An Admonition showing, the Advantages which Christendom might derive from an Inventory of Relics E-Book

John Calvin

• Herausgeber: DigiCat
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

John Calvin's book 'An Admonition showing, the Advantages which Christendom might derive from an Inventory of Relics' delves into the controversial topic of relics in the Christian faith. Written in a concise and logical style, Calvin dissects the idea of relics and their place in the faith. He argues for the importance of critically examining and cataloging relics to avoid the superstitions and abuses that often accompany them. Calvin's work reflects the Renaissance interest in scholarship and the desire for reform in the Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation. This book serves as a thought-provoking exploration of religious practices and beliefs of the time. John Calvin, a prominent Protestant reformer and theologian, was known for his critical thinking and dedication to church reform. His profound understanding of Christian theology and history shapes the insightful arguments presented in 'An Admonition'. Calvin's background as a key figure in the Reformation movement gives depth and credibility to his examination of relics. For readers interested in the intellectual history of Christianity and the Reformation, 'An Admonition showing, the Advantages which Christendom might derive from an Inventory of Relics' by John Calvin is a must-read. This book provides valuable insights into the religious debates of the era and showcases Calvin's keen analysis and reformist ideals.

Leseprobe

John Calvin

An Admonition showing, the Advantages which Christendom might derive from an Inventory of Relics

 

EAN 8596547316046

DigiCat, 2022 Contact: [email protected]

Table of Contents

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Titlepage

Text

An Inventory of Relics by John Calvin

ADMONITION,

IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN HOW ADVANTAGEOUS IT WOULD BE FOR CHRISTENDOM THAT THE BODIES AND RELICS OF SAINTS WERE REDUCED TO A KIND OF INVENTORY, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH ARE SAID TO EXIST, AS WELL IN ITALY AS IN FRANCE, GERMANY, SPAIN, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

AUGUSTINE, in his work, entitled, On the Labor of Monks, complaining of certain itinerant impostors, who, as early as his day, plied a vile and sordid traffic, by carrying the relics of martyrs about from place to place, adds, "If; indeed, they are relics of martyrs." By this expression, he intimates the prevalence, even in his day, of abuses and impostures, by which the ignorant populace were cheated into the belief, that bones gathered here and there were those of saints. While the origin of the imposture is thus ancient, there cannot be a doubt that in the long period which has since elapsed, it has exceedingly increased, considering, especially, that the world has since been strangely corrupted, and has never ceased to become worse, till it has reached the extreme wherein we now behold it. But the first abuse, and, as it were, beginning of the evil, was, that when Christ ought to have been sought in his Word, sacraments, and spiritual influences, the world, after its wont, clung to his garments, vests, and swaddling-clothes; and thus overlooking the principal matter, followed only its accessory. The same course was pursued in regard to apostles, martyrs, and other saints. For when the duty was to meditate diligently on their lives, and engage in imitating them, men made it their whole study to contemplate and lay up, as it were in a treasury, their bones, shirts, girdles, caps, and similar trifles.

I am not unaware that in this there is a semblance of pious zeal, the allegation being, that the relics of Christ are kept on account of the reverence which is felt for himself, and in order that the remembrance of him may take a firmer hold of the mind. And the same thing is alleged with regard to the saints. But attention should be paid to what Paul says, viz., that all divine worship of man's devising, having no better and surer foundation than his own opinion, be its semblance of wisdom what it may, is mere vanity and folly. Besides, any advantage, supposed to be derived from it, ought to be contrasted with the danger. In this way it would be discovered, that the possession of such relics was of little use, or was altogether superfluous and frivolous, whereas, on the other hand, it was most difficult, or rather impossible, that men should not thereby degenerate into idolatry. For they cannot look upon them, or handle them, without veneration; and there being no limit to this, the honour due to Christ is forthwith paid to them. In short, a longing for relics is never free from superstition, nay, what is worse, it is the parent of idolatry, with which it is very generally conjoined.

All admit, without dispute, that God carried away the body of Moses from human sight, lest the Jewish nation should fall into the abuse of worshipping it. What was done in the case of one ought to be extended to all, since the reason equally applies. But not to speak of saints, let us see what Paul says of Christ himself. He declares, that after the resurrection of Christ he knew him no more after the flesh, intimating by these words, that every thing carnal which belonged to Christ should be consigned to oblivion and discarded, in order that we may make it our whole study and endeavor to seek and possess him in spirit. Now, therefore, when men talk of it as a grand thing to possess some memorial of Christ and his saints, what else is it than to seek an empty cloak with which to hide some foolish desire that has no foundation in reason? But even should there seem to be a sufficient reason for it, yet, seeing it is so clearly repugnant to the mind of the Holy Spirit, as declared by the mouth of Paul, what more do we require?