Introduction

this meant immediately that we can see that “the whole redounds to the honor and glory of him who has given us this intelligence.”7 Looking at the past, we see how God has ruled the world and we thus arrive at ourselves and draw the necessary conclusions from the insight. Investigating the past, we should “contemplate the works of God that he might be glorified by us.”8 For Calvin that was the essence and purpose of historical study. As he said in sermon 31 on Job (33, 385 [on 8:7-13]),9 history is “an ocean and abyss of wisdom.” Naturally, he went on, mere pleasure in reading, mere historical interest in the past, would be a “kind of vanity.” History must be for us a school in which we “learn to regulate our lives” !® in the knowledge that from the creation of the world God has at all times ruled in his church. Even more important in this respect is a passage from sermon | on Ephesians (51, 250 [on 1:1]) in which Calvin comments on the words tois hagiois tois ousin en Epheso that though the name of the city is given, the teaching is for all of us (commune). God meant it to be used by us, and we should accept it as though Paul were alive among us. Indeed, we should not pay heed merely to Paul but to him who sent him. For Paul died when he had run his course, but the Spirit of God is immortal. If I may interject a brief word, in making Calvin the object of the semester's study, we shall not do violence to him if we look at him from the same standpoint as he did at Paul, or, I might add, as Paul did at Abraham: “Il est trespassé aprés avoir achevé sa course: mais cependant |’Esprit de Dieu est immortel.”!!

But what does the saying that history is life’s teacher mean? I have given you an example of how I understand it. Three things it cannot mean. First, we cannot stop at establishing that four hundred years ago Calvin said this or that. We may have excellent documentation. We may argue the point cogently. What we establish may be interesting in itself. But to stop there would be to deny that history is life’s teacher, and, I would add, it would be to deny the immortal Spirit of God whom Calvin heard speaking through Paul even though Paul was long dead. It may well be true and worth noting that Calvin said this or that, but if we are not taught by it then — I venture to say — his statements are not historical.

7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., 683.
9° GR'33; 383:
10. Ibid.
11. GR 5159250,