Calvin: those the Spirit teaches rest in Scripture as self-authenticating; Institutes 1.7.5
But what the Holy Spirit's testimony actually contributes, and what weight the arguments for Scripture's divine authority have when we give Scripture the faith it deserves — we cannot explain better than in the words of a most famous man speaking on the point.
Let this stand fixed: those the Spirit has taught inwardly rest solidly in Scripture; Scripture is self-authenticating; it is not right to subject it to demonstration and reasoning; and the certainty it deserves among us comes by the Spirit's testimony. Its own majesty does win reverence of itself, yet it first seriously moves us when the Spirit has sealed it on our hearts. Illuminated by that power, we no longer believe Scripture is from God by our judgment or by other people's. Above human judgment we settle more certainly than certain — as if we were beholding God's own deity there — that by human ministry it has flowed to us from God's very mouth.
We do not hunt arguments or probabilities for our judgment to lean on. As for a matter already beyond the hazard of weighing and guessing, we subject our judgment and ingenuity to it. Not as wretched people bind a captive mind to superstitions, but because we feel no doubtful power of the deity thriving and breathing there — and by it, knowing and willing, we are still drawn and kindled to obey more vividly and effectively than human will or knowledge can account for. Such is the persuasion that does not ask for reasons; such the knowledge that has the best reason of all, the one in which the mind rests more securely and constantly than in any reasonings; such, finally, the sense that cannot be born except from heavenly revelation (Calvin, Institutes 1.7.5).
Latin
XXXV. Verum quid Spiritus sancti testimonium conferat, et quid momenti habeant argumenta, quibus authoritas divina Scripturae suadetur, ad hoc ut illi quam par est fidem adhibeamus, non possumus melius explicare quam verbis viri celeberrimi qui sic ea de re loquitur. Maneat ergo hoc fixum, quos Spiritus intus docuit, solide acquiescere in Scriptura, et hanc quidem esse αὐτόπιστον, neque demonstrationi et rationibus subiici eam fas esse: quam tamen meretur apud nos certitudinem, Spiritus testimonio consequi. Etsi enim reverentiam sua sibi ultro majestate conciliat, tunc tamen demum serio nos afficit quum per Spiritum obsignata est cordibus nostris. Illius ergo virtute illuminati, jam non aut nostro, aut aliorum judicio credimus a Deo esse Scripturam: sed supra humanum judicium, certo certius constituimus, non secus ac si ipsius Dei numen illic intueremur, hominum ministerio, ab ipsissimo Dei ore ad nos fluxisse. Non argumenta, non verisimilitudines quaerimus quibus judicium nostrum incumbat: sed ut rei extra aestimandi aleam positae, judicium ingeniumque nostrum subiicimus. Non qualiter superstitionibus solent miseri homines captivam mentem addicere: sed quia non dubiam vim numinis illic sentimus vigere ac spirare, qua ad parendum, scientes quidem ac volentes, vividius tamen et efficacius quam pro humana aut voluntate, aut scientia trahimur et accendimur. Talis ergo est persuasio quae rationes non requirat: talis notitia cui optima ratio constet, nempe in qua securius constantiusque mens quiescit quam in ullis rationibus: talis denique sensus, qui nisi ex caelesti revelatione nasci nequeat. Calv. Instit. lib. 1. c. 7. Sect. 5.
About this text
Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu, Sedan Theses, newly rendered from Latin: from theology proper through the Roman theses I–77 and the Reformed theses of Part Two. The theses only — not the collected works.
English follows locked Pitt Latin through Imaginum CLOSED + Sanctorum Cultu Romana CLOSED + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL. 1675 PDF ~384-390 (book ~370-376); Vision OCR + pdftotext + tess. No modern English. This slice densifies Sanctorum Pars Secunda I-XL. Next: Pars Secunda XLI–fin (~CI). Claim stays claimed (book densify not done).
Catalogue & scope
ESTC R17887; Wing L802. IA bub_gb_eOkHAW4G0-wC (+ EEBO 1675 for gap leaves). Densify through Sanctorum Cultu Romana I-LXXVII + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL (Pars Secunda not closed; not whole folio).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Theologia I-XLIII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Checked print Internet Archive PDF of the 1675 Pitt folio (Latin)
- Checked print pdftotext of De Theologia pages (Latin)
- Checked print Internet Archive DjVu OCR of the 1675 Pitt folio (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Fide I-XXII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Authoritate Scripturae Pars I I-XLVII + Pars II I-XXXV + Pars III I-VIII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Scripturae plenitudine densify (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.