of the Stoic Philophers that a great-hearted man is someone who has laid off his humanity, and who is not touched by adversity and perplexity, and not even by joy and sorrow, but who acts like a cold rock.
What profit is there in this proud wisdom?
They have pictured and image of patience which has never been found among men and which cannot exist, and in their desire to to find a patience of a singular type they have removed it from human life.
Posted by Deejay August 15, 2008@16:17
The Saint's Strength in Weakness
Corrected Repost.
Moreover, we are not required to be cheerful while we shake off all sense of bitterness and sorrow.
The saints could not find any patience in cross bearing if they were not disturbed by sorrow and harassed with grief. For instance, if there were no hardship in poverty, no agony in sickness, no distress in insults, no horror in death, what courage or moderation would it be to regard these afflictions with indifference?
But since each of them by its own bitterness bows down our hearts as a matter of course, the faithful will show their real strength by resisting and overcoming their grief, however much they may have to labour.
They will be patient when they are keenly provoked, and they will be restrained by the fear of God from any outbursts of intemperance. Their joy and cheefulness will be apparent, when, wounded by sadness and sorrow, they will rest in the spiritual consolation of God. (1 Pet 4:14; 1 Tim 4:10; 2 Cor. 6:8)
Posted by Deejay August 14, 2008@20:01
New Forum for Daily Calvin Quotes
Persecution Should Bring Us Spiritual Joy
Since Scripture comforts us time and again in all maltreatments and misery which we may experience in the defense of a righteous cause, we may, therefore, be accused of extreme ingratitude if we do not receive these hardships from the hand of the Lord with resignation and spiritual joy; especially since this type of affliction, or cross, is most peculiar to believers.
For by our suffering Christ will be glorified in us according to the saying of Peter.
And since a haughty treatment to noble and independent minds is more intolerable than a hundred deaths, Paul warns us that not only persecution but also reproaches await us, just "because we trust in the living God."
And in another place he arouses us to follow his example and to go through "evil report and good report."
Posted by Deejay August 06, 2008@16:22
All things Work Together for Good
What of it?
If we in our innocence and with a good conscience are robbed of our goods by the villainy of the wicked, and are reduced to poverty among men, we shall thereby increase our true riches with God in heaven.
If we are banished from our country, we shall be received into the intimate fellowship of God.
If we are tormented and despised, we shall be the more firmly rooted in Christ for fleeing to him.
If we are covered with reproach and shame, we shall receive the more glory in the Kingdom of God.
If we are massacred, we shall be received into the eternal glory.We ought to be ashamed of deeming the everlasting values of less account than the shadowy and fleeing pleasures of the present life (Matt. 2:10; Acts 5:41).
Posted by Deejay August 05, 2008@16:22
Persecution Brings God's Favour
It is a source of singular consolation for us when we suffer persecution "for righteousness' sake."
For then we ought to remember how greatly we are honored by God when he decorates us with the tokens of his service.
I call it persecution for righteousness' sake not only when we suffer in defense of the gospel, but also when we are opposed in upholding any just cause.
When we defend the truth of God over against the falsehoods of Satan, or protect good and innocent people against injustice and injury, it may be necessary for us to incur the hatred and indignation of the world, so that our lives, our possessions, or our reputations may be endangered.
But we should not be grieved when we exert ourselves in the service of God, and we should not count ourselves miserable when with his own mouth he calls us most blessed.
It is true that poverty by itself is misery; and the same may be said of exile, contempt, shame, and imprisonment; and finally, of all calamities death is the last and the worst.
But when God breathes his favor on us, all things work together for our happiness and our well-being.
Let us therefore be content with the approval of Christ rather than with the false opinion of our flesh.
Then we shall rejoice like the Apostles whenever he shall
"count us worthy to suffer shame for his name.'
Posted by Deejay August 04, 2008@18:05
Believers Profit from the Cross
We are extremely perverse if we cannot bear with him when he shows his lovingkindness toward us and his great concern for our salvation.
