Tracts & Letters (Vol 6) - Calvin - II - Letters CCCLVI to CCCLXIX

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 6) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Letters CCCLVI to CCCLXIX.

My summary
Today we read letters from 1554 addressed to Doctor Marbach, John Sleidan, Peter Martyr, Melanchthon, Perucel, Valeran Poulain, Gaspar Liser, the Brethren of Poitou, a Gentleman of Provence, Bullinger, the Seigneurs of Berne, the Swiss Churches, John Paule and Farel.

The content of today's letters included:
(i) the doctrine of the Lord's supper;
(ii) Melanchthon's errors on election and the Lord's Supper;
(iii) church discipline;
(iv) the doctrine of baptism, particularly the salvation of children who die before baptism;
(v) ongoing troubles with the Bernese church;
(vi) Westphal's teaching;
(vii) the Consensus between the Genevan and the Swiss churches.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed the counsel Calvin gave to one church: 'Finally, let your whole life correspond to your profession. Shew that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is a light to your path, that you err not like the children of darkness. And forasmuch as the world is now so corrupt and perverse, be so much the more vigilant not to prick yourselves among the thorns. The time of our pilgrimage is short, so that if we reflect on that immortal glory to which God invites us, we shall have no occasion to faint by the way. On the other hand, if we meditate on the inestimable goodness which our indulgent heavenly Father has shewn us, and the precious treasures of grace which in every form he has shed on us so abundantly, we shall be base indeed if we are not touched by his love, so as to forget or despise whatever belongs to the world, to break all the ties which hold us back from him, and disentangle ourselves of every obstacle that clogs our march.'

Meditate much upon the goodness of God and all obstacles will be removed.

Next week's reading
Read Letters CCCLXX to CCCLXXXII.

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