[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Tell it to those slaughtered in the Peasant's Revolt or by Cromwell's minions.

Respectfully, Jude -- Calvinists are hardly liable either for Martin Luther's over-estimation of Princely Authority (which resulted in the massacre of the Peasants), or for the excesses of Cromwell (who was the anti-presbyterian Warlord of the Independency; a "Calvinist" of sorts in his Soteriology, but not in his Ecclesiology or Theonomy).

"Calvinism", if read in the light of Calvin's Institutes, rejects both the Tyranny-prone Monarchism of Luther, and also the Demagoguery-prone popular-Congregationalism of Cromwell.

Owing, therefore, to the vices or defects of men, it is safer and more tolerable when several bear rule, that they may thus mutually assist, instruct, and admonish each other, and should any one be disposed to go too far, the others are censors and masters to curb his excess. This has already been proved by experience, and confirmed also by the authority of the Lord himself, when he established an aristocracy bordering on popular government among the Israelites, keeping them under that as the best form, until he exhibited an image of the Messiah in David. (Calvin, "Institutes", Book IV ch. XX)

Calvin established that, amongst both Presbyters and Magistrates, the Presbyterian-Conciliar or "Republican" form of Government -- with its delegation of powers and checks-and-balances -- was the pre-eminent Biblically-ordained form of Human Government.

We Presbyterian Calvinists can hardly be held to account for Luther's crimes; while Lutherans burnt Calvinists at the stake at Leipzig, we Calvinists have always regarded the Lutherans in love as our elder brothers in the Reformation of the Church, if only reserving that they should recognize that Calvin perfected what Luther began.

Nor are we responsible for the excesses Cromwell; according to both the Bible and Calvin's Institutes, the proper form of Human Governance is Presbyterian-Conciliar or "Republican" governance, not the Populist-Demagoguery of Cromwell's Independency.

Best, OP

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

excesses of Cromwell.

mea maxima culpa

[xzins]

This is new to me....I thought you all were always proud of Cromwell.

Good factoid for the day.