ome convicting thoughts from John Calvin, collected from chapter one of The Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life:

"For why were we delivered from the quagmire of iniquity and pollution of this world, if we want to wallow in it as long as we live?"

"Since Christ has united us to his body as his members, we should be anxious not to disgrace him by any blemish."

"Since the Holy Spirit has dedicated us as temples of God, we should exert ourselves not to profane his sanctuary, but to display his glory."

"The apostle denies that anyone actually knows Christ who has not learned to put off the old man, corrupt with deceitful lusts, and to put on Christ. External knowledge of Christ is found to be only a false and dangerous make-believe, however eloquently and freely lip servants may talk about the gospel."

"Our religion will be unprofitable if it does not change our heart, pervade our manners, and transform us into new creatures."

However, after all this tough talk regarding our pursuit of the holiness to which we are called, Calvin offers some comfort and encouragement:

"We should not insist on absolute perfection of the gospel in our fellow Christians, however much we may strive for it ourselves. It would be unfair to demand evangelical perfection before we acknowledge anyone as a Christian. There would be no church if we set a standard of absolute perfection, for the best of us are still far from the ideal, and we would have to reject many who have made only small progress."

"But let everyone proceed according to his given ability and continue the journey he has begun. There is no man so unhappy that he will not make some progress, however small. Let us not cease to do the utmost, that we may incessantly go forward in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair because of the smallness of our accomplishment."

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