Paul, therefore, that children may be more willing to obey their parents, reminds us that this "is the first commandment with promise," (Eph. 6:2;).... The reward, that the days of children who have behaved themselves piously to their parents shall be prolonged, aptly corresponds with the observance of the commandment, since in this manner God gives us a proof of His favor in this life, when we have been grateful to those to whom we are indebted for it; whilst it is by no means just that they should greatly prolong their life who despise those progenitors by whom they have been brought into it.

-- John Calvin, Commentary on Exodus [20:12]

> Be me
> Be the most loved English Bible for centuries
> Legacy forgotten today
> Contain epicly based notes
> Be preferred version of Puritans
> Be the mandated Bible of Scotland
> Be translated under the influence of Knox, Calvin, and Coverdale
> Be the first English Bible to be read in the New World
> Get banned by papist simps
> Be the Geneva Bible
> Pic unrelated

We must realize that at whatever time we are baptized, we are once for all washed and purged for our whole life. Therefore, as often as we fall away, we ought to recall the memory of our baptism and fortify our mind with it, that we may always be sure and confident of the forgiveness of sins.

-- John Calvin, Institutes 4.15.3

The proclivity to pit "fairness" against Divine Sovereignty is one of the clearest demonstrations of total depravity. We'd rather make God look inept that surrender our sovereignty.

"Catholics for Choice" is just as representative of Romanism as charismatics are of Protestantism.

There is just as much disunity within Rome as on the other side of the Tiber; perhaps more, since there's only one organization they're all fighting to control.

As always, pray for reformation and the repentance of our Roman brothers.

Therefore, there is no doubt that all pious folk throughout life, whenever they are troubled by a consciousness of their faults, may venture to remind themselves of their baptism, that from it they may be confirmed in assurance of that sole and perpetual cleansing which we have in Christ’s blood.

-- John Calvin, Institutes 4.15.4

The Calvin-posting will continue until theology improves.

Collect for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.  

I know it is a common belief that forgiveness, which at our first regeneration we receive by baptism alone, is after baptism procured by means of penitence and the keys. But those who entertain this fiction err from not considering that the power of the keys, of which they speak, so depends on baptism, that it ought not on any account to be separated from it. The sinner receives forgiveness by the ministry of the Church; in other words, not without the preaching of the gospel. And of what nature is this preaching? That we are washed from our sins by the blood of Christ. And what is the sign and evidence of that washing if it be not baptism? We see, then, that that forgiveness has reference to baptism. This error had its origin in the fictitious sacrament of penance, on which I have already touched.

-- John Calvin, Institutes 4.15.4

Here we say nothing more than the apostle Paul expounds most clearly in the sixth and seventh chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. He had discoursed of free justification, but as some wicked men thence inferred that they were to live as they listed, because their acceptance with God was not procured by the merit of works, he adds, that all who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ are at the same time regenerated by the Spirit, and that we have an earnest of this regeneration in baptism. Hence he exhorts believers not to allow sin to reign in their members.

-- John Calvin, Institutes  4.15.12

The last advantage which our faith receives from baptism is its assuring us not only that we are ingrafted into the death and life of Christ, but so united to Christ himself as to be partakers of all his blessings. For he consecrated and sanctified baptism in his own body, that he might have it in common with us as the firmest bond of union and fellowship which he deigned to form with us; and hence Paul proves us to be the sons of God, from the fact that we put on Christ in baptism [Gal. 3:27]. Thus we see the fulfilment of our baptism in Christ, whom for this reason we call the proper object of baptism. Hence it is not strange that the apostles are said to have baptized in the name of Christ, though they were enjoined to baptize in the name of the Father and Spirit also [Acts 8:16; 19:5; Mt. 28:19].

-- John Calvin, Institutes 4.15.6