Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-06

perhaps TO De Stateu H, dpo'e. -
vim is rightly measured only by Cal
yinism the man by his fruit. Our first
step will be to set forth definitely what
is included in the concept Gavin
ism?" There are many people, l am
sure. who, when that word Is pro-
nounced, think only Of the Presbyterian
church and the theological doctrine OF
lPredestination. 1t will be necessary 20
get rid Of such an idea as that before
we are prepared to discuss our theme
at ALL The Presbyterian church and
iPredestination are both great things;l
but Calvinism Is much greater. Briefly
Calvinism is a system OF thought ~
| Is not a Sectarian or denominationai
Theological tenet. 1t is not merely an
ecclesiastical word. 1t is great prac-ii
tical life philosophy, its premises
planted on fundamental truth, and foi-l
lowed out to their logical conclusionsI
| II is a great intellectual impression
which has left its finger marks on all
the expressions of human life. AS a
system Of thought, 1t had worid
view all its own, and in accordance
with that view it developed life and
character peculiarly its own. When
planted among different people, 1t de-
veloped similar types Of character
They move separately, but with won
derful unanimity toward the same
goals. Calvinism has its peculiar view
Of God, of man, and Of the world, dif-
ferent from all the other great systems
of thought that have prevailed among
men, and out Of Its view on these pro !
foundly important matters came lts
power to form peculiar type of life.
John Calvin was not the originator
of this system Of thought. He was
restorer rather. He was an expresser
of it. He was the thinker Of the rel
ormation, and the great principles
about which he so convincingly wrote
were the principles Of the reforma-,
ton. So Calvinism is that concept OF
life which began that intellectual
awakening from the long night OF dark
ages, and grew into religious, political
and Industrial reformation Of the world
John Calvin came nearer than any
other one man to writing out the whole
system, and so gave his name to 1t;
but no Protestant denomination can
lay claim to the sole possession Of this
great system Of thought. It belongs
to us ALL 1t is our common heritage
from the reformation-the heritage OF
Protestanism.
Now our question is, what has this
great system Of thought done for civil
liberty?
To speak 1.-THE words-"Huguenots,
f"Besgars of Holland, 'Puritans," ''Pil-
grim Fathers" Scotch Irish," Gov
enanters," make US think at once OF
the most thrilling periods Of all the
thrilling history of the fight for human
liberty. These were all Calvinists OF
first water variety, and that shows
that there must have been some con-
nection between the two things. But
what Is it?
II our definition be correct, then,
Of course, the contribution Of Calvin
ism to civil liberty was a certain resid-
uum Of thought-just that and nothing
ing more. Not thought Of its own
creation, but simply leading OF the
world back to the thought Of another
day. Calvin recovered from the intel
lectual debris of q materialistic and
thoughtless age, the principles OF the
worlds greatest teachers-of Moses
and of David and Of the Old Prophets,
and of the Incompatible school which
rose up around the feet Of the Master
Teacher and made forever memorable
the first century Of the Christian era
God chose out few men who were 10
lead the world back to this simple and
profound life-system, and He chose
John Calvin, and endowed him with
the intellectual insight and literary
ability to 80 write out that system
that the world with all its boasted i'm
provement, has found very little to al
ter in all work. OF course, there has
been some progress, some development
In the system since his day, but there
has been no reputation, no funda-
mental changes. They resolved the
human mind with the pure seed Of the
worlds greatest and best system OF
life philosophy, and that seed spring.
ing up and bearing its precious fruit,
has given to the world all the best
blessings which it today enjoys.
But we must now come to our def
mite subject, and ask what are the
thoughts which Calvinism presented
to the world that have helped the
cause Of civil liberty?
l. The first, and perhaps the great
est, because the germ thought, Is that
of the Sovereignty Of Almighty God.
1. Calvinism puts Him upon the
throne. He foreordains whatsoever
comes to pass. He is the sole person
with any inherent right to govern men.
2. Then all human authority is a
derived one. 1t must be in harmony
with the laws Of a Supreme Ruler.
Man owes his first allegiance, his
paramount duty to God; and to men
only as they are the representatives
Of God-and as they do actually rep
resent Him. An unrighteous ruler
forfeits the allegiance Of his subjects.
No man has any right to compel
man in a matter of conscience. The
position Of authority is an official and
accidental one, and is not inherently
personal to any man.
8. Hence Calvinism at once came
into conflict with the theory Of the
Divine Right of Kings. Out Of the
above view Of authority comes the
courage that emboldens common
man to strike at a king-the courage
that dares maintain the right Of appeal
| to the bar Of the King Of kings; that
confidently leads forth her armies to
an unequal contest, trusting to the
God of Hosts to decide the issues
rightly, and to vindicate His own su-
premacy-that Of the right over the
wrong. This explains why Cromwelps
"Ironsides" knelt to pray before the
1 n a IL. ..1-l..1