Some other thoughts on my current reading of Calvin's Institutes

Michael Servetus, the heretic who was killed under John Calvin was onto Calvin on some points. Servetus himself I'm sure was a deeply confused and hard hearted man. He lived quite a while espousing his heresies around and given plenty of time to repent, but he wouldn't. I do disagree with his being killed. He did have some interesting points that showed some inconsistency on the part of Calvin I think. Calvin, in Book 4 Chap. 16 of the 2nd Vol. of the Institutes, interacts with Servetus on his heretical Anabaptist views that only adults should be baptized. Calvin demonstrates why children should be baptized. Servetus, in one part, says that whoever is baptized should be admitted to the table. Calvin then tries to say that no, if you are baptized you don't come to the table until "the time of examination..." I do think John Calvin was inconsistent here in not allowing children to come to the Lord's Supper on account of their baptism and faith that God has given them by grace. Instead he says, "by baptism they are admitted into Christ's flock, and the symbol of their adoption suffices them until as adults they are able to bear solid food." So, we can come to the Table only when we can eat and bear spiritual "solid" food? But how do we grow in faith? Little children, spiritually and physically, grow to mature faith and mature physical stature through eating basic faith/food until we all grow up unto the head, the matue man, unto Christ.

God has given wine to gladden man's heart...Ps 104:15

Deuteronomy 14:26
And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.



On taking vows against alcohol Calvin says: "If you vow abstinence from wine as though something holy inhered in this act, you are superstitious; if you look to some other not perverted end, no one can disapprove."