Resources for Reformation Day

Pictured here are a few of our family’s favorite books related to the Reformation. As we approach Reformation Day, I thought it might be useful to recommend some books that will help you remember and celebrate this important time with your children.

A couple of years ago I gathered into one post links to some of the best books we had read up to that time on the Reformation. That post contains links to more complete discussions of the books with further links to where the books can be purchased.

When the Morning Came (in the photo above but not in the previous post just mentioned) is a great story set in the Netherlands during the Reformation. This is a part of the Reformation which is typically not as well known among us.  This book is a long standing family favorite for us and there are three later books which continue the series.

Then, I have included in the photo, Duncan’s War, a story of the Scottish Covenanters from the 16^th century. This is a century later and a second wave of the Reformation. This book by Douglas Bond and the two books which followed to complete the trilogy are among our all-time favorites.

I hope these books might be a blessing to your family as they have been to ours. We are grateful to have the Bible in our own language. We are grateful to have the clear gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone proclaimed around us. We are grateful to God for renewing his church in the Reformation.

(Sorry, the photo for some reason will not stay vertical!)

Calvin on the Value of the Daily Tasks of Motherhood

The Reformers often stress the value of daily faithfulness in the seemingly insignificant things. This was one of the key truths recovered in the Reformation, that God is honored and pleased with obedience in everyday living, not just in what was considered "spiritual."

In Calvin's sermon on 1 Timothy 2:13-15 he makes this point in speaking to wives (and husbands). His comments are important for us to remember today, as well- plus, the reference to killing fleas is a bit humorous today!

although it seems to be a vile thing, a matter of no account, for a woman to take pains about housewifery, to make clean her children when they are arrayed, to kill fleas and other such like, although this is a despised thing, yes and such that many do not even want to look upon it, yet they are sacrifices which God accepts and receives, as if they were things of great price and honorable ... If we take pains, we serve God and not men. 

... and let them consider that when they do their duty and execute their office, God accepts well of it, although men despise it.

 there are a number of fools that when they speak of women’s distaffs, of seeing to their children, will make a scorn of it and despise it.  But what then?  What says the heavenly Judge?  That he is well pleased with it, and accepts it and puts it in his reckoning.  So then let women learn to rejoice when they do their duty, and though the world despise it, let this comfort sweeten all respect they might have that way, and say, “God sees me here and his angels who are sufficient witnesses of my doings, although the world does not approve of them.” 

 

Calvin on Parents’ Duty to Teach their Children

From John Calvin’s sermon on 1 Timothy 5:7-12, here is a great quote on the important parental duty of teaching God’s truth to our children:

When God has given a man children, it is not only that he should have charge to give them bread to eat, but good instruction is the main thing. And this is what we should bestow most pains in. But we see nowadays the exact opposite. It is true that fathers still have some care to bring up their children, but not all. For how many drunkards do we see, who will go and spend in one day at the tavern all that they have gotten in half the week, who waste and devour everything? And their poor children must die for hunger in the meantime. ... But yet the most part take care to nourish their children, but where is instruction? …few men think upon it, to dedicate their children to God, to see that they live well, and that God is honored by them, and that they serve their neighbors. How many are there who see to this? It is true that they will seek fast enough to advance their children, to bring them to credit, to make them rich. But they always lack the most important thing, and the cart is set before the horse.