Part 2

CCLXXXVI. TO OSWALD MYCONIUS.--Recommendations regarding the dispute with Bolsec--request on behalf of the Protestants of France, 326

CCLXXXVII. TO CHRISTOPHER FABRI.--Calvin's dissatisfaction with the reply of the ministers of Bâle, and the conduct of Monsieur de Falais regarding the affair with Bolsec, 327

CCLXXXVIII. TO FAREL.--Recommendation of a schoolmaster-- complaints against the ministers of Zurich, 328

CCLXXXIX. TO LELIO SOCIN.--Refusal to reply to the curious questions proposed to him by Socin, 330

1552.

CCXC. TO BULLINGER.--Thanks for the zeal manifested on behalf of the faithful in France--complaints of the conduct of the ministers of Zurich in the affair of Bolsec, 331

CCXCI. TO FAREL.--Fresh complaints by Calvin against the ministers of Zurich and Berne--his unpopularity in the latter city--advices to Farel, 335

CCXCII. TO MADAME DE CANY.--Rigorous and inflexible spirit of Calvin against heresy--praise of Theodore Beza, 338

CCXCIII. TO BULLINGER.--Journey of Calvin and Farel in Switzerland--steps in favour of the Reformed in France--return to the affairs of Bolsec, 341

CCXCIV. TO CRANMER.--Agreement to the proposal for assembling a General Synod for the more close union of the Reformed Churches, 345

CCXCV. TO BULLINGER.--Fresh details regarding the persecutions in France, 349

CCXCVI. TO THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS,--MARTIAL ALBA, PETER ESCRIVAIN, CHARLES FAVRE, PETER NAVIHERES, BERNARD SEGUIN.--Information on various doctrinal points, and assurances of Christian sympathy, 350

CCXCVII. TO EDWARD VI.--Dedication of a new work, and Christian exhortations, 354

CCXCVIII. TO CRANMER.--Calvin exhorts him to prosecute with fresh zeal the reformation of the Church in England, by purging it of the relics of Popery, 356

CCXCIX. TO JOHN LINER.--Thanks for the zeal manifested by him on behalf of the prisoners of Lyons, 358

CCC. TO THE FRENCH CHURCH IN LONDON.--Exhortations to harmony--Is it lawful to call Mary the Mother of God, and to pray for the Pope? 360

CCCI. TO THE SEIGNEURS OF GENEVA.--Reply of Calvin to the Syndics of Geneva in the case of Trolliet, 363

CCCII. TO FAREL.--Conspiracy of the Libertins--energy of the Reformer--struggles of Viret at Lausanne, 370

CCCIII. TO VIRET.--Literary labours of Theodore Beza, 372

CCCIV. TO AMBROISE BLAURER.--Troubles at Geneva--sad intelligence from France and Germany--steady in the promises of God, 373

CCCV. TO MELANCHTHON.--Earnest desires for the continuance of their mutual affection--disputes with Trolliet--longing for agreement in doctrine regarding the Communion and Election, 375

CCCVI. TO MONSIEUR DE FALAIS.--Rupture of Calvin with the Seigneur, 381

1553.

CCCVII. TO MATHIEU DIMONET.--Exhortation to patience and constancy under persecution, 384

CCCVIII. TO CHRISTOPHER FABRI.--Congratulations on the subject of his approaching marriage--Calvin's regret that he cannot be present at the ceremony, 387

CCCIX. TO JOHN CHEKE.--Calvin apologizes for silence, and enjoins him to use his influence with the King for the advancement of the Gospel in England, 389

CCCX. TO THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS.--Exhortations to constancy--mention of Oritz the Inquisitor, 391

CCCXI. TO EDWARD VI.--Recommendation of a French gentleman, a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel, 393

CCCXII. TO FAREL.--Serious illness and unexpected recovery of Farel--Calvin's joy, 395

CCCXIII. TO CHRISTOPHER AND TO THOMAS ZOLLICOFFRE.--Last steps in favour of the prisoners of Lyons, 396

CCCXIV. TO CRANMER.--He entreats his influence in favour of the person already recommended to the King, 398

CCCXV. TO MONSIEUR DE MAROLLES.--Christian encouragement and consolation, 399

CCCXVI. TO VIRET.--Extinction of all hope in regard to the prisoners of Lyons, 401

CCCXVII. TO BULLINGER.--Assurances of respect and fraternal affection, 402

CCCXVIII. TO THE FIVE PRISONERS OF LYONS.--He exhorts them to steadfastness unto the end, in the assurance of eternal joy reserved in heaven, 404

CCCXIX. TO MADAME DE CANY.--Expression of Christian sympathy under trial, 408

CCCXX. TO THE PRISONERS OF LYONS.--He impresses on them the duty of maintaining their confession of the truth quietly and modestly, 411

