Tracts & Letters (Vol 5) - Calvin - V - Letters CCXXIV to CCXXXII

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 5) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Letters CCXXIV to CCXXXII.

My summary
Today we read letters from 1548 to 1549 addressed to Bullinger, Monsieur De Falais, Farel, Viret, 'A French Seigneur', the Protector Somerset, John Strum and Madame De Cany.

The content of today's letters included:
(i) the theology of the Sacraments;
(ii) marriage;
(iii) Monsieur De Falais' move to Geneva;
(iv) the treacherous publication of one of Calvin's letters;
(v) the Reformation in England;
(vi) Geneva troubles;
(vii) exhortations to stand firm in the faith.

What grabbed me
Today we read a rather lengthy letter to Protector Somerset, the regent of England under the minority of Edward VI of England.

The letter is an excellent presentation of Calvin's advice concerning the Reformation in England.

I particularly enjoyed Calvin's summary of the gospel in his letter: 'Praise be to God, you have not to learn what is the true faith of Christians, and the doctrine which they ought to hold, seeing that by your means the true purity of the faith has been restored. That is, that we hold God alone to be the sole Governor of our souls, that we hold his law to be the only rule and spiritual directory for our consciences, not serving him according to the foolish inventions of men. Also, that according to his nature he would be worshipped in spirit and in purity of heart. On the other hand, acknowledging that there is nothing but all wretchedness in ourselves, and that we are corrupt in all our feelings and affections, so that our souls are a very abyss of iniquity, utterly despairing of ourselves ; and that, having exhausted every presumption of our own wisdom, worth, or power of well-doing, we must have recourse to the fountain of every blessing, which is in Christ Jesus, accepting that which he confers on us, that is to say, the merit of his death and passion, that by this means we may be reconciled to God ; that being washed in his blood, we may have no fear lest our spots prevent us from finding grace at the heavenly throne ; that being assured that our sins are pardoned freely in virtue of his sacrifice, we may lean, yea rest, upon that for assurance of our salvation ; that we may be sanctified by his Spirit, and so consecrate ourselves to the obedience of the righteousness of God; that being strengthened by his grace, we may overcome Satan, the world, and the flesh ; finally, that being members of his body, we may never doubt that God reckons us among the number of his children, and that we may confidently call upon him as our Father ; that we may be careful to recognize and bear in mind this purpose in whatsoever is said or done in the Church, namely, that being separated from the world, we should rise to heaven with our Head and Saviour. Seeing then that God has given you grace to re-establish the knowledge of this doctrine, which had been so long buried out of sight by Antichrist, I forbear from entering further on the subject. '

We have salvation only by the sacrifice of Christ.

Next week's reading
Read Letters CCXXXIII to CCXLIX.

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