CALVINISM IN GENEVA
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- CHAPTER I - AN ECCLESIASTICAL WORLD-POWER
- CHAPTER II - THE VISIGOTHS IN THE MIDDLE AGES
- CHAPTER III - THE SUEVI IN THE MIDDLE AGES
- CHAPTER IV - THE FRANKS IN THE MIDDLE AGES
- CHAPTER V - THE ALEMANNI IN THE MIDDLE AGES
- CHAPTER VI - THE BURGUNDIANS IN THE MIDDLE AGES
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- CHAPTER VIII - PAGAN PHILOSOPHY THE STRENGTH OF THE PAPACY
- CHAPTER IX - THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY—COUNCIL OF EPHESUS
- CHAPTER X - THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY—SECOND COUNCIL OF EPHESUS
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- CHAPTER XII - THE PAPAL TEMPORAL POWER ESTABLISHED
- CHAPTER XIII - RESTORATION OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE
- CHAPTER XIV - THE PAPACY AND THE BARBARIANS
- CHAPTER XV - THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
- CHAPTER XVI - THE PAPAL SUPREMACY—GREGORY VII TO CALIXTUS II
- CHAPTER XVII - THE PAPAL SUPREMACY—INNOCENT III TO BONIFACE VIII
- CHAPTER XVIII - THE PAPAL EMPIRE
- CHAPTER XIX - “THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL”
- CHAPTER XX - THE ANARCHY OF THE PAPACY
- CHAPTER XXI - THE SPIRIT OF THE PAPACY
- CHAPTER XXII - THE REFORMATION—ENGLAND
- CHAPTER XXIII - THE REFORMATION—BOHEMIA
- CHAPTER XXIV - THE REFORMATION—GERMANY
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- CHAPTER XXVI - THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE TRIUMPHANT
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CALVINISM IN GENEVA
38. The views of Calvin on the subject of Church and State, were as thoroughly theocratic as is the papal system itself. Augustine was his master and model throughout. When at the age of twenty-eight, at the urgent call of Farel, Calvin settled in Geneva, he drew up a condensed statement of Christian doctrine, in fact, a synopsis of his “Institutes,” consisting of twenty-one articles which all the citizens were called up in bunches of ten each, “to profess and swear to, as the confession of their faith.” This method of making a Calvinistic city was gone through with, Calvin himself said, “with much satisfaction.” This oath and confession of faith were made as citizens, not particularly as Church members. They were not asked whether they were converted; they were not required to be Church members; but simply as then and citizens, were required to take the oath and accept this as the confession of their faith.ECE 788.5
39. In fact, the oath of allegiance as a citizen, and the confession of faith as a Christian, were identical. This was at once to make the Church and the State one and the same thing with the Church above the State. Yea, more than this, it was wholly to swallow up the civil in the ecclesiastical power; for the preachers were supreme. It was but another man-made theocracy, after the model of the papacy. Indeed, according to Calvin’s “Institutes,” the very reason of existence of the State, is only as the support and the servant of the Church; and accordingly, when the magistrate inflicts punishment, he is to be regarded as executing the judgment of God. “What we see on the banks of the Leman is a theocracy; Jehovah was its head, the Bible was the supreme code, and the government exercised a presiding and paternal guardianship over all interests and causes, civil and spiritual.”—Wylie. 14[Page 789] “History of Protestantism,” book xiv, chap 10, last paragraph but one. The burning of Servetus was only the plain logic of the governmental system of Calvin, which by his persistency was established in Geneva. It is not without reason that, by one of his admirers, Calvin has been compared to Innocent III. 15[Page 789] Wylie’s “History of Protestantism,” book xiv, end of chap 24.ECE 789.1
40. Calvin’s system of government was not confined to Geneva, however, nor did his idea die with him. It occupies almost as large a place in the subsequent history as does the papacy itself, of which throughout it is so close a counterpart. He himself tried during the reign of Edward VI to have it adopted in England. “He urged Cranmer to call together pious and rational men, educated in the school of God, to meet and agree upon one uniform confession of doctrine according to the rule of Scripture,” declaring: “As for me, if I can be made use of, I will sail through ten seas to bring it about.”—Bancroft. 16[Page 789] “History of the United States,” chap. “Prelates and Puritans.” par. 11. All his personal effort in this direction failed, however. He died May 27, A. D. 1564.ECE 789.2