Afterthought
Puritan Board Senior
"To the same effect are the words of the Psalmist (Psalms 115:4, 135:15), "Their idols are silver and gold, the works of men’s hands."
...
It is, moreover, to be observed, that by the mode of expression which is employed, every form of superstition is denounced. Being works of men, they have no authority from God (Isa. 2:8, 31:7; Hos. 14:3; Mic. 5:13); and, therefore, it must be regarded as a fixed principle, that all modes of worship devised by man are detestable." (Institutes Book 1 Chapter 11 Section 4.)
I'm having difficulty seeing what Calvin sees here. I'd appreciate any help in clarifying the argument.
I had never thought of this verse as referring to the mode of worship. It just seems to me to refer to the object of worship. But Calvin sees a "mode of expression" that is used that shows the "works of men's hands" is broader than the object of worship and goes to the mode of worship. What is this mode of expression and how does it support his argument? Calvin then adds some Scripture verses that seem to be support for his conclusion that since they are works of men in the worship of God, they have no authority from God, but I'm having difficulty seeing how those verses support his point since they too seem to refer to the object of worship.
Of course, one might be able to derive from other places how these two things (the object and mode of worship) go together, e.g., by the incident in which the golden calf was made, and then one might be able to use those passages to support the argument Calvin is making, but I don't know how these passages are to work without recourse to those other passages first (as it seems Calvin is using them here).
...
It is, moreover, to be observed, that by the mode of expression which is employed, every form of superstition is denounced. Being works of men, they have no authority from God (Isa. 2:8, 31:7; Hos. 14:3; Mic. 5:13); and, therefore, it must be regarded as a fixed principle, that all modes of worship devised by man are detestable." (Institutes Book 1 Chapter 11 Section 4.)
I'm having difficulty seeing what Calvin sees here. I'd appreciate any help in clarifying the argument.
I had never thought of this verse as referring to the mode of worship. It just seems to me to refer to the object of worship. But Calvin sees a "mode of expression" that is used that shows the "works of men's hands" is broader than the object of worship and goes to the mode of worship. What is this mode of expression and how does it support his argument? Calvin then adds some Scripture verses that seem to be support for his conclusion that since they are works of men in the worship of God, they have no authority from God, but I'm having difficulty seeing how those verses support his point since they too seem to refer to the object of worship.
Of course, one might be able to derive from other places how these two things (the object and mode of worship) go together, e.g., by the incident in which the golden calf was made, and then one might be able to use those passages to support the argument Calvin is making, but I don't know how these passages are to work without recourse to those other passages first (as it seems Calvin is using them here).