This is not the "same old thread ... "

[WinBySurrender]

Every time I come on this segment of the forum, I find the same dozen people bickering back and forth on the same two or three threads. So this is something different. This is a thread about anything ... or nothing. Use it as you see fit.

Any subject that relates to Christian history is acceptable. Comments about your kids, dog, cat, grandchildren, not so much.

Post interesting tidbits you came across.
Post commentary of recent articles or websites you've visited regarding Christian history.
Post positive lessons you've applied to your life after reading of the apostles, early Christians, or the martyrs.

Do not argue fuss fight bicker insult or pontificate. In fact, don't reply to anyone else. Just post, fellowship, and enjoy. Give it a try.

 

[St_Worm2]

Any subject that relates to Christian history is acceptable.

Post interesting tidbits you came across.

There have been few men in history more hated or more loved than John Calvin. Here are a couple of compliments (granted, one "backhanded") given about the Reformer from sources you might not otherwise expect.

"Next to the study of the Scriptures which I earnestly inculcate, I exhort my pupils to persue Calvin's Commentaries, which I extol in loftier terms than Helmich himself; for I affirm that he (Calvin) excels beyond comparison (incomparabilem esse) in the interpretation of Scripture, and that his commentaries ought to be more highly valued than all that is handed down to us by the library of the fathers; so that I acknowledge him to have possessed above all other men, what may be called an eminent spirit of prophecy." James Arminius

"The strength of that heretic consisted in this,—that money never had the slightest charm for him. If I had such servants, my dominions would extend from sea to sea." Pope Pius IV


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[St_Worm2]

Here is some of Calvin's commentary on the importance of the visible church:

As it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels, (Matth. 22: 30.) For our weakness does not permit us to leave the school until we have spent our whole lives as scholars. Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for, as Isaiah and Joel testify, (Isa. 37: 32; Joel 2: 32.) To their testimony Ezekiel subscribes, when he declares, "They shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel," (Ezek. 13: 9 as, on the other hand, those who turn to the cultivation of true piety are said to inscribe their names among the citizens of Jerusalem. For which reason it is said in the psalm, "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance," (Ps. 106: 4, 6.) By these words the paternal favour of God and the special evidence of spiritual life are confined to his peculiar people, and hence the abandonment of the Church is always fatal. Institutes of the Christian Religion IV/I/IV by John Calvin
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[St_Worm2]

"We are saved by faith alone,
but the faith that saves is never alone"
Martin Luther​