[In case you just popped in, I'm taking some time to keep notes as I read through Calvin's Institutes this year.  Glad you came.  Hope you check in more often.]

Again, this section of Calvin’s Institutes has been one of the most poignant portions so far.  I remember reading this for the first time – roughly 1997.  Some authors brought me to a place of thinking of Calvin as an enemy of the gospel, an ungodly proponent of a system of theology that was more indebted to philosophical impositions than biblical truth.  Reading this Preface to the King back in 1997, it didn’t take long before I was struck by the sense of Calvin’s strong devotion to Christ and courage in the face of vehement opposition.  I started to think in those days, “Crazy, way off base theologically, yes, definitely.  But, a calculated deceiver, an ungodly man, a man who seemed to love philosophy more than Scripture.  I’m not seeing that so far.”  My sense of antagonism against all things associated with the name was no longer personal to Calvin.

From the Prefatory Address, to Francis I, King of France 1536…

“Let not a contemptuous idea of our insignificance dissuade you from the investigation of this cause.  We, indeed, are perfectly conscious how poor and abject we are:  in the presence of God we are miserable sinners, and in the sight of men most despised – we are (if you will) the mere dregs and offscourings of the world, or worse, if worse can be named:  so that before God there remains nothing of which we can glory save only his mercy, by which, without any merit of our own, we are admitted to the hope of eternal salvation and before men not even this much remains, since we can glory only in our infirmity, a thing which, in the estimation of men, it is the greatest ignominy even tacitly to confess.  But our doctrine must stand sublime above all the glory of the world, and invincible by all its power, because it is not ours, but that of the living God and his Anointed, whom the Father has appointed King, that he may rule from sea to sea, and from the rivers even to the ends of the earth; and so rule as to smite the whole earth and its strength of iron and brass, its splendor of gold and silver, with the mere rod of his mouth, and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel … (Dan 2:34; Is 11:4; Ps 2:9).”-Institutes, Prefatory Address, xxv

Analogy of faith

When Paul declared that all prophecy ought to be according to the analogy of faiths (Rom 12:6), he laid down the surest rule for determining the meaning of Scripture.  Let our doctrine be tested by this rule and our victory is secure.  For what accords better and more aptly with faith than to acknowledge ourselves divested of all virtue that we may be clothed by God, devoid of all goodness that we may be filled by him, the slaves of sin that he may give us freedom, blind that he may enlighted, lame that he may cure, and feeble that he may sustain us, to strip ourselves of all ground of glorying that he alone may shine forth glorious, and we be glorified in him?”-ibid., xxv

On the early Fathers and authority

“It is a calumny to represent us as opposed to the fathers (I mean the ancient writers of a purer age), as if the fathers were supporters of their impiety.  Were the contest to be decided by such authority (to speak in the most moderate terms), the better part of the victory would be ours.  While there is much that is admirable and wise in the writings of the fathers, and while in some things it has fared with them as with ordinary men; these pious sons, forsooth, with the peculiar acuteness of intellect, and judgment, and soul, which belongs to them adore only their slips and errors, while those things which are well said they overlook, or disguise, or corrupt, so that it may be truly said their only care has been to gather dross among gold.  Then, with dishonest clamor, they assail us as enemies and despisers of the fathers.”-ibid., xxviii

“It was a father who thoughts that Christ only should be listened to, from its being said, ‘hear him’; and that regard is due not to what others before us have said or done, but only to what Christ, the head of all, has commanded.  This landmark they neither observe themselves nor allow to be observed by others, while they subject themselves and others to any master whatever, rather than Christ.”-Institutes, Prefatory Address, xxx

Marks of the Church

“We on the contrary maintain both that the church may exist without any apparent form, and moreover, that the form is not attained by that external splendor which they foolishly admire, but by a very different mark, namely, by the pure preaching of the Word of God, and the due administration of the sacraments.”-ibid., xxxii

‘Post tenebras lux’: God’s Word & the Devil’s attack

“It is ones of the characteristics of the divine Word, that whenever it appears, Satan ceases to slumber and sleep.  This is the surest and most unerring test for distinguishing it from false doctrines which readily betray themselves, while they are received by all with willing ears, and welcomed by an applauding world.  Accordingly, for several ages, during which all things were immersed in profound darkness, almost all mankind were mere jest and sport to the god of this world, who, … idled and luxuriated undisturbed.  For what else could he do but laugh and sport while in tranquil and undisputed possession of his kingdom?  But when the light beaming from above somewhat dissipated the darkness – when the strong man arose and aimed a blow at his kingdom – then, indeed, he began to shake off his wonted torpor, and rush to arms.”-ibid., xxxiv

On the gospel and fallen receptivity

“Paul declares that it is a never-failing characteristic of the gospel to be a “savor of death unto death in them that perish” (2 Cor 2:16).”-ibid, xxxv

Respect/pray for the king, live quiet and godly life

“We, whose voice was never heard in faction, and whose life, while passed under you, is known to have been always quiet and simple; even now, when exiled from our home, we nevertheless cease not to pray for all prosperity to your person and your kingdom.  We, forsooth, are aiming after an unchecked indulgence in vice, in whose manners, though there is much to be blamed, there is nothing which deserves such an imputation; nor (thank God) have we profited to little in the gospel that our life may not be to these slanderers an example of chastity, kindness, pity, temperance, patience, moderation, or any other virtue.  It is plain indeed that we fear God sincerely, and worship him in truth, since, whether by life or by death, we desire his name to be hallowed”-ibid., xxxv-xxxvi

Closing words: unflinching allegiance to Christ in the face of ‘every extremity’ and a warning:  God, the King of kings, will reckon with our persecutors.

“But if the whispers of the malevolent so possess your ear, that the accused are to have no opportunity of pleading their cause; if those vindictive furies, with your connivance, are always to rage with bonds, scourgings, tortures, maimings, and burnings, we, indeed, like sheep doomed to slaughter, shall be reduced to every extremity; yet so that in our patience we will possess our souls, and wait for the strong hand of the Lord, which, doubtless, will appear in its own time, and show itself armed, both to rescue the poor from affliction, and also take vengeance on the despisers, who are now exulting so securely.  Most illustrious King, may the Lord, the King of kings, establish your throne in righteousness and your scepter in equity.  Basel, 1st August, 1536.”-ibid., xxxvi