Institutes of Christian religion - Calvin - XXXIX - Chapters 8 & 9 of Book 3

Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 8 and 9 of Book 3.

My summary
Firstly today in Chapter Eight, Calvin teaches us about suffering.  Most of the chapter is concerned with the reasons God makes us suffer:
(i) to humble us;
(ii) to teach us patience;
(iii) to train us for obedience;
(iv) to correct our past faults;
(v) to honour us.

Then in Chapter Nine, Calvin explains why the Christian should be one who meditates on the future life.  To think about the future, we should consider:
(i) our suffering in this world;
(ii) the enticements of this world;
(iii) the blessings of God;
(iv) our death.

What grabbed me
I liked the way Calvin reminded us that suffering proves our frailty: '...the only thing which made it necessary for our Lord to undertake to bear the cross, was to testify and prove his obedience to the Father; whereas there are many reasons which make it necessary for us to live constantly under the cross. Feeble as we are by nature, and prone to ascribe all perfection to our flesh, unless we receive as it were ocular demonstration of our weakness, we readily estimate our virtue above its proper worth, and doubt not that, whatever happens, it will stand unimpaired and invincible against all difficulties. Hence we indulge a stupid and empty confidence in the flesh, and then trusting to it wax proud against the Lord himself; as if our own faculties were sufficient without his grace. This arrogance cannot be better repressed than when He proves to us by experience, not only how great our weakness, but also our frailty is. Therefore, he visits us with disgrace, or poverty, or bereavement, or disease, or other afflictions. Feeling altogether unable to support them, we forthwith, in so far as regards ourselves, give way, and thus humbled learn to invoke his strength, which alone can enable us to bear up under a weight of affliction.'

We are proud creatures and nothing awakens us to our helplessness like suffering.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 10.

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