This project will be an on going discipline for myself until all 43 chapters/sermons are done. I will be using the NYPL research library by Bryant Park on 42nd Street for this purpose. This is the first time I've checked out reserved materials, which are the only type of materials this library provides, from this great library. I had to submit the call number after obtaining it from one of the catalog terminals, and waited for my assigned number to be called on a digital board. Took about 10-15 minutes (this time) for me to get my requested material. And now I'm about to return this item, very exciting.
Book Summary: John Calvin's Sermons on 2 Samuel Chp 1-13
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Translated by Douglas F. Kelly **
Published by The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992
Introduction:
We have mainly sermons Calvin preached after 1549 because in that year, a professional scribe, Denis Raguenier who has a system of shorthand was hired.
Sunday Sermons (New Testament,sometimes Psalms)
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- 189 sermons on Acts (1549-54)
- short series on Pauline letters (1554-58)
- 65 sermons on the harmony of the gospels (1559-1564)
Weekdays Sermons (Old Testament)
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- Jeremiah, Lamentations (?-1550)
- Minor prophets, Daniel (1550-52)
- 174 sermons on Ezekiel (1552-54)
- 159 sermons on Job (1554-55)
- 200 sermons on Deuteronomy (1555-56)
- 342 sermons on Isaiah (1556-59)
- 123 sermons on Genesis (1559-61)
- short set on Judges (1561)
- 107 sermons on 1 Samuel,
- 87 sermons on 2 Samuel (1561-63)
- a set on 1 Kings (1563-64)
(pg. x, Introduction)
It would appear that John Calvin's rarely preserved sermons are mostly translated into Latin from the French originals which were thrown away after the translation, and few of which have been translated into English. Of all his estimated 4,000 sermons, we have only nearly 1,500 (pg. xi, Introduction).
** I have just contacted Dr. Kelly today (May 9, 2012 - 3:45PM EST), finally, without having to go through any voicemail or even middle operator, he picked up the phone right away after I punch in the extension. I called regarding the translation work on Calvin's 2nd Samuel 14-24...which he replied (with heavy southern accent) due to systematic theological works, he has to wait, if God willing, for about 2 years, to start this project. I thanked him for the work, and promised to pray for him. At the same time, he gave me the resource to the original work (It maybe common knowledge to some, but it is definitely treasure for me): Supplementa Calviniana. Now that the other major collection of Calvin's original works(Opera Omnia) are freely available online, I couldn't be more excited (I was contemplating on buy this collection on DVD which is around 800USD). Praise be to God!
Chapter 1 of 43: (2 Sam. 1:1-16) On Facing Affliction and Divine Judgement (Saturday, May 23, 1562)
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"For we need to be continually tried, because our senses are too attached to this world" pg. 3
Could the young Amalekite be lying for the purpose of boasting? (pg. 4). It doesn't matter, lying or not, he has testified (2Sam 1:16).
On the Annointment of God, "we must honour the Lord for everything that comes from him". pg. 6.
"Indeed,all the punishments which God sends on the sinful should be instructive for us, so that we can learn, as the saying goes, 'at someone else's expense'." pg. 6.
"When his enemies had been defeated like this, David composed a song of praise to the Lord out of these experiences. Nevertheless, he grieved for Saul, who was the worst of his enemies." pg. 7.
"On the other hand, let us not give way to despair, like those who become so grieved and full of lamentation that they refuse the remedy of consolation in God. Rather, let us confess our sins, knowing that our Savior has not ceased to pour out his blessings upon us, even though we have sinned. Then, in the midst of our sorrows, let us recognise all our offences so that he may show himself merciful to us, as he always has done to those who clearly take refuge in him. That is how we can benefit from this teaching." pg. 11
Since Saul disobeyed God by sparing the Amalekite king and properties in 1Sam 15, so God sent this man of the very nation to snatch the crown and royal ornaments from his body, so that he was left in even greater ignominy! pg. 12
On touching the authority God established, "Rather, let us patiently endure the shame, injuries, cruelties, and extortions of those who rule, until God has remedied the matter in a way that is unknown to us. Let us realise that it is his business to uphold those who are unjustly oppressed." pg. 15
"Pray that it will please him to make us feel them more and more the infinite faults of which we are guilty, so that we may ask him to pardon them. And that we may not cease blessing him in our afflictions."
"Thus, may we recognise our offences and, at the same time, may we ever taste the fatherly love he shows us, so that we invoke his name and call upon him until he shows us signs of his favour, after we have felt his wrath." pg. 15.