Scripture points out this difference between believers and unbelievers; the latter, as old slaves of their incurable perversity, cannot endure the rod; but the former, like children of noble birth, profit by repentance and correction.
Now we must choose where we prefer to stand.
But having treated of this subject elsewhere let it suffice that I have touched on it here briefly (1 Cor. 11:32; Prov. ; 3:11-12; Heb. 12:8).
Posted by Deejay August 03, 2008@18:59
The Cross doesn't Ruin or Destroy us, but, Delivers Us
Therefore, even in the bitterness of our trials we should acknowledge the mercy and kindness of our Father toward us; since even then he does not cease to promote our welfare.
For he does not afflict to destroy or ruin us, but rather to deliver us from the condemnation of the world.
This thought will lead us to what Scripture teaches in another place: "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction; for whom the Lord loves he corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights."
When we recognize the rod of a father, should we not show ourselves docile children rather than rebelliously imitate desperate men who have been hardened in their evil doings?
God would let us perish if he would not call us back to him by his corrections when we have failed, as the Apostle pointedly remarks, "If ye be without chastisement then are ye bastards, and not sons."
Posted by Deejay August 02, 2008@16:26
The Cross Brings Repentance
Moreover, it is necessary that our most merciful Father should not only prevent our future weakness, but also correct our past offenses to keep us in the path of obedience.
Therefore, in every affliction, we ought immediately to review our past life.
When we do so we shall certainly find that we have deserved such chastisement.
Nevertheless, we should not draw the conclusion that we are first of all exhorted to patience because we should remember our sins.
For Scripture furnishes us a far better reason when it informs us that in adversity "we are chastened by the Lord, in order that we should not be condemned with the world."
Posted by Deejay August 01, 2008@15:57
The Cross Restrains the Flesh
Therefore, that we may not become haughty when we acquire wealth; that we may not become proud when we receive honors; that we may not become insolent when we are blessed with prosperity and health, the Lord himself, as he deems fit, uses the cross to oppose, restrain, and subdue the arrogance of our flesh.
And he does this by various means which are useful and wholesome for each of us.
For we are not all equally afflicted with the same disease or all in need of the same severe cure.
This is the reason why we see different persons disciplined with different crosses. The heavenly Physician takes care of the well-being of all his patients; he gives some a milder medicine and purifies others by more shocking treatments, but he omits no one; for the whole world, without exception, is ill (Deut. 32:15).
Posted by Deejay August 01, 2008@00:34
The Cross Makes for Discipline
Often we do not understand how necessary this obedience is for us, unless we also consider how eager our flesh is to shake off the yoke of the Lord as soon as we have been treated with some tenderness and indulgence.
For it is with us just as with unwilling horses, which first are pampered in idleness, and then grow fierce and untamable, and have no regard for the rider to whose reins they formerly submitted.
In other words, what the Lord complains of in his people Israel is continually seen in every one of us: When we are grown "fat" and "covered with fatness," we kick against him who has fed and cherished us.
The kindness of God ought to have led us to consider and love his goodness, but since we are so ungrateful that we are
rather constantly spoiled by his indulgence, it is very necessary for us to be restrained by some discipline from breaking out into wilfulness.
Posted by Deejay July 30, 2008@22:21
The Cross Teaches Obedience
By the cross they are also instructed, I repeat, to obedience, because in this way they are taught to follow God's desire and not their own.
If everything proceeded according to their wishes, they would not understand what it means to follow God.
Seneca informs us that it was an ancient custom to exhort people to bear adversity with patience, by the maxim: "Follow God."
This implied that man submitted to the yoke of God only when he willingly accepted chastisement with the meekness of a child.
Therefore, if it is reasonable that we should show ourselves obedient in all things to our Heavenly Father, then we certainly should not deny him the right to use every way to accustom us to practice this obedience. (Gen 22:1-2; 1 Pet 1:7).
