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A Case of Calvin vs. the Calvinists? Calvin and Owen on Liturgy

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde in John Owen

Over at the Old Life Theological Society, Dr. Darryl Hart (Darryl, do you still have that sacred candle of the BVM the Zwingli Club gave you back in my days at WSC?) has posted on an interesting issue, whether there is continuity or discontinuity between Calvin (whom Hart typifies as Presbyterianism) and Owen (whom Hart typifies as Puritanism) on the issue of liturgy, especially set forms of prayer. He is citing from a blog by my friend, former parishioner, and now colleague, Rev. Mike Brown, in which Brown argues for continuity between Calvin (who had a Form of Church Prayers) and Owen (who argued against an imposed liturgy).

You can read some of my thoughts on this in the comments on Hart’s post, but suffice it to say it is a complicated question (isn’t all history this way?). Sure, Calvin and Owen lived at different times and under different circumstances, which answers some of the question. Yet, was Owen against all “liturgy?” Depends on what you mean, whose liturgy, and the necessity of such liturgy. Was Owen against all forms of prayer? Again, it depends on what treatise you are reading, when it was written, and for what purpose a form of prayer is offered.

I hope my ThM thesis on The Liturgical Theology of John Owen sheds some light. I think the answer is that there is essential continuity in terms of the principles of Reformed worship but legitimate discontinuity in terms of the practice of liturgical prayer. This discontinuity is more than just a result of their historical circumstances, but a deeply held theological principle for Owen regardless of when and where he ministered.

So far my thesis revolves around five key principles for Owen, found in such writings as “A Discourse Concerning Liturgies, and Their Imposition,” “A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God,” “A Discourse of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer,” and his massive Hebrews exposition. These principles are 1) the sufficiency of Scripture, 2) the freedom won for the Church by Christ, 3) the work of the Holy Spirit, 4) the catholicity of the Reformation, and 5) the heavenly priesthood of Christ. I pray my thesis holds water academically and also helps the Reformed churches practically in our time and place.

Tags: Calvin, Holy Spirit, liturgy, Owen, prayer