Reblog: Calvin on Covenant of Grace

Throwing internet propriety to the wind I shamelessly copy and paste:

I found this while reading Calvin on Isa 5 as part of my research for yesterday’s post.Calvin:

Isaiah does not illustrate every part of the metaphor; nor was it necessary; for it was enough to point out what was its object. The whole nation was the vineyard; the individual men were the plants. Thus he accuses the whole body of the nation, and then every individual; so that no man could escape the universal condemnation, as if no part of the expostulation had been addressed to himself. Why the nation is called a vineyard is plain enough; for the Lord chose it, and admitted it to the covenant of grace and of eternal salvation, and bestowed on it innumerable blessings. The planting is the commencement, and the dressing of it follows. That nation was adopted, and in various respects was the object of Divine care; for the adoption would have been of no avail, if the Lord had not continually adorned and enriched it by his blessings.

The same doctrine ought to be inculcated on us at the present day. Christ affirms that he is the vine, (John 15:1,) and that, having been ingrafted into this vine, we are placed under the care of the Father; for God is pleased to perform towards us the office of a husbandman, and continually bestows those favors which he reproachfully asserts that he had granted to his ancient people. We need not wonder, therefore, if he is greatly enraged when he bestows his labor uselessly and to no purpose. Hence that threatening, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he will cut off, and cast into the fire. (John 15:2,6.).

Calvin, Isaiah 5:7.

David: there are lots of things in there. Firstly, I am still bugged by that claim that anyone who thinks the non-elect are in the Covenant of Grace is a heretic. I know I need to get over this. That fellow was nutter. :-)

Secondly, the reprobate within Israel are subject to grace. This has to follow not only because of what Calvin says with regard to Matt. 5:45, but by virtue of the fact that they are in th Covenant of Grace.

Thirdly, his connection between the OT covenantees and the NT covenantees, as the latter abide in Christ, is fascinating. I am reminded of Paul’s reference to the truth that they all drank from Christ, and yet their bodies littered the desert.

Fourthly, Calvin shows that the Hoeksemian version of the covenant is not Reformed. Calvin here asserts the very thing de Jong outlined from Hoeksema as denying (as I posted yesterday). I’ve never been comfortable with saying that the non-elect within the covenant only have some sort of visible association with the covenant. (I use visible because I cant think of the right turn of phrase at the moment.)

Lastly, Calvin is rich and complex as a thinker and writer. Folk should read the rest of his remarks on Isaiah 5 too. I have only quoted a small section. He really is a man that requires sustained and systemic reading, rather than pot-shot proof-texting.

Reblog over

Here is a later calvinist on the same passage. You will notice it also moves from Isaiah 5 to John 15.

One thought on “Reblog: Calvin on Covenant of Grace

  1. David Ponter

    G’day Mark,

    ha ha ha, thats funny.

    Any comment on the Vermigli material on incarnational union?

    I keep think that the difference between the first and second generation Reformed goes way beyond questions of diversity with regard to form, method, and style, but impacts actual doctrinal content as well. I still think that the Barth-Muller polarity is irrelevant as both miss sides the point.

    Take care,
    David

    Reply

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