"On Friday, 28 April 1564, all the pastors from Geneva and the surrounding area were summoned at Calvin's request. They gathered in his room, where he spoke to them at length. The gist of his words was an exhortation to persevere in the faithful discharge of their duties after his death and not to lose heart. God would uphold both the town and the church, even if they were threatened by dangers on every side. There should therefore be no arguments among themselves, but rather brotherly love and a deep sense of unity should prevail."He also asked them never to forget the obligation that they were under to this church to which God had called them, and to take care that nothing was allowed to distract them from this responsibility. Those who lose interest in the task and want to abandon it will always find excuses to do so, but God will not be mocked."
Beza noted that Calvin received a visit from his old friend William Farel early in May. "From then on until his death," Beza writes, "Calvin's time was spent in one long prayer, in spite of his being in constant pain. He often had the words of Psalm 39:9 on his lips: 'I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.' Or he would quote the words of Isaiah 38:14: 'I did mourn as a dove." Another time, when he was talking to me, he cried out to God: 'Lord, thou dost grind me to powder, but it is enough for me to know that it is thy hand that does it'" (ibid. p. 116).(From chapter 13, "The Last Days", in The Life of John Calvin. A modern translation of the classic by Theodore Beza (Durham: Evangelical Press, 1997), p. 113.)
Soon after this, Calvin was confined to his bed due to the weakness of his body. On Saturday, May 27, 1564 he seemed to regain a little bit of strength. However, this turned out to be the bodies last gasp at life. That very evening it became abundantly evident that death was at hand. Beza was called for and he hurried to the house, but upon arrival he found that Calvin had already breathed his last.
"That night and the following day an air of great sadness reigned throughout the town. The people mourned the passing of a prophet of God, and the poor flock were grief-stricken at the loss of their faithful pastor. The school lamented the loss of a true doctor and teacher. Everyone in general wept over a true father and comforter in God." (ibid. p. 118)Now with his Lord an Savior, Calvin's legacy continues to influence and affect the Church of Christ. His massive comments on the Scriptures ought to be a staple in every expositor's library. Likewise, his Institutes of the Christian Religion should be read by every Bible student.
There are many excellent resources on the life and theology of John Calvin. The biography by Theoldore Beza is one that I have read and have found to be very helpful.
[LEFT] Bèze, Théodore de, Henry Beveridge, and Gary Sanseri. The Life of John Calvin. Milwaukie, OR: Back Home Industries, 1996. Hardcover, 149 pp.[CBD ($19.95) | Amazon ($19.95)]
[RIGHT] Beza, Theodore. The Life of John Calvin. Living Classics for Today. Darlington: Evangelical Press, 1997. Paperback, 148 pp.
[Amazon ($14.99)]
BIOGRAPHIES:
Parker, T. H. L. John Calvin: A Biography.
[WTS | CBD | Amazon]
Zachman, Randall C. John Calvin As Teacher, Pastor, and Theologian: The Shape of His Writings and Thought.
[WTS | CBD | Amazon]
McGrath, Alister E. A Life of John Calvin: A Study in the Shaping of Western Culture.
[CBD | Amazon]
Bouwsma, William James. John Calvin: A Sixteenth-Century Portrait.
[CBD | Amazon]
Reymond, Robert L. John Calvin: His Life and Influence.
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WORKS:
Calvin, John, and Ford Lewis Battles. Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion.
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Calvin, John. Calvin's Commentaries. 22 Volumes. Reprint.
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Calvin, John. Tracts and Treatises of John Calvin. 3 Volumes. Reprint.
[WTS | Amazon]
Calvin, John, and Jules Bonnet. Letters of John Calvin: Selected from the Bonnet Edition with an Introductory Biographical Sketch.
[WTS | CBD | Amazon]
CRITICAL WORKS ON CALVIN:
Barth, Karl. The Theology of John Calvin.
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Lawson, Stephen J. The Expository Genius of John Calvin.
[Ligonier Ministries | CBD | Monergism | CVBBS | WTS | Amazon]
Read Doug Smith's review here and here.
Hall, David W. The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World.
[WTS | CBD | Amazon]
Hall, David W., and Peter A. Lillback. A Theological Guide to Calvin's Institutes: Essays and Analysis.
[WTS | CBD | Amazon]
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NOTE: This post was originally posted in 2007. I've updated it a bit.
Good post, Jason. It's always edifying to see the faith of believers being exercised, especially while receiving their summons home.
ReplyDeleteMartyn Lloyd-Jones paid tribute to the usefulness of Calvin's Commentary on First John, which he had borrowed. While on vacation in the summer of 1949 he wrote to a younger minister, "As I hope to continue with my sermons on the First Epistle of John after my return in the autumn I am taking the liberty of retaining your copy of Calvin's Commentaries which you kindly loaned to me. When I have finished, DV, I shall return it to you" (Iain Murray, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Fight of Faith 1939-1981, p. 207). Lloyd-Jones' own exposition of this epistle is now in print and is highly recommended, too.
Thank the Lord for the good teachers He has given the church, whose influence extends beyond their own generation.