CCCXXI. TO BULLINGER.--Expression of regret for the death of the King of England--sad condition of the German Churches, 414

CCCXXII. TO FAREL.--Arrest of Servetus, and institution of the process against him, 416

CCCXXIII. TO DENIS PELOQUIN AND LOUIS DE MARSAC.-- Information regarding various controverted points--exhortation to fidelity, even unto martyrdom, 418

CCCXXIV. TO HIS DEARLY BELOVED THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH OF FRANKFORT.--Request for the destruction of the copies at Frankfort of the book of Servetus, 422

CCCXXV. TO VIRET.--Troubles at Geneva--Berthelier and the chiefs of the Libertins are refused admission to the Lord's Table, 423

CCCXXVI. TO BULLINGER.--Deep anxiety on account of the condition of the English Churches--Conference of the Swiss Churches in regard to Servetus, 425

CCCXXVII. TO SULZER.--Statement of the errors of Servetus, and of the duty of the Christian magistrate to repress them, 427

CCCXXVIII. TO A CAPTIVE LADY.--He consoles her under her trials, and exhorts her to use every means to secure her retreat to Geneva, 430

CCCXXIX. TO THE BELIEVERS IN THE ISLES.--Religious counsels, and announcement of the sending of a minister, 432

CCCXXX. TO FAREL.--Acknowledgment of Farel's care for the Church of Geneva, 434

CCCXXXI. TO FAREL.--Deliverance by the Swiss Churches regarding Servetus--vain efforts of Calvin to obtain a mitigation of his punishment, 435

CCCXXXII. TO MADAME DE PONS.--He encourages her to come out of the spiritual bondage in which she is held, 436

CCCXXXIII. TO VIRET.--Recommendation of several English refugees in Switzerland, 439

CCCXXXIV. TO BULLINGER.--Appeal to the Magistrates of Zurich in reference to ecclesiastical discipline--thanks for the aid afforded by the ministers of that Church in the affair of Servetus, 440

CCCXXXV. TO THE PASTORS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH OF ZURICH.--Account of the struggles at Geneva for the maintenance of ecclesiastical discipline-- appeal to the Pastors of Zurich for their influence with the magistrates of that town, 442

CCCXXXVI. TO BULLINGER.--Fresh details regarding ecclesiastical discipline--hope of speedy realization--announcement of the publication of a book against the errors of Servetus, 447

CCCXXXVII. TO FAREL.--Assistance afforded to the faithful refugees in Switzerland--reply of the Churches on the subject of ecclesiastical discipline, 448

CCCXXXVIII. TO AN ITALIAN LADY.--He exhorts her to withdraw, by a voluntary exile, from the persecution and idolatry reigning in Italy, 450

CCCXXXIX. TO A SEIGNEUR OF JERSEY.--Christian exhortations-- sending of a minister, 453

CALVIN'S LETTERS.

CXLIV.--TO VIRET.[1]

[1] The letters of the Cantons to the King, in favour of the Vaudois of Provence, only served to irritate that monarch. He passionately replied,--"The Vaudois have but received the just punishment of their crimes. Besides, the Swiss have no more right to busy themselves with what passes in my kingdom, than I have to make inquiry into what they do at home."--_Histoire de la Confédération Suisse_, vol. xi. p. 289. The failure of those proceedings redounded to the discredit of Calvin with the people, as he had been the instigator of them. His adversaries went about reiterating everywhere that he had compromised the most valued interests of the Cantons, by drawing upon them the enmity of the King of France.

Unpopularity of Calvin--various advices.

[GENEVA, _September 1545_.]

When a crowd of the godly had come hither, and I heard some things which it was of great consequence you should know, I wished two of them at once to set out for you. You will understand that Satan seeks by every sort of artful contrivance to keep all men from thinking of succouring these people, and to give a keener edge to the ferocity of the King and courtiers, which is already more than sufficiently whetted against them. The Swiss also are uncommonly severe upon me, not only the pensionaries, but all those who have no other wisdom than that of Epicurus, because, by my importunity, I have drawn down upon their nation the hatred of the King. But may there be nothing of such moment as shall retard us in the discharge of our duty beyond what cannot be avoided.

Charles the schoolmaster, on whose account Sebastian abused me, has deserted his post, induced by what prospect I know not. We have appointed Francis his successor; but as he had received one month's payment out of the salary of your school, it seemed the more honourable course that he should previously request permission and his discharge from the Bernese Council, a matter in which, as I trust, there will be no difficulty. A maternal uncle also of our colleague Peter sought a recommendation [for him,] which he brings with him. If you think it called for, you will likewise lend the aid of your suffrage. We have always found him an excellent and ingenuous man, peaceable and modest. He is said, for instance, to have laboured faithfully, and with success, in the vineyard of the Lord in Provence.

Adieu; may the Lord be ever present with you.--Yours,

JOHN CALVIN.

