Tracts & Letters (Vol 2) - Calvin - XV - Chapter 11 commenced (Clear explanation of sound doctrine...)

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 2) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence XI (Clear explanation of sound doctrine...in order to dissipate the mists of Tileman Heshusius) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'Let the reader attend to the design of Irenaeus' (page 538 in the Banner edition).

My summary
Today we begin yet another tract from Calvin defending the Protestant understanding of the Lord's supper.  This one is directed at the Roman Catholic theologian Heshusius.

Much of the content is very similar to the tracts we have previously read in this volume.  In fact Calvin admits that he is repeating himself: 'As far as Westphals importunity compelled me, I believe I have satisfied sound and impartial readers in regard to the consent of antiquity, nay, I have said what ought to have stopped the mouths even of the contentious. But however solid the reasons by which they are confuted, it is like talking to the deaf, and I shall therefore be contented with a few brief remarks, to let my readers see that this new antiquarian is no less absurd and barren than Westphal was.'

But at some points Heshusius does differ with Westphal and other Roman Catholics.  For example: 'Not to go farther for an example, Westphal boldly affirms that the body of Christ is chewed by the teeth, and confirms it by quoting with approbation the recantation of Berengarius, as given by Gratian. This does not please Heshusius, who insists that it is eaten by the mouth but not touched by the teeth, and greatly disapproves those gross modes of eating. And yet he reiterates his Asserimus, (we assert,) just as if he were the representative of an university.'

What grabbed me
Calvin gave us a great comment about the sacrament's powerlessness: 'For I hold with Augustine, that there may be invisible sanctification without the visible sign, just as, on the other hand, there may be the visible sign without true sanctification.'

What counts to God is faith first and foremost; not partaking in the Lord's supper.

Next week's reading
Conclude XI (Clear explanation of sound doctrine...in order to dissipate the mists of Tileman Heshusius) and also read all of the last tract entitled 'The best method of obtaining concord provided the truth be south without contention'.

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