Calvin on the death of his wife from his letters
Mike Abendroth
Calvin on the death of his wife from his letters
April 7, 1549
Although the death of my wife has been exceedingly painful to me, yet I subdue
my grief as well as I can. Friends, also, are earnest in their duty to me. It
might be wished, indeed, that they could profit me and themselves more; yet one
can scarcely say how much I am supported by their attentions. But you know well
enough how tender, or rather soft, my mind is. Had not a powerful self-control,
therefore, been vouchsafed to me, I could not have borne up so long. And truly
mine is no common source of grief, I have been bereaved of the best companion
of my life, of one who, had it so been ordered, would not only have been the
willing sharer of my indigence, but even of my death. During her life she was
the faithful helper of my ministry. From her I never experienced the slightest
hindrance. She was never troublesome to me throughout the entire course of her
illness; she was more anxious about her children than about herself. As I
feared these private cares might annoy her to no purpose, I took occasion, on
the third day before her death, to mention that I would not fail in discharging
my duty to her children. Taking up the matter immediately, she said, "I
have already committed them to God." When I said that was not to prevent
me from caring for them, she replied, "I know you will not neglect what
you know has been committed to God."
Thanks.
HBTN
For the King’s honor,
Charis,
Mike Abendroth
Ephesians 3:21 auvtw/| h` do,xa evn th/| evkklhsi,a|
2 Tim 1:2b "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
Thomas Watson, "[Jesus] alone is the Prince of Preachers. He alone is the best of expositors."