Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

239
After speaking very highly and justly of Melanchthon and John Gerhard,
Twesten thus characterizes Calvin’s Institutes: —
“Mehr aus einem Gusz, als Melanchthon’s Loci, die reife Frucht eines
tief religiösen und ächt wissenschaftlichen Geistes, mit groszer
Klarheit, Kraft und Schönheit der Darstellung geschrieben, einfach in
der Anlage, reich und gründlich in der Ausführung, verdient es neben
jenen auch in unserer Kirche als eins der vorzüglichsten Werke auf
dem Gebiete der dogmatischen Literatur überhaupt studirt zu
werden.”
Paul Henry.
Doctor of theology and pastor of a French Reformed Church in Berlin,
author of two learned biographies of Calvin: a large one, in 3 vols. (1833–
1844), which is chiefly valuable as a collection of documents, and a
popular one in 1 vol.
From Das Leben Johann Calvins (Hamburg and Gotha, 1846), pp. 443
sqq.
“The whole tendency of Calvin was practical; learning was
subordinate; the salvation of the world, the truth was to him the
main thing. His spiritual tendency was not philosophical, but his
dialectical bent ran principles to their utmost consequences. He had
an eye to the minutest details. His former study of law had trained
him for business.... He was a watchman over the whole Church....
All his theological writings excel in acuteness, dialectics, and
warmth of conviction. He had great eloquence at command, but
despised the art of rhetoric.... Day and night he was occupied with
the work of the Lord. He disliked the daily entreaties of his
colleagues to grant himself some rest. He continued to labor
through his last sicknesses, and only stopped dictating a week
before his death, when his voice gave out.... All sought his counsel;
for God endowed him with such a happy spirit of wisdom that no
one regretted to have followed his advice. How great was his
erudition! How marvellous his judgment! How peculiar his
kindness, which came to the aid even of the smallest and lowliest, if
necessary, and his meekness and patient forbearance with the
imperfections of others!”
Dr. L. Stähelin.