John Calvin and the Sacraments

"First we must consider what a sacrament is. It seems to me that a simple and proper definition would be to say that it is an outward sign by which the Lord seals on our consciences the promise of his good will toward us in order to sustain the weakness of our faith; and we in turn attest our piety toward him in the presence of the Lord and of his angels and before men.

"Here is another briefer definition: one may call it a testimony of divine grace toward us, confirmed by an outward sign, with mutual attestation of our piety toward him. "

(Instittues of the Chrisitan Religion, 4.14.1)

Defending God's Truth -- Are We Silent When We Should Making Noise?

John Calvin once said to the Queen of Navarre: "A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." (April 28, 1545).  This insight is also recorded below, with a bit more explanation.  May we have similar courage to that displayed by John Calvikn in defending God's truth.

"A faithful dog barks at the first sound of a thief and risks his own life to protect his master's life and his family-shall the church be plundered by the thieving of the ungodly, shall God's majesty be stamped under foot, shall Christ be robbed of his own kingdom, while we watch and say nothing?"

(John Calvin,  The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, p 19)