John Calvin and Lordship salvation

 Although Calvinism today is generally 5-point and either Neonomian or Lordship, in the past one could find more "Free Grace-like" views in Calvinistic authors, including John Calvin. Though John Calvin did not teach Free Grace theology, there are a few similarities.

In John Calvin we find some of his comments to be of high interest. John Calvin seems to have held a high view of assurance, as he declared that "Christ is the mirror of our election". This quote from Calvin has been often quoted by Free Grace authors like Jody Dillow, as he taught an objective view of assurance. 

But if we are elected in him, we cannot find the certainty of our election in ourselves; and not even in God the Father, if we look at him apart from the Son. Christ, then, is the mirror in which we ought, and in which, without deception, we may contemplate our election. Institutes of the Christian Religion 

John Calvin's view of repentance also has similarities to the view of Zane Hodges (although distinct). Calvin held that repentance (defined as turning from sin) is a good work and thus cannot be a condition of eternal life:

To salvation Paul seems to make repentance the ground of salvation. Were it so, it would follow, that we are justified by works. (Calvin's Commentaries, 2 Corinthians 7)

Calvin also later says:

 Repentance is not placed first, as some ignorantly suppose, as if it were the ground of the forgiveness of sins (Institutes)

Looking also at Calvin's view of the rich young ruler, he says:

Hence we infer, that this reply of Christ is legal, because it was proper that the young man who inquired about the righteousness of works should first be taught that no man is accounted righteous before God unless he has fulfilled the law, [620] (which is impossible,) that, convinced of his weakness, he might betake himself to the assistance of faith. I acknowledge, therefore, that, as God has promised the reward of eternal life to those who keep his law, we ought to hold by this way, if the weakness of our flesh did not prevent; but Scripture teaches us, that it is through our own fault that it becomes necessary for us to receive as a gift what we cannot obtain by works.

John Calvin thus did not hold the view that Jesus preached the gospel to the young ruler, but instead showed him his sinfulness and inability to be saved by himself

As regards to faith, Calvin also said:

For, as regards justification, faith is something merely passive, bringing nothing of ours to the recovering of God’s favor, but receiving from Christ what we lack 

Thus Calvin denied that faith is obedience or submission 

It is also notable that John Calvin did not believe in limited atonement, but held to universal atonement.

Who taketh away the sin of the world. He uses the word sin in the singular number, for any kind of iniquity; as if he had said, that every kind of unrighteousness which alienates men from God is taken away by Christ. And when he says, the sin Of The World, he extends this favor indiscriminately to the whole human race; that the Jews might not think that he had been sent to them alone. 

From these comments we can see that the founder of Calvinism, John Calvin did not teach Lordship salvation as held by John McArthur and others. However, he did not either teach Free Grace theology, as his doctrine still held to a form of perseverance. However, we see some aspects of Free Grace theology in his writings.