Quote of the Week: Calvin
Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 02:46PM 
(W)e cannot aspire to Him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves.*
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book One, Chapter One
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*I'm going to do something a little different for a while this year with the Quote of the Week posts. I'm re-reading my way through Calvin's Institutes this year, so all the Saturday quotes will be culled from the past week's reading. If you'd like to join me, you can sign up for an account at CCEL (Christian Classics Ethereal Library). Once you have an account, you can begin to read the Institutes online using their wonderful interface. You'll be able to make notes, highlight quotes, and keep your place as you work your way through. A chapter a day is very easily managed.
If you've never read the Institutes before, it's well worth the few minutes a day it takes. Reading a chapter a day, you can finish in about 80 days. A chapter a week will take about a year and a half. I recommend reading at least a chapter a day for continuity's sake.
I'll be linking to the page from which each quote is taken so, if you are interested, you can read the quote in its context.
Let me know if you're reading along. If you'd like to discuss the content of any of the quotes, feel free to leave a comment.
Reader Comments (5)
I started reading The Institutes yesterday, too!
<B>EXCELLENT! Have you read them before? Before I read them (it?) I had the impression that it was a daunting task ahead of me and I was amazed to discover that they are very approachable and pastoral. I'm looking forward to reading them again.
I've never read them, but I'm taking it on with you. I'm signed up and just read up to the Preface to the Reader. I'm excited! Wouldn't have done it now without your suggestion, so thank you, Kim!
I'm enjoying the highlight and note ability. Also, the ability to look up definitions easily and make note of them. Cool system.
Hi Rosemary! CCEL has so much available for study. Once you get started, you'll be hooked! I'm glad you've decided to read along! The Institutes are a good place to start with CCEL.
You're right, Kim. I'm hooked already. I thought CI would be daunting, but I'm loving every minute and find them very understandable and approachable, like you said to Leslie. Again, thanks.
This is a perfect quote for the new year, Kim. I copied it into my journal. XO
Finally catching up on the 100+ posts in reader. I signed up too. Thanks for the info. What an amazing site! Really looking forward to this goal and its finish this year.