Posted by Deejay July 27, 2008@15:39
Learning and Exercising Patience
Who can deny that it is necessary that this most excellent gift of patience, which a believer has received from God, be developed by practice, so that he becomes sure and convinced of it?
For otherwise men would never esteem it as it deserves.
But if God himself acts justly when he prevents such virtues from becoming obscure and useless by offering us an occasion to exercise them, then this must be the best of reasons for trying the saints, for without affliction they would have no patience. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay July 22, 2008@15:18
The School of the Cross
The Lord has still another reason for afflicting his children: to try their patience and to teach them obedience.
Indeed, they cannot show any other obedience to him than the one he has given them; but he is pleased in this manner to exhibit and to test the graces which he has conferred on his saints, that they may not remain hidden and become useless.
When God's servants openly manifest his gifts of strength and firmness in their suffering, Scripture says that he is trying their patience.
Hence such expressions as "God tempted Abraham," who proved his devotion from the fact that he did not refuse to sacrifice his only son.
Therefore Peter states that our faith is tried by tribulations, just as gold is tried by fire in a furnace.
Posted by Deejay July 21, 2008@13:23
The Trials of the Cross
Though these were the only reasons, they are sufficient to show how necessary are the trials of the cross.
For it is no small profit to be robbed of our blind self-love so that we become fully aware of our weakness; to have such an understanding of our weakness that we distrust ourselves; to distrust ourselves to such an extent that we put all our trust in God; to depend with such boundless confidence on God that we rely entirely on his help, so that we may victoriously persevere to the end; to continue in his grace that we may know he is true and faithful in his promises; and to experience the certainty of his promises so that our hope may
become firmer (Rom. 5:3-4).
Posted by Deejay July 18, 2008@18:07
The Benefits of the Cross
This is what Paul teaches that 'tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience.'
For God's promise to believers that he will help them in their trials, they experience to be true when they persist in their patience supported by his strength and not by their own.
Patience, therefore, affords a proof to the saints that God will actually give them the help he has promised whenever there is a need.
And this also confirms there hope, for they certainly would be ungrateful if they did not rely for the future on the truth of God, which they have found to be sure and unchangeable.
Now we see what a stream of benefits flows from the cross. For if we discard the false opinions of our own virtue and discover our hypocrisy which leads us astray with its flatteries, our natural and pernicious pride tumbles down.
When we are thus humbled, we are taught to rely on God alone, and we shall not stumble or sink down in despair.
From this victor we shall gather new hope, for when the Lord fulfils his promises, he confirms his truth for the future.
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Posted by Deejay July 07, 2008@03:21
Humiliations Profit Believers
If this happened to such a great prophet, who of us should not be fearful and cautious?
Though in prosperity many saints have flattered themselves with perseverance and patience, yet they learned that they had deceived themselves when adversity broke down their resistance.
Warned by such evidences of their spiritual illness, believers profit by their humiliations.
Robbed of their foolish confidence in the flesh, they take refuge in the grace of God.
And when they have done so, they experience the nearness of the divine protection, which is to them a strong fortress.
Posted by Deejay June 07, 2008@19:30
Only by Grace
Even the greatest saints, though realizing that they can only be strong in the grace of God and not of themselves, are, nevertheless, more sure than they ought to be of their own bravery and persistence, unless he leads them by the trials into a deeper knowledge of themselves. This proud idea induced even David to say, "In my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved; Lord by Thy favour Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong. Thou didst hide Thy face and I was troubled."
For he confesses that prosperity had so stupefied and benumbed his senses that he disregarded the grace of God on which he should have depended, relied on himself instead, and imagined that he could not fall.
Posted by Deejay June 30, 2008@21:13
The Cross makes us Humble
Our Lord was not compelled to bear the cross except to show and prove his obedience to his Father. But there are many reasons why we should live under a continual cross.
