John Calvin (July 10, 1509-May 27, 1564) was a renown religious reformer in Geneva, Switzlerland. Calvin's followers were called Calvinists,
With kings and queens killing subjects who believed differently than they did, Calvin wrestled with Romans 13:
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
For most of world history the "governing authorities" were monarchs. Monarchs had subjects who were required to submit to government mandates. A problem arose, though. What if the "governing authority" had mandate to kill you and your family if you believed differently?
Reformers who "protested" were labeled "protestants." Other Protestant Reformers included Martin Luther, Thomas Cranmer, Philip Melanchthon, William Tyndale, Huldrych Zwingli, John Knox, and others.
John Knox escaped England with other Protestant scholars to Geneva, Switzerland. There they met Reformer John Calvin and participated in publishing the Geneva Bible. Through Knox, Calvin's beliefs were introduced into Scotland. In the following centuries, millions of Scots, Scots-Irish, Puritan and Presbyterian immigrants came to America.
Calvin wrote in Institutes on the Christian Religion, 1536:
<The first duty of subjects towards their rulers is to entertain the most honorable views of their office, recognizing it as a delegated jurisdiction from God ... We are always to make this exception ... that such obedience is never to lead us away from obedience to Him, to whose will the desire of all kings ought to be subject ... We are subject to the men who rule over us, but subject only in the Lord. If they command anything against Him let us not pay the least regard to it.>
Calvin wrote in Readings on Prophet Daniel (Geneva, 1561), that when kings disobey God they "automatically abdicate their worldly power":
<They are no longer worthy to be counted as princes ... When they raise themselves up against God ... it is necessary that they should in turn be laid low.>
Calvin's teachings influenced the Puritans who developed a bottom-up form of government. They drew from the ancient Hebrew Republic, that first four hundred year period out of Egypt before they insisted on having a king.
Since the printing press was recently invented by Gutenberg, individuals you have their own copy of the Bible, in their own language. They joined together in covenant with each other and with God to rule themselves without a king.
John Calvin wrote of the Law of Nature in his Institutes (Book Two, Chapter 8 , on the Ten Commandments, Section 1, Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers, p. 186.):
<For conscience, instead of allowing us to stifle our perceptions, and sleep on without interruption, acts as an inward witness and monitor, reminds us of what we owe to God, points out the distinction between good and evil, and thereby convicts us of departure from duty. But man, being immured in the darkness of error, is scarcely able, by means of that natural law, to form any tolerable idea of the worship (godly manner of living) which is acceptable to God. At all events, he is very far from forming any correct knowledge of it. In addition to this, he is so swollen with arrogance and ambition, and so blinded with self-love, that he is unable to survey, and, as it were, descend into himself, that he may so learn to humble and abase himself, and confess his misery. Therefore, as a necessary remedy, both for our dullness and our contumacy, the Lord has given us his written Law, which, by its sure attestations, removes the obscurity of the law of nature, and also, by shaking off our lethargy, makes a more lively and permanent impression on our minds.>1509JC003
John Adams contrasted monarchs with Reformation views in A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1765:
<Desire of dominion ... becomes an encroaching, grasping, restless, and ungovernable power ... Tyranny, cruelty, and lust ... was soon adopted by almost all the princes of Europe ... The people were held in ignorance ... till God in his benign Providence raised up the champions who began and conducted the Reformation. From the time of the Reformation to the first settlement of America, knowledge gradually spread in Europe, but especially in England; and in proportion as that increased and spread among the people ... tyranny ... lost ... strength.>
Suleiman the Magnificent's Ottoman Turks were invading Europe. John Calvin wrote to Philip Melanthon, 1543 (Selected Works of John Calvin: Tracts & Letters, I:373):
<I hear of the sad condition of your Germany!...The Turk again prepares to wage war with a larger force. Who will stand up to oppose his marching throughout the length and breadth of the land, at his mere will and pleasure?> 1509JC005
John Calvin wrote in Commentary of 2nd Thessalonians:
<Since Mohammed was an apostate, he turned his followers, the Turks, from Christ...The sect of Mohammed was like a raging overflow, which in its violence tore away about half of the Church.> 1509JC006
Calvin wrote in Commentary on Daniel:
<Turks have spread far and wide, and the world is filled with impious despisers of God.> 1509JC007
John Calvin wrote in Sermons on Timothy and Titus:
<The Turks at this day, can allege and say for themselves: "We serve God from our ancestors!" - It is a good while since Mahomet gave them the cup of his devilish dreams to drink, and they got drunk with them. It is about a thousand years since cursed hellhounds were made drunk with their follies - Let us be wise and discreet! - For otherwise, we shall be like the Turks and
Heathen.> 1509JC008
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1509JC003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Institutes, Book Two, Chapter 8, on the Ten Commandments, Section 1, Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers, p. 186.)
1509JC005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, 1543, to Philip Melanthon. Selected Works of John Calvin: Tracts & Letters, I: 373.
1509JC006. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Commentary of 2nd Thessalonians.
1509JC007. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Commentary on Daniel.
1509JC008. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Sermons on Timothy and Titus.