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

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ft788 Commentaria Bibliorum, Zuerich, 1632-39, 7 vols. See Diestel, l.c.,
272 sq., and Strack in Herzog 2 XI. 432 sqq.
ft789 His knowledge of Hebrew was unjustly depreciated by the Roman
Catholic Richard Simon. But Dr. Diestel, a most competent judge,
ascribes to Calvin “a very solid knowledge of Hebrew.” See above, p.
276, and p. 525. Tholuck, also, in his essay above quoted, asserts that
“every glance at Calvin’s Commentary on the Old Testament assures us
not only that he understood Hebrew, but that he had a very thorough
knowledge of this language.” He mentions, by way of illustration, a
number of difficult Hebrew and Greek words which Calvin correctly
explains. He denies that he was dependent on Pellican’s notes, as
Semler had gratuitously suggested.
ft790 He expresses his estimate of the Fathers in the Preface to his Institutes
as follows: “Another calumny is their charging us with opposition to
the fathers; I mean the writers of the earlier and purer ages, as if those
writers were abettors of their impiety; whereas if the contest were to be
terminated by this authority, the victory in most parts of the
controversy, to speak in the most modest terms, would be on our side.
But though the writings of those fathers contain many wise and
excellent things, yet, in some respects, they have suffered the common
fate of mankind; these very dutiful children reverence only their errors
and mistakes, but their excellences they either overlook, or conceal, or
corrupt; so that it may be truly said to be their only study to collect
dross from the midst of gold. Then they overwhelm us with senseless
clamors, as despisers and enemies of the fathers. But we do not hold
them in such contempt, but that if it were consistent with my present
design, I could easily support by their suffrages most of the sentiments
that we now maintain. Yet, while we make use of their writings, we
always remember that ‘All things are ours’ to serve us, not to have
dominion over us, and that ‘we are Christ’s’ alone, and owe him
universal obedience. He who neglects this distinction will have nothing
decided in religion, since those holy men were ignorant of many things,
frequently at variance with each other and sometimes even inconsistent
with themselves.” In the preface to his commentary on the Romans he
praises the Fathers for their pietas, eruditio, and sanctimonia, and adds
that their antiquity lent them such authority, “ut nihil quod ab ipsis
profectum sit, contemnere debeamus.” Compare with this judgment