Calvinism a life-system - pagina 83

CALVINISM AND RELIGION.

way

phenomenal

into the

79

Hfe of the church

upon

earth.

National differences of morals, differences of disposition

and of emotions,

different degrees

necessarily

insight,

and then another

numerous

resulted

and

sects

there are

side

_

same

by

which the

virtue of this principle.

they

all

their

sacerdotalism,

to

sition

owe

may

Calvinistic

full

no small degree, even such as

in

article of

bitterly

our confession

to a deep-rooted oppo-

origin

and

one,

into

denominations which

oppose more than one capital yet

first

and

Hence the

have departed from the rich deep and Confession,

life

truth.

denominations

external church-life has fallen

So on our

emphasizing

in

side of the

depth of

in

acknowledgment of

to the

the church as the "congregation of believers", the truth in

which Calvinism expressed

And

although

this fact

and even

rivalry,

its

fundamental conception.

unavoidably led to

an experience of three centuries multiformity,

that this

with

the fundamental

much more religious

which

is

to

it

;

yet, after

must be confessed

inseparably connected

thought of Calvinism, has been

favourable to the growth and prosperity of

life

than the compulsory uniformity

others sought the very basis of is

much unholy

conduct

to sinful errors of

its

strength.

be expected more abundantly

still

in

in

which

And

fruit

the future,

provided only that the principle of ecclesiastical liberty does not degenerate into indifference, and that no church, Avhich,

in

Calvinistic

its

name and

banner,

omits

confession to

fulfil

still

its

upholds

the

holy mission of

re'commending to others the superiority of its principles. .

Still

another point must be brought forward

connection.

The

in this

conception of the Church as the "con-

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