Calvinism - pagina 8
the origin and safeguard of our constitutional liberties
Cahnnism and
650
[Oct.
were formulated, one hundred years before, by the Calvinists in France.
In spite, however, of these clearly-outlined traits of re-
semblance,
in their
plan of colonization, in the
paid to the liberty of conscience,
fundamentals
in politics, the
in their
homage they
morals and
in their
Independents and the Hugue-
nots do not occupy the same standpoint.
Both are repre-
sentatives of Calvinism, but each in a different phase of its
With Robinson, Calvinism is more broadly deLa Noue. This has already
development.
veloped than with de Coligni or
been shown by the violence and bitterness of the troubles between the Independents and the Presbyterians. For the Presbyterians in England
Huguenots proposed
demanded the very thing which the in
France, both for church and state.
In the church they did not want,
what the Independents
for: a circle of free, autonomic congregations. They demanded a thoroughly-organized ecclesiasticism, in which authority was vested with the synod, and from which the in-
asked
fluence and voice of the laity were carefully excluded. this fusion of the free congregations into
In 1559
one church union
was effected, and only in our century has the appointing power of the boards been abolished. Was this a necessary consequence of the Calvinistic
principle.'*
By no means.
In
Switzerland there was no mention at this time of a synodic
During Calvin's lifetime there never was anything more than a consistory in Geneva. Calvin's church was absolutely autonomic. No: the motive for this close organization had another origin; its cause was not ecclesiastical, but political, and was not born of spiritual, but military interests.
bond.
Consider the times. of Amboise, its limit,
sword.
was
In 1559, shortly before the conspiracy
that passive endurance had reached and that the issue was not to be decided but by the The prelude of civil war had begun, and it was well
known, that
it
for
felt
such a war organization, unity of action and
leadership were indispensable, but the idea was not yet born
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Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 januari 1895
Abraham Kuyper Collection | 34 Pagina's
Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 januari 1895
Abraham Kuyper Collection | 34 Pagina's