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was no such thing as true evangelical freedom。 All the Reformers
attempted； as well as the Catholics； a compulsory unity of faith；
and this is an impossibility。 The Reformers adopted a catechism；
or a theological system； which all communicants were required to
learn and accept。 This is substantially the acceptance of what the
Church ordains。 Creeds are perhaps a necessity in well…organized
ecclesiastical bodies； and are not unreasonable； but it should not
be forgotten that they are formulated doctrines made by men； on
what is supposed to be the meaning of the Scriptures； and are not
consistent with the right of private judgment when pushed out to
its ultimate logical consequence。 When we remember how few men are
capable of interpreting Scripture for themselves； and how few are
disposed to exercise this right； we can see why the formulated
catechism proved useful in securing unity of belief； but when
Protestant divines insisted on the acceptance of the articles of
faith which they deduced from the Scriptures； they did not differ
materially from the Catholic clergy in persisting on the acceptance
of the authority of the Church as to matters of doctrine。 Probably
a church organization is impossible without a formulated creed。
Such a creed has existed from the time of the Council of Nice； and
is not likely ever to be abandoned by any Christian Church in any
future age； although it may be modified and softened with the
advance of knowledge。 However； it is difficult to conceive of the
unity of the Church as to faith； without a creed made obligatory on
all the members of a communion to accept； and it always has been
regarded as a useful and even necessary form of Christian
instruction for the people。 Calvin himself attached great
importance to catechisms； and prepared one even for children。
He also put a great value on preaching； instead of the complicated
and imposing ritual of the Catholic service； and in most Protestant
churches from his day to ours preaching； or religious instruction；
has occupied the most prominent part of the church service； and it
must be conceded that while the Catholic service has often
degenerated into mere rites and ceremonies to aid a devotional
spirit； so the Protestant service has often become cold and
rationalistic；and it is not easy to say which extreme is the
worse。
Thus far we have viewed Calvin in the light of a reformer and
legislator； but his influence as a theologian is more remarkable。
It is for his theology that he stands out as a prominent figure in
the history of the Church。 As such he showed greater genius； as
such he is the most eminent of all the reformers； as such he
impressed his mind on the thinking of his own age and of succeeding
ages；an original and immortal man。 His system of divinity
embodied in his 〃Institutes〃 is remarkable for the radiation of the
general doctrines of the Church around one central principle； which
he defended with marvellous logical power。 He was not a fencer
like Abelard； displaying wonderful dexterity in the use of
sophistries； overwhelming adversaries by wit and sarcasm； arrogant
and self…sufficient； and destroying rather than building up。 He
did not deify the reason； like Erigina； nor throw himself on
authority like Bernard。 He was not comprehensive like Augustine；
nor mystical like Bonaventura。 He had the spiritual insight of
Anselm； and the dialectical acumen of Thomas Aquinas； acknowledging
no master but Christ； and implicitly receiving whatever the
Scriptures declared； he takes his original position neither from
natural reason nor from the authority of the church； but from the
word of God； and from declarations of Scripture； as he interprets
them； he draws sequences and conclusions with irresistible logic。
In an important sense he is one…sided； since he does not take
cognizance of other truths equally important。 He is perfectly
fearless in pushing out to its most logical consequences whatever
truth he seizes upon； and hence he appears to many gifted and
learned critics to draw conclusions from accepted premises which
apparently conflict with consciousness or natural reason； and hence
there has ever been repugnance to many of his doctrines； because it
is impossible； it is said； to believe them。
In general； Calvin does not essentially differ from the received
doctrines of the Church as defended by its greatest lights in all
ages。 His peculiarity is not in making a digest of divinity；
although he treated all the great subjects which have been
discussed from Athanasius to Aquinas。 His 〃Institutes〃 may well be
called an exhaustive system of theology。 There is no great
doctrine which he has not presented with singular clearness and
logical force。 Yet it is not for a general system of divinity that
he is famous； but for making prominent a certain class of subjects；
among which he threw the whole force of his genius。 In fact all
the great lights of the Church have been distinguished for the
discussion of particular doctrines to meet the exigencies of their
times。 Thus Athanasius is identified with the Trinitarian
controversy； although he was a minister of theological knowledge in
general。 Augustine directed his attention more particularly to the
refutation of Pelagian heresies and human Depravity。 Luther's
great doctrine was Justification by Faith； although he took the
same ground as Augustine。 It was the logical result of the
doctrines of Grace which he defended which led to the overthrow； in
half of Europe； of that extensive system of penance and self…
expiation which marked the Roman Catholic Church； and on which so
many glaring abuses were based。 As Athanasius rendered a great
service to the Church by establishing the doctrine of the Trinity；
and Augustine a still greater service by the overthrow of
Pelagianism； so Luther undermined the papal pile of superstition by
showing eloquently；what indeed had been shown before； the true
ground of justification。 When we speak of Calvin； the great
subject of Predestination arises before our minds； although on this
subject he made no pretention to originality。 Nor did he differ
materially from Augustine； or Gottschalk； or Thomas Aquinas before
him； or Pascal and Edwards after him。 But no man ever presented
this complicated and mysterious subject so ably as be。
It is not for me to discuss this great topic。 I simply wish to
present the subject historically；to give Calvin's own views； and
the effect of his deductions on the theology of his age； and in
giving Calvin's views I must shelter myself under the wings of his
best biographer； Doctor Henry of Berlin； and quote the substance of
his exposition of the peculiar doctrines of the Swiss； or rather
French； theologian。
According to Henry； Calvin maintained that God； in his sovereign
will and for his own glory； elected one part of the human race to
everlasting life； and abandoned the other part to everlasting