Gospel-Driven Quote of the Week (8-9-10)
Aug 9, 2010
“Commonly, when they would prepare men to eat worthily, they have tortured and harassed pitiable consciences in dire ways…They said that those who were in a state of grace ate worthily. They interpreted “in state of grace” to mean to be pure and purged of all sin. such a dogma would debar all the men who ever were or are on earth from the use of this Sacrament. For it is a question of our seeking worthiness by ourselves, we are undone; only despair and deadly ruin remain to us. Although we try with all our strength, we shall make no headway, except that in the end we shall be most unworthy, after we have labored mightily in the pursuit of worthiness.
By its immoderate harshness it deprives and despoils sinners, miserable and afflicted with trembling and grief, of the consolation of this Sacrament; yet in it, all the delights of the gospel were set before them. Surely the devil could find no speedier means of destroying men than by so maddening them that they could not taste and savor this food with which their most gracious Heavenly Father had willed to feed them. In order, therefore, not to rush headlong to such ruin, let us remember that this sacred feast is medicine for the sick, solace for sinners, alms to the poor…Therefore, this is the worthiness- the best and only kind we can bring to God- to offer our vileness and (so to speak) our unworthiness to Him so that His mercy may make us worthy of Him; to despair in ourselves so that we may be comforted in Him; to abase ourselves so that we may be lifted up by Him; to accuse ourselves so that we may be justified by Him."
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4.17.41-42.
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