Started re-reading Calvin's Institutes and will be posting quotes and reflections up here. Here's the first from Book 1 Chapter 3:
"you cannot behold Him clearly unless you acknowledge Him to be the fountainhead and source of every good. From this too would arise the desire to cleave to Him and trust in Him, but for the fact that man's depravity seduces his mind from rightly seeking Him. For, to begin with, the pious mind does not dream up for itself any god it pleases, but contemplates the one and only true God. And it does not attach to Him whatever it pleases, but is content to hold Him to be as He manifests Himself; furthermore, the mind always exercises the utmost diligence and care not to wander astray, or rashly and boldly to go beyond His will. It thus recognizes God because it knows that He governs all things; and trusts that He is its guide and protector, therefore giving itself over completely to trust in him. Because it understands Him to be the Author of every good, if anything oppresses, if anything is lacking, immediately it betakes itself to His protection, waiting for help from Him. Because it is persuaded that He is good and merciful, it reposes in Him with perfect trust, and doubts not that in His loving-kindness a remedy will be provided for all its ills. Because it acknowledges Him as Lord and Father, the pious mind also deems it meet and right to observe His authority in all things, reverence his majesty, take care to advance His glory, and obey His commandments. Because it sees Him to be a righteous judge, armed with severity to punish wickedness, it ever holds His judgment seat before its gaze, and through fear of Him restrains itself from provoking His anger. And yet it is not so terrified by the awareness of His judgment as to wish to withdraw, even if some way of escape were open. But it embraces Him no less as punisher of the wicked than as benefactor of the pious. For the pious mind realizes that the punishment of the impious and wicked and the reward of life eternal for the righteous equally pertain to God's glory. Besides, this mind restrains itself from sinning, not out of dread of punishment alone; but, because it loves and reveres God as Father, it worships and adores Him as Lord. Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending Him alone." (p.42-43)
Here, Calvin contrasts the unbelieving, depraved mind with the pious mind. At the heart of the difference is a deep commitment to see, fear and adore God as He really is- in other words, as he actually reveals himself in his word- and not as we think He should be or would want Him to be. This adoration and seeing leads to the transformation of every aspect of our lives- and a life lived out of a deep fear and love for the God who made us and has redeemed us.
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