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January 13, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIi
.all the writings that were the product of his brilliant
mind. I will mention, however, his "Institutes of The
Christian Religion," which is one of the most remarkable
products of the uninspired human mind in any age.
This work was produced by the marvelous intellect of
the young man, John Calvin, when but twenty-seven
years of age, and was published in the year 1535-36.
In two subsequent editions he revised and perfected his
work. But the wonderful maturity of Calvin's youthful
genius is evidenced in the fact that, although the las.4:
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vuiiiun puuuMiea in 1559 is tnc most pertect, gaining- in
method and clearness, yet no important changes or ad*
-ditions in doctrine arc found over the product of his
early genius.
Besides this work Calvin produced commentaries
on the entire Bible, with the exception of Judges,
Ruth, the Samuels, the Kings, Esther, Nehemiah, Ezra,
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and Revelation.
From these omissions it is clearly seen that
Calvin's mind does not turn to the exposition of historical
Scripture, but rather to those portions which
contain the very root of doctrinal truth upon which
saving faith rests. Of the interpreter of God's Word
Calvin said: "The chief excellence of an interpreter
consists in a perspicuous brevity; and since almost his
only duty is to unfold the mind of the writer whom
he hath undertaken to explain, he misses his mark, or
certainly wanders in some measure from his design, in
proportion as he withdraws his readers from his object.
We were therefore desirous that of the number of those
who intend at present to assist divinity by writing
commentaries, some one might arise who made plainness
his chief study, while he labored not to retard the
progress of the student by prolix commentaries."
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now nearly uaivin approached his ideal as a commentator,
those who have read his works need not be
told. Honesty of purpose to discover the meaning of
the inspired writer, and remarkable clearness in presenting
the divine intent, so as to be intelligible to the laity,
characterizes all his commentaries. In present day exposition
there is an increasing demand for condensation
and the merest suggestive outline. Dr. G. Campbell
Morgan says that Strong's Critical Concordance is
the most valuable aid to an understanding of the Scriptures.
That may all be true of the minister and the
critical student, who ought to dig and not pilfer; but
for the common people, for whom Calvin expressly
wrote, it will scarcely hold good. The Commentaries of
John Calvin, for sound, rational, honest, common-sense
interpretation of God's Word, have few if any superiors.
Thev are almost modern in their hrevitv far eurnaectnnr
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in this respect any other commentator of the Reformation
period, and they fill a most useful place today in
the library of any Christian minister or layman.
It is noticeable, also, that Calvin never avoids the
difficult problems, as do many expositors of the Word.
The more difficult the passage the more earnestly does
he apply his keen, penetrating intellect and clear perception
of the truth to its just solution. Of Calvin's
commentaries, perhaps that on the Book of Job in the
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Old Testament, and that on Romans in the New, may
be said to stand at the summit.
With respect to the Institutes, it would be impossible
in this paper to in any adequate sense review this work
or set forth its excellencies. It is sufficient to say that
they were the first attempt to adduce in order, and
scripturally defend, the great doctrines that gave irresistible
power to the Reformation. It would be difficult
to overstate the value and the far-reaching effect of
the publication of this work. It fnrmprl Hip vpit Knot-.
bone of the Reformation, and I may say that the great
living doctrines, promulgated mi Calvin's Institutes, with
very slight alteration, form the essence of the most
virile Christianity of today.
John Calvin's keen and powerful pen wrought revolutions,
doctrinal and political, that arc permanent.
John Calvin's pen was the greatest constructive force
of the 16th century to mold and direct the destinies of
the Church of Christ.
All hail to the consecrated pen of John Calvin, and
to the godly genius that moved behind that pen!
Atlanta, Ga.
THE CALVIN ANNIVERSARY.
By Rev. H. E. Dosker, D. D.
I.
At the request ot the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church, U. S. A., I am to write a few articles,
destined for the Presbyterian press in the country,
which are in some measure to prepare our people for an
intelligent participation in the celebration, next summer,
of the four hundredth birthday of John Calvin.
Is it worth while? The reply is?that the true valuation
of men and events can only be given by a remote
generation. No man is truly appreciated by his contemporaries.
Guizot has said of this matter, in his lit
tie sketch of the life of Calvin?"The time has come, I
think, when we ought to understand them (the Reformers)
aright, and appreciate them justly." And the
world today seems to think so. Men in general have assigned
to Calvin his true place in history. They have
recognized the immense significance of this great leader
of human thought for the development of modern society
. In Geneva, which claimed the best part of his
mature activity, a statue, or rather a group of statues,
is to be erected, which will forever remind the world
of the debt it owes him. And the men who foster the
movement are by no means all of them his spiritual children,
some of them stand at the very opposite pole,
but, with the utmost unanimity, all join in commemorating
Lalvin the man, rather than Calvin the theologian
and Reformer. Our celebration will not exclude
the latter view of Calvin, but it will rather emphasize
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Reformed Churches throughout the world.
The system, which bears his name, is wrongly socalled.
He, of all men, would have been the last to
sanction the use of the name Calvinism. His very principles
would have forbidden it. The main outlines of
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