The Calvinist International
For John of Salisbury, virtue is necessary for man, but knowledge is necessary for virtue, but grammar is necessary for knowledge, but grace is necessary for grammar. Quite a catena causarum, but it’s his, and he’s sticking with it. More expansively: In Metalogicon 1.23, a chapter preceded by the titulus “What things are important for […]
Philip Melanchthon is nothing if not consistent in the way in which he handles the appropriation of classical, and particularly Aristotelian, thinking about virtue for the benefit of Christians (a topic treated recently at Mere Orthodoxy). Melanchthon finds Aristotle (or an eclectically ressourced Aristotle) of special use for political purposes, provided that his insistence be granted that […]
King James I on the need for a ruler to have a virtuous life (archaic spelling updated): But it is not enough to be a good King, by the scepter of good Laws well execute to govern, and by force of arms to protect his people; if he join not therewith his virtuous life in […]
Philipp Melanchthon, in his Philosophiae moralis epitome (Summary of Moral Philosophy), has this to say about his (Aristotelian) view of virtue, and the relation of knowledge, will, and reason in the doing of virtue: Est autem simplicissima et planissima definitio in philosophia: Virtus est habitus, qui inclinat voluntatem ad obediendum rectae rationi. Duae sunt enim […]
Believe me, I know it’s been too long without a Hemmingsen post. And I intend to give the people what they want. Late in his treatise On the Law of Nature, Hemmingsen discusses the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance). He further divides these virtues into their component virtues (and regularly discusses the vicious […]
For Augustine in City of God 21.16, your best life now consists in waging war against the flesh as long as you live. But the power to fight this war comes only from God, and is accessed only through faith: And indeed this victory cannot be sincerely and truly gained but by delighting in true […]
Carl Trueman writes on the value of the Angelic Doctor for Protestant (and other) Christians today: I have considered Thomas a treasured source ever since. In fact, I believe he is perhaps more important now than ever before, for we live in an age where Christians need to think clearly. Clear thinking depends upon precise […]
In his commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus has a section entitled “From What Does It Appear That There Is A God?” where he lists 11 arguments for God’s existence. Many of these are familiar, the argument from creation, rational causality, and morality, but the 8th argument stands out as delightful. We might call […]
Warren Fahra meditates on the blessing of friendship for society in the case of the Inklings, and offers them as an example of what friendship can be more broadly. He says: If our encounter with the Inklings shows us anything, it must be the fresh, dynamic, creative power of friendship. Yes perhaps all the works […]
There is a well-worn saying (and we should all try to wear it well) that the abuse of a good thing does not take away its proper use (abusus non tollit usum). So, for instance, the fact that Bobby Knight might use a chair as a weapon of his warfare does not destroy the additional fact […]