But although we may maintain the sacred Word of God against gainsayers, it does not follow that we shall forthwith implant the certainty which faith requires in their hearts. Profane men think that religion rests only on opinion, and, therefore, that they may not believe foolishly, or on slight grounds, desire and insist to have it proved by reason that Moses and the prophets were divinely inspired. But I answer,that the testimony of the Spirit is superior to reason. For as God alone can properly bear witness to his own words, so these words will not obtain full credit in the hearts of men, until they are sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit. The same Spirit, therefore, who spoke by the mouth of the prophets, must penetrate our hearts, in order to convince us that they faithfully delivered the message with which they were divinely entrusted. This connection is most aptly expressed by Isaiah in these words, "My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever," (Isa. 59: 21.) Some worthy persons feel disconcerted, because, while the wicked murmur with impunity at the Word of God,they have not a clear proof at hand to silence them, forgetting that the Spirit is called an earnest and seal to confirm the faith of the godly, for this very reason, that, until he enlightens their minds, they are tossed to and fro in a sea of doubts. Calvin aptly refuted the claims of RC ownership of Scripture
I have an interest in the above quote for I ~think~ it show the heart of Calvin for the Word and work of God..great reverence for the word of God and the Holy Spirit's work in giving us eyes to see and ears to hear
"I have an interest in the above quote for I ~think~ it show the heart of Calvin for the Word and work of God..great reverence for the word of God and the Holy Spirit's work in giving us eyes to see and ears to hear" Calvin is very firm in arguing that the truth of the Scriptures comes only when one embraces the Scriptures as having "sprung from heaven" and "whole and intact to this very day" AND when combined with the witness of the Holy Spirit.
In other words, the truth will not be gained if one were simply to read the Bible: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;" (1 Cor 1:18)
Madelyne Murray O'Hair knew the scriptures far better than the vast majority of Christians. But that didn't bring her to the truth.
This is also why emphasizing simply relying on a specific Bible translation is vain.
The words of Scripture are "foolishness" to the natural man.
Furthermore, the truth will not be gained if we rely ONLY on the "witness of the Holy Spirit" apart from the Scriptures. This tendency, as we often see in charismatic circles, leads to much confusion and unbiblical doctrines taking root.
No, as Calvin says, we need both the Scriptures AND the "witness of the Holy Spirit" to bring us to the truth in those Scriptures. (1 Cor 1-3)
Jean