The Light and Darkness of “the Interim”

I’ve written two posts (here and here) about some quotes in the Adultero-German Interim that I found particularly impressive and beautiful. I felt a little at odds with myself, writing about a document that Calvin so vehemently opposed. However, I came across a statement of his, from his commentary on Exodus 8:25 where he says (emphasis mine):

Our Pharaohs would altogether extinguish God’s glory, and this they madly set themselves to compass; but when reduced to extremities, if there be no further use in professedly contending with Him, they maim and mutilate His worship by a fictitious course, which they call a reformation. Hence arose that mixture of light and darkness, which was named “the Interim.”

John Calvin and Charles William Bingham, Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2010), Ex 8:25.

It was good to see that Calvin recognized the mixture of light that is in there. Sure, the document wasn’t favorable to the reformers, but credit where credit is due. There is some beautiful light in there.