Tracts & Letters (Vol 7) - Calvin - XI - Appendix: Letters I to VII

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 7) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence the Appendix by reading Letters I to VII.

My summary
This week we begin reading an Appendix which contains further letters of Calvin. 

In the first volume of Calvin's letters, the preface spoke about this appendix: 'The English edition of Calvin's collected Correspondence will form four volumes similar to the present, and will contain at least 600 letters, the greater part of which are now published for the first time.  An appendix at the end of the work will give, in chronological order, and with a summary of their contents, a list of those letters which it has been thought unnecessary to include in this edition, but which those who may desire to do so, will have an opportunity of consulting in the complete edition of the originals, in course of publication in Paris.'

Thus we read letters scattered from 1534, 1538, 1539, 1546 and 1548 addressed to Francis Daniel, Bucer, Bullinger, Zebedee, Viret and Brentz.

A good portion of the reading was concerned with the fallout between the churches in Geneva and Berne.

There was also further mention of the European Reformers' disagreements over the Lord's Supper.

What grabbed me
I appreciated Calvin's counsel to not quickly break fellowship with other ministers: 'But it does not follow that every difference of opinion should immediately break out into an open rupture. Wherefore, though your conscience compel you to oppose in some respects his opinion, it is your duty to do your endeavour that the fraternal union between you and him be maintained. For it behoves us not rashly to break up our connection with those whom the Lord has joined with us in the fellowship of his work. And this alone I ask of you, that you constantly retain that faith in which you have hitherto stood, but in such a manner as that you may not appear of your own free will to seek for a rupture with those to whom you cannot refuse the right of being esteemed both by you and all pious men as among the leading servants of Christ. Good God, to what a point have we come. We ought to consider a separation from the ministers of Christ, with the same disposition as if our own bowels were torn out. Now it is almost a sort of sport not only to cut off certain members, but to retrench the most vital parts from their connection with us.'

Just because you have a difference of opinion with someone, doesn't mean you cut them out of your life.

Next week's reading
Conclude the Appendix.

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