1. There are no scripture references whatsoever.
2.Pearl : "My meaning is: we must be persuaded not only that as he once formed the world, so he sustains it by his boundless power, governs it by his wisdom, preserves it by his goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and Judgment, bears with them in mercy, shields them by his protection; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does not flow from him, and of which he is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from him, and thankfully ascribe to him whatever we receive. For this sense of the divine perfections is the proper master to teach us piety, out of which religion springs. By piety I mean that union of reverence and love to God which the knowledge of his benefits inspires. For, until men feel that they owe everything to God, that they are cherished by his paternal care, and that he is the author of all their blessings, so that nought is to be looked for away from him, they will never submit to him in voluntary obedience; nay, unless they place their entire happiness in him, they will never yield up their whole selves to him in truth and sincerity." - John Calvin
Problem with the pearl : To help you understand better ,let me help you understand the context In this chapter Calvin says that there is two-fold manifestation of God as first creator and then as redeemer. Then he says he talks is in this chapter talking about only the primitive knowledge of God as creator which can be derived from creation. Aftere that he goes on to attack the wrong view of God , a deistic God as thought of by Epicureus. He never mentions Christ here in defending the right idea of God as opposed to that Epicureus. Epicureus says God just created , Calvin says, "no, he is in complete control running it and is the source of all goodness and perfections."
Men respond to God he says with the right piety just by knowing that God is the one who is taking care of them and who is blessing them just with all the worldly needs , without any pointer to Christ or salvation. That men can have piety just by knowing God as father and provider. This distinction is very important in calvinistic thought , because , though cares enough to give everything to everybody under the sun , he does not love them all the same way to give Christ to all of them. Christ , according to Calvinism is not given to all of world . God loves the world only so much to bless them with earthly things but not eternal things. What sort of love is this , which is being ascribed to God? He is just the contrary of what Calvin is actually saying. He gave his son for the world and he cares for them so much so that he does not want any one to perish but commands everyone everywhere to repent and he is patiently waiting because he wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
3.Pearl : "For, first of all, the pious mind does not devise for itself any kind of God, but looks alone to the one true God; nor does it feign for him any character it pleases, but is contented to have him in the character in which he manifests himself always guarding, with the utmost diligences against transgressing his will, and wandering, with daring presumptions from the right path. He by whom God is thus known perceiving how he governs all things, confides in him as his guardian and protector, and casts himself entirely upon his faithfulness,—perceiving him to be the source of every blessing, if he is in any strait or feels any want, he instantly recurs to his protection and trusts to his aid,—persuaded that he is good and merciful, he reclines upon him with sure confidence, and doubts not that, in the divine clemency, a remedy will be provided for his every time of need,—acknowledging him as his Father and his Lord he considers himself bound to have respect to his authority in all things, to reverence his majesty aim at the advancement of his glory, and obey his commands,—regarding him as a just judge, armed with severity to punish crimes, he keeps the Judgment-seat always in his view. Standing in awe of it, he curbs himself, and fears to provoke his anger............Besides, it is not the mere fear of punishment that restrains him from sin. Loving and revering God as his father, honouring and obeying him as his master, although there were no hell, he would revolt at the very idea of offending him."- John Calvin
Problem with the pearl: Wonderful thoughts about what true piety is . What he declares about the characteristics of true piety are excellent . But his description that true piety can be produced just by apprehending God as the provider of earthly needs and happiness and by apprehending his character , without even hinting about Christ who is the manifestation of God to men is deplorable. Though he says he will deal with Christ as the redeemer in later chapters , it is awful to leave out Christ and the Holy Spirit , the knowledge of whom and the operation of whom are very important for developing true piety.
These I see as a very big shortcoming of this chapter. There are fine things to learn though about the fear of God and the characteristics of true piety , which I request you to look into the pearls and learn , leaving out the trash herein.
"Eat the meat , spit the bone" - Proverb
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