First, whereas we are naturally prone to attribute everything to our human flesh unless we have, as it were, object lessons of our stupidity, we easily form an exaggerated notion of our strength, and we take for granted that, whatever hardships may happen, we will remain invincible.
And so we become puffed up with a foolish, vain and carnal confidence which arouses us to become proud and haughty towards God, as if our own power should be sufficient without his grace.
This vanity, he cannot better repress than by proving to us by experience not only our folly, but also our extreme frailty. Therefore he afflicts us with humiliation, or poverty, or loss of relatives, or disease, or other calamities.
Then, because we are unable to bear them, we soon are buried under them.
And so, being humbled, we learn to call upon his strength which alone makes us stand up under such a load of afflictions.
Posted by Deejay June 29, 2008@16:53
Adversities are blessings to promote our happiness
For Saint Paul tells us that if we "know the fellowship of his sufferings" we shall also understand the "power of his resurrection"; and that, while we are "participating in his death," we are also being prepared for sharing his glorious resurrection.
How much this helps to lighten the bitterness of the cross!
For the more we are afflicted by adversities, the more surely our fellowship with Christ is confirmed!
By this fellowship the adversities themselves not only become blessings to us, but they are also aids to greatly promote our happiness, and salvation. (Matt. 16:24; Matt 3:17; 17:5; Heb 5:8; Rom 8:29; Acts 14:22; Phil 3:10).
Posted by Deejay June 26, 2008@00:02
God's people must carry the Cross of Christ
The apostle explains the reason, that it was necessary for him to "learn obedience by the things which he suffered." Why then should we free ourselves from that condition to which Christ, our Chief, had to submit, especially since his submission was on our behalf, to give us an example of patience?
For the apostle teaches that it is the destiny of all God's children to be "conformed to him."
And it is a real comfort to us when we endure many miseries, which are called adversities, and calamaties, that we partake of the sufferings of Christ, in order that we may pass through our different tribulations as he escaped from an abyss of all evils to the glory of heaven.
Posted by Deejay June 24, 2008@12:07
Calvin describing his conversion
I was withdrawn from the study of philosophy, and was put to the study of the law. To this pursuit I endeavored faithfully to apply myself, in obedience to the will of my father; but God, by the secret guidance of his providence, at length gave a different direction to my course. And first, since I was too obstinately addicted to the superstitions of popery to be easily extricated from so profound an abyss of mire, God by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame, which was more hardened in such maters than might have been expected from one at my early period of life.
Posted by Deejay June 23, 2008@22:50
Holding onto a safe-harbour amidst a rough sea
Let us learn, that if we have any spark of faith, we ought not to distrust God when we are in any danger. It is indeed impossible that we should not be agitated and alarmed when dangers press upon us; but we ought not to tremble so as to be tossed about by our anxiety in every direction, and unable to see a harbour to which we may safely direct our course. There must always be this difference between the fear of the godly and of the ungodly, that the ungodly find no remedy for composing their minds; but the godly immediately betake themselves to God, in whom, knowing that they have a very safe harbour, though they be harassed by uneasiness, still they remain calm.[commentary on Is. 8]
Posted by Deejay June 15, 2008@22:49
Calvin book of Interest 
The Legacy of John Calvin:His influence on the Modern World.
Moreover, it is fitting for the faithful Christian to rise to a still higher level where Christ calls every disciple to "take up his cross."
For all whom the Lord has chosen and received into the society of his saints ought to prepare themselves for a life that is hard, difficult, laborious, and full of countless grief's.
It is the will of their heavenly Father to try them in this manner that he may test them.
He began with Christ, his First-born Son, in whom the Father was always well pleased, yet we see that he was not treated with indulgence and tenderness, so that it may be truly said that he was not only continuously afflicted, but that his whole life was a perpetual cross.
Posted by Deejay June 01,, 2008@22:54
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