[Corin Stormhands]

Chapter V. Part 1. Section 4
Whether they will or not, they cannot but know that these are proofs of his Godhead, and yet they inwardly suppress them. They have no occasion to go farther than themselves, provided they do not, by appropriating as their own that which has been given them from heaven, put out the light intended to exhibit God clearly to their minds.

I think that's the part of Chapter V we're looking at. Right ksen?

The light was "intended to exhibit God" (we must assume intended by God) but man thwarts that. Am I reading you right ksen?

In other news, have we seen ANY reference to scripture yet? I've not read all six thoroughly, but still...

[ksen]

I think that's the part of Chapter V we're looking at. Right ksen?

The light was "intended to exhibit God" (we must assume intended by God) but man thwarts that. Am I reading you right ksen?

Yes, that is the part and you are reading me right.

In other news, have we seen ANY reference to scripture yet? I've not read all six thoroughly, but still...

Yeah, we had some Scripture and Augustine a chapter or two ago.

[CCWoody]

The light was "intended to exhibit God" (we must assume intended by God) but man thwarts that. Am I reading you right ksen? ~ Corin Stormhands

While it is appropriate to say that man "put out the light intended to exhibit God clearly to their minds," it is entirely inappropriate to say that man has somehow thwarted the will of God. The will of God is this:


... to manifest his perfections in the whole structure of the universe, and daily place himself in our view, that we cannot open our eyes without being compelled to behold him. P1 S1

This is why Paul tells us in Romans 1:20 that they are without excuse. You cannot say that Calvin is asserting that God's will is somehow thwarted. On the contrary, Calvin asserts that "we cannot open our eyes without being compelled to behold him." Calvin goes on to say in section 4 that "To hold that there are organs in the soul corresponding to each of its faculties, is so far from obscuring the glory of God, that it rather illustrates it."

It does seem rather clear to me that Calvin is asserting that the truth supressing wickedness in man's souls does not obscure the glory of God, but, rather, it illustrates it. You cannot assert that Calvin is saying that Man is thwarting God. Good grief, in the very act of the man himself supressing the light intended to exhibit God clearly to their minds, they are actually rendering themselves without excuse in their judgment. It is a free will thing you know. Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind.

Now, that ought to give you some pause. The truth supressing wickedness in man's soul illustrates the glory of God. Hmmm! Now where do we see that?

Woody.

Pro 25:2 [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing....