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

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Calvin knew well enough that the ideal could only be imperfectly realized
in this world, but that it was none the less our duty to strive after
perfection. He often quotes Augustin against the Donatists who dreamed
of an imaginary purity of the Church, like the Anabaptists who, he
observes, “acknowledge no congregation to belong to Christ, unless it be
in all respects conspicuous for angelic perfection, and who, under pretext
of zeal, destroy all edification.” He consents to Augustin’s remark that
“schemes of separation are pernicious and sacrilegious, because they
proceed from pride and impiety, and disturb the good who are weak, more
than they correct the wicked who are bold.” In commenting on the parable
of the net which gathered of every kind (Matt. 13:47), he says: “The
Church while on earth is mixed with good and bad and will never be free of
all impurity … . Although God, who is a God of order, commands us to
exercise discipline, he allows for a time to hypocrites a place among
believers until he shall set up his kingdom in its perfection on the last day.
As far as we are concerned, we must strive to correct vices and to purge
the Church of impurity, although she will not be free from all stain and
blemish till Christ shall separate the goats from the sheep.” f713
Calvin discusses the subject of discipline in the twelfth chapter of the
fourth book of his Institutes. His views are sound and scriptural. “No
society,” he says at the outset, “no house can be preserved in proper
condition without discipline. The Church ought to be the most orderly
society of all. As the saving doctrine of Christ is the soul of the Church, so
discipline forms the nerves and ligaments which connect the members and
keep each in its proper place. It serves as a bridle to curb and restrain the
refractory who resist the doctrine of Christ; or as a spur to stimulate the
inactive; and sometimes as a father’s rod to chastise, in mercy and with the
gentleness of the spirit of Christ, those who have grievously fallen away. It
is the only remedy against a dreadful desolation in the Church.”
One of the greatest objections which he had against the Roman Church of
his day was the utter want of discipline in constant violation of the canons.
He asserts, without fear of contradiction, that “there was scarcely one of
the (Roman) bishops, and not one in a hundred of the parochial clergy,
who, if sentence were to be passed upon his conduct according to the
ancient canons, would not be excommunicated, or, to say the very least,
deposed from his office.” f714