[_Lat. orig. autogr._--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 106.]

CXLV.--TO MONSIEUR DE FALAIS.[2]

[2] Letter without date, written at the same time as the following, (September 1545.) Summoned in the name of the Emperor to leave Strasbourg and return to Brabant, M. de Falais had not obeyed that command. This refusal, in stirring up the imperial displeasure against him, had exposed him, without defence, to the interested denunciations of his enemies. The butt of most calumnious accusations, he saw his character misunderstood, his name outraged, his property put under sequestration, while he pined away himself--a prey to sickness and discouragement.

Exhortation to glorify God amid poverty and persecution.

[_September 1545._]

MONSIEUR,--Although I do not know the state of mind or body in which you are at present, nevertheless, I have good confidence in God that, whether in health or sickness, he gives you strength to overcome all the annoyance you may have to encounter. For you are no novice in the fight, seeing that for a long time past the good Lord has begun to prepare you for it; and nothing has happened to you which you had not looked for beforehand. But it is time to show in reality that when you have set yourself frankly to follow Jesus Christ, you have not done so without being resolved to hold fellowship with him at the cross, since he has done us that honour to be crucified in us, to glorify us with himself. And there is no doubt, even at the time when you were in your own mansion, and in the peaceable enjoyment of your property, you would have had the courage to quit everything had it so pleased him, and that you were of the number of those who _use the things of this world as not abusing them_, (1 Cor. vii. 31.) But, forasmuch as it is very reasonable that one should be taught by experience to discern what our affection is most set upon, you are to consider that it has been our Lord's will to give you to many others for an example, and, by this means, to glorify his name in you.

On the other hand, we know not what it is to part with everything for the love of him, until he has brought us to the test. True it is, that he who has taken off his affection from the goods of this world has already sold all, and has made himself poor, so far as depends upon himself; but the fruit and the proof of this spiritual poverty are, patiently to endure the loss of worldly goods, and without any regret, when it pleases our heavenly Father that we should be despoiled of them. I do not set these things before you as to one who is ignorant, or who has need of lengthy remonstrances, but for the love that I bear you, of which God is my witness. I take comfort along with you, as I also suffer in your person.

The time then is arrived when you must manifest that you reckon all things no more than dung, that you may reach forward to Him who not only has bestowed on you all his benefits, but also himself. And since God has permitted that you should be disburdened of a part of your worldly goods, you are to consider that he has clearly perceived that, for the present, they would prove a useless fardel for you. I say a part, albeit that, as it were, the whole has been snatched away from you, yet, so that there remains, as I hope, an abundance for your use. These whirlpools, however, which engulf the whole world, have daily greater want than those whose substance they have swallowed down.

In short, you have not been lessened one whit, seeing that our Lord, while teaching you that your inheritance is in heaven, has made provision for what might be useful for the life of the body, by bestowing contentment upon you, and, as regards property, more than was needful to make you contented. If the whole should be taken away from you, there would yet remain the consolation to which we must chiefly betake ourselves, namely, to yield ourselves up entirely. It is certain, that having the Son of God, we suffer no injury in being deprived of all else: for thus highly ought we indeed to prize him. But further, since this kind Saviour has so benignly upheld you, that while calling you to the fellowship of his cross, he has provided for your worldly comfort, it is quite fitting that you submit yourself to his good pleasure, and, besides, rejoice that in being minished, so far as the world is concerned, you are thereby so much the more exalted before him and his angels. For howsoever the world strives, by all means, to bury Jesus Christ in ignominy, his burial cannot be otherwise than glorious, not only in himself, but also in his members. Let us therefore endure personal humiliation, as shall seem good to him. But my letters would never come to an end were I to follow out the drift of this discourse. Therefore, Monseigneur, after having humbly commended me to your kind favour, I pray our good Lord that he would so work in you now more powerfully than ever, to make you despise all that is in the world, and to make you breathe upwards direct to him with your whole heart, without being turned aside by anything whatsoever, making you taste what is the worth of the hope which he reserves for us in heaven; and that it may please him to lighten your burden as regards the body, in order that you may be all the better disposed, well to meditate upon the favours he has bestowed upon you, and to take delight in them, acknowledging the love which he has shewn you. My wife, who is sick in bed, begs also to be humbly commended to your kind remembrance. This bearer, who is of the better sort, and of the stamp such as you require, will inform you more at large concerning our state.

Your humble brother, servant, and assured friend,

JOHN CALVIN.

[_Fr. orig. autogr._--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 194.]

CXLVI.--TO MADAME DE FALAIS.

Congratulations on the constancy manifested by her in the midst of trials--salutations from the suffering Idelette de Bure.

FROM GENEVA, _this 18th September_ [1545.]

