Against the persecution of a tyrant the godly have no remedy but prayer.
John CalvinRead
Hence that dread and amazement with which as Scripture uniformly relates holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God. Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the profound impact of encountering the divine, highlighting human insignificance in the presence of God.
In this quote, John Calvin emphasizes the overwhelming experience holy men face when they come into contact with the divine presence of God. It suggests that true awareness of our own insignificance is often realized in the light of encountering something far greater than ourselves, which can evoke both dread and awe, and challenges us to reflect on our place in the universe.
Themes
GodInsignificancePresenceDivineHumility
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon, a pastor might reference this quote to illustrate the importance of humility before God.
More from John Calvin
All quotes →The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.
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Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty.
John CalvinRead
Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of His fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil.
John CalvinRead
For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any book, however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written, are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.
John CalvinRead
When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.
John CalvinRead
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