Calvin
accused that he teaches Christ is only important and not doctrines and he denies
that
“But we know that the Church is
founded on the doctrine of the prophets and apostles, and that she ought to be
united to Jesus Christ, her head, who is without variableness. So therefore it
is but a bastard church where God's doctrine does not reign as the rule.
Following that rule, we desire that God may be served according to his
commandments, and we reject all new-fangled ways invented to suit the appetite
of men; for it is not lawful for men to impose law or statute upon conscience,
and God moreover has reserved to himself this privilege, to ordain for us whatsoever
seems good unto himself.” Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45463/45463-h/45463-h.htm CCLVI.—To
Monsieur de Saint Laurens From Geneva, ... [1549?]
Calvin
blamed for making salvation cheap grace and good works of no importance and he
denies that “They take occasion on this account to
accuse us of making no account of good works, whereby they do us wrong; for we are far more careful to recommend holy living, than
are any of our adversaries. But in order that men may not deceive themselves by
an overweening confidence, we teach that we are able to do nothing whatever in
our own strength, unless God guides us by his Holy Spirit, and that even when
we had done all, this would afford a far
too feeble ground whereon to found our justification; that we must
therefore have continual recourse to the
mercy of God, and to the merit and passion of Jesus Christ; and that it is
there that we must rest our hope, making no account of all the rest.” Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45463/45463-h/45463-h.htm CCLVI.—To Monsieur de Saint Laurens From Geneva, ... [1549?] Charles
D'Espeville. Pseudonym for John Calvin