Quotes by John Calvin

“It is not the mere fear of punishment that restrains [man] from sin. Loving and revering God as his father, honouring and obeying Him as his master, although there were no hell, he would revolt at ...”

“We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown.”

“The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner rece...”

“The Lord commands us to do good unto all men without exception, though the majority are very undeserving when judged according to their own merits... [The Scripture] teaches us that we must not thi...”

“Those who set up a fictitious worship, merely worship and adore their own delirious fancies; indeed, they would never dare so to trifle with God, had they not previously fashioned him after their o...”

“The whole world is a theatre for the display of the divine goodness, wisdom, justice, and power, but the Church is the orchestra, as it werethe most conspicuous part of it; and the nearer the appro...”

“In a way, the futile excuses many people use to cover their superstitions are demolished. They think it is enough to have some sort of religious fervor, however ridiculous, not realizing that true ...”

“Were the judgments of mankind correct, custom would be regulated by the good. But it is often far otherwise in point of fact; for, whatever the many are seen to do, forthwith obtains the force of c...”

“For though God has promised to do whatsoever his people may ask, yet he does not allow them an unbridled liberty to ask whatever may come to their minds; but he has at the same time prescribed to t...”

“I was always exceedingly delighted with that saying of Chrysostom, "The foundation of our philosophy is humility"; and yet more pleased with that of Augustine: "As the orator, when asked, What is t...”

“men are undoubtedly more in danger from prosperity than from adversity. for when matters go smoothly, they flatter themselves, and are intoxicated by their success”

“All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors.”

“The salvation of all the elect is not less certain than the power of God is invincible.”

“When God descends to us he, in a certain sense, abases himself and stammers with us, so He allows us to stammer with Him”

“It would be the height of absurdity to label ignorance tempered by humility "faith"!(Institutio III.2.3)”

“True wisdom consists in two things: Knowledge of God and Knowledge of Self.”

“It is now clear that faith is a singular pledge of paternal love, treasured up for the sons whom he has adopted.”

“There is no knowing that does not begin with knowing God.”

“Without the fear of God, men do not even observe justice and charity among themselves.”

“In forming an estimate of sins, we are often imposed upon by imagining that the more hidden the less heinous they are.”