The nature and tendency of the knowledge of God.
We cannot with propriety say, there is any knowledge of God where there is no religion or piety.
There is a twofold knowledge of God:
1) God our Maker supports us by his power, governs us by his providence, nourishes us by his goodness, and follows us with blessings of every kind, and
2) He reveals himself in the person of Christ as Redeemer and Mediator.
God is the only proper object of universal worship and adoration and is the fountain of all good.
Till all men are sensible that they owe everything to God, they will never voluntarily submit to his authority.
It is cold and frivolous to argue on the essence of God. It is better to become acquainted with his character and to know what is agreeable to his nature.
Our knowledge of God should teach us fear and reverence and to praise all that we receive at his hand. He, who truly knows God, confides in him as his Guardian and Protector and unreservedly commits himself to his care.
I liked Calvin’s premise, in the first chapter of Book 1 of the institutes, that without a knowledge of God there can be no true knowledge of one’s self , this, Calvin feels, is the definition of true wisdom. I found that in
ReplyDeletechapter 2 (book 1) of the institutes, I like Calvin’s view that there is no true knowledge of God without piety. I’ve always gone to Matthew, chapter 6, where you find Jesus' definition of piety: care for the poor, prayer and fasting within the preferences, as stated, of the Father. I agree with you that a central point in this chapter is that Calvin feels truth and reverence (fear) for/of God are necessary for a true knowledge of God. I'm reminded that both old and new testament words for "fear" (Hebrew + Greek) actually have a more literal translation: "reverence".