Quotes from
5 quotes · Preface to Olivétan’s New Testament (1535), Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.1.1, Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559), Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets, trans. John Owen (Calvin Translation Society), on Amos 5:21-23
He is Isaac, the beloved Son of the Father who was offered as a sacrifice, but nevertheless did not succumb to the power of death… He is the victorious and noble king David, bringing by his hand all rebellious power to subjection… He is the strong and powerful Samson, who by his death has overwhelmed all his enemies. It follows that every good thing we could think or desire is to be found in this same Jesus Christ alone. For, he was sold, to buy us back; captive, to deliver us; condemned, to absolve us; he was made a curse for our blessing, sin offering for our righteousness; marred that we may be made fair; he died for our life… In short, mercy has swallowed up all misery, and goodness all misfortune.
Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves.
The human mind is, so to speak, a perpetual forge of idols.
They did not exercise themselves in piety and in the spiritual worship of God, but, on the contrary, spread veils before God, that by presenting a fictitious form of worship, they might cover all their sins; for they thought themselves to be hidden from God.
It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he have previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.