French theologian, pastor & reformer (1509-1564)
Everyone flatters himself and carries a kingdom in his breast.
JOHN CALVIN
Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life
Inquire not what are the opinions of any one; but inquire what is truth.
JOHN CALVIN
attributed, Day's Collacon
I cannot think such language either right, or becoming, or suitable.... To call the Virgin Mary the mother of God can only serve to confirm the ignorant in their superstitions.
JOHN CALVIN
Epistle to the French church in London, 27th September 1552
God promised by the mouth of Isaiah that queens should be the nursing mothers of the church.
JOHN CALVIN
letter to William Cecil, May 1559
For we are not all equally afflicted with the same disease or all in need of the same severe cure. This is the reason why we see different persons disciplined with different crosses. The heavenly Physician takes care of the well-being of all his patients; he gives some a milder medicine and purifies others by more shocking treatments, but he omits no one; for the whole world, without exception, is ill.
JOHN CALVIN
Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life
We should never insult others on account of their faults, for it is our duty to show charity and respect to everyone.
JOHN CALVIN
Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life
Now among the other things proper to recreate man and give him pleasure, music is either the first or one of the principal; and we must think that it is a gift of God deputed for that purpose.
JOHN CALVIN
Geneva Psalter
It is easy to see how superstition, with its false glosses, mocks God, while it tries to please him.
JOHN CALVIN
Institutes of the Christian Religion
It is better to limp in the way, than run with the greatest swiftness out of it.
JOHN CALVIN
Institutes of the Christian Religion
Those who set up a fictitious worship, merely worship and adore their own delirious fancies; indeed, they would never dare so to trifle with God, had they not previously fashioned him after their own childish conceits.
JOHN CALVIN
Institutes of the Christian Religion
We should not insist on absolute perfection of the gospel in our fellow Christians, however we may strive for it ourselves.
JOHN CALVIN
Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life
The more we are oppressed by the cross, the fuller will be our spiritual joy.
JOHN CALVIN
Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life