Calvin on 'Man before God's majesty'

Each Tuesday morning a group of men from church meet for breakfast and prayer. Every other week we are discussing a chapter of Calvin's institutes. This was the first week, and I love it already! Here's a quote:

...that dread and wonder with which Scripture commonly represents the saints as stricken and overcome whenever they felt the presence of God. Thus it comes about that we see men who in his absence normally remained firm and constant, but who, when he manifests his glory, are so shaken and struck dumb as to be laid low by the dread of death — are in fact overwhelmed by it and almost annihilated. As a consequence, we must infer that man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God’s majesty.

My view of God is too small. Too few times have I been overwhelmed at the sheer holiness of God, compared to my utterly worthless, filthy, sinful self.

It makes the cross even more magnificent.

And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.