MADAME,--I have not leisure to write at such length as I willingly would, on account of the state in which we are. The present letter shall be solely to praise our good Lord for the trust which he has bestowed on you, enlarging your heart in the midst of anxieties, by which it might have been tried, without your having his comfort from on high. Whatsoever may happen, if we have the patience to hearken to our Saviour, he will always give us wherewithal to rejoice our spirits, and will make us taste and feel, in a lively way, that it is not in vain that he has promised to make us unconquerable in tribulations. Now, then, learn in reality what that beautiful promise is worth, that we are indeed happy, when all the world shall speak ill of us, and shall hate us, and shall persecute us for his name's sake. Therefore it is, that he has prepared you, long before exposing you to danger. To this truth it is that you must now recur, that you may acquiesce in it; and, indeed, he is actually leading you thither by the hand.

Wherefore are we not together, to provoke Satan, by meditating upon the things which may well cause us spiritual rejoicing, and give us matter for glorying more than ever, even when we are utterly discomfited according to the world's estimation? But I am aware that you have no need of my fellowship in that; and besides, I say so, more to content myself than because of your necessity. Above all, understand that now the hour is come when you must shew what a helpmeet you are to Monseigneur your husband, in such a sort that he may always have occasion to bless God, as he has had hitherto, for having provided him with such a support. I say this, because I consider that it is the principal one that God has left him as regards the creature, without having deprived him of all. I see clearly, though absent, by what zeal you are urged forward to acquit yourself of duty, and what trouble you take to employ yourself therein. For which reason, what I now speak is not so much by way of exhortation as, while congratulating, to uphold you in that good courage which God has given.

I address to your care some reply which I have made to the sister of Monseigneur, who is at Mons, to a communication which she sent lately to the wife of Saint-André. If it seem good to you, you can cause forward it to her, with this which I send to the sister of Monsieur David. I submit the whole to your good discretion.

To conclude, Madame and very honoured sister, after having affectionately commended me to your kind favour, and having also presented to you the humble commendations of my wife, who lies sick in bed, I entreat our good Lord to fill you with all grace, daily to increase his glory in you, and to triumph in your constancy, in order that finally we may be also partakers of his glory which he has promised us.

Your servant and humble brother,

JOHN CALVIN.

[_Fr. orig. autogr._--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 194.]

CXLVII.--TO MONSIEUR DE FALAIS.[3]

[3] This letter, without date, seems to have been written at the same epoch, and under the same circumstances as the two preceding letters.

Vanity of trust reposed in the princes of this world--confidence in God.

MONSEIGNEUR,--I hope that, when these present shall reach you, they will find you, by the favour of our kind Lord, in such state of mind and bodily health as we desire, and likewise Madame your wife. The news, however, which we have had of the sickness of both has grieved us, and will do so until we receive other which may gladden us. Besides, there is reason indeed that we should live and that we should die to Him who has purchased, in order to be every way glorified in us, and that we shew practically that we are his, submitting ourselves entirely to him in true obedience, which is not in our power to do without resigning and giving up our persons to him, so that he dispose of them as shall seem good to himself. If it please him to prolong life, we must prepare to see much poverty in the Christian Church. We see the dispersion and complete disorder there is in it at present. Hope of amendment there appears none on the side of the world; for to befool one's-self in relying upon princes, that is labour lost. They have, besides, so many hindrances, that they have not leisure to think about what ought to be the chief consideration of all. In short, they are entirely taken up with their civil state, for the sake of which they will persecute Jesus Christ, thinking that there is no other method of maintaining it. It will be nothing new, however, if, though only for shame's sake, they should make a pretence of applying a remedy for such horrible confusion, on account of which both heaven and earth cry out. Wherefore, it only remains for us to pray God that it may please him to strengthen us with true constancy in the midst of these scandals, in such a way that nothing may seduce us, but that we may persevere always. And also, that he would look in pity upon his Church, and put forth the hand to lift her up again, fulfilling that which the prophet has said, that _seeing that he had no helper among men, he has put forth the strength of his arm_, (Isa. lix. 16.)

In conclusion, let us employ ourselves in his service, labouring without growing weary or losing courage, until he call us away into that blessed rest where we have contentment in himself, delighting ourselves in the labours we shall have undergone, receiving then the recompense of reward which shall be there revealed to us.

Now therefore, Monsieur, after humble commendation to your favour and that of Madame, I beseech the good Lord to uphold you in real prosperity, continuing his graces in you, so that to the end you may be instruments of his glory, and that he may be your sanctification.

Your servant and humble brother ever, CHARLES D'ESPEVILLE.

[_Fr. orig. autogr._--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 194.]

CXLVIII.--To Farel.[4]

[4] Letter without date, and without conclusion, written during the attack of the plague, under which the minister Geniston succumbed, that is to say, in September 1545.

Captivity of Farel's brother--ravages of the plague in Geneva.

[_September 1545._]