Tracts & Letters (Vol 2) - Calvin - X - Chapter 9 concluded (Second defence of the pious...)

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 2) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter IX (Second defence of the pious and orthodox faith concerning the sacraments, in answer to the calumnies of Joachim Westphal).

My summary
Today we finish Calvin's second defence against Westphal.

The reading is mostly Calvin defending himself and other reformers from Westphal's personal attacks.  Although there are some theological accusations laid as well, including:
(i) that they allow children to die unbaptized;
(ii) that the Lord's supper is not given to the sick at their homes;
(iii) that they admit people to the Supper without previous examination and without private absolution;
(iv) that in order to defend the image-war of Carlostadt, they divide the first commandment into two;
(v) that they abrogate feast days and also the divisions of the Gospel and Epistles which were in common use.

The first point about children and baptism resurfaces towards the end of the tract and is developed further there.

What grabbed me
Great point about the importance of proper exegesis: 'Were the sacred majesty of the word of God to be called in question, such license, I admit, ought to be withstood ; but here, Westphal, it is not Scripture, but an opinion of your own that is brought under discussion. The question is not whether Christ truly and correctly called the bread his body, but what he meant to say, and what his words, which we reverently embrace, signify. You contend that they are too clear to need exposition. We assert the same thing as to their clearness, provided you refuse not to open your eyes.'

A superficial reading of Scripture is not something you should base your theology on.

Next week's reading
Commence Chapter X (Last admonition of John Calvin to Joachim Westphal) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'The third head which he has undertaken to refute is, that we communicate in the flesh and blood of Christ, but in such manner, that the reality of his human nature remains entire' (page 379 in the Banner edition).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.