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Missions； Memoires Secretes du Cardinal Dubois； Tanner's Societas
Jesu； Dodd's Church History。
JOHN CALVIN。
A。 D。 1509…1564。
PROTESTANT THEOLOGY。
John Calvin was pre…eminently the theologian of the Reformation；
and stamped his genius on the thinking of his age；equally an
authority with the Swiss； the Dutch； the Huguenots； and the
Puritans。 His vast influence extends to our own times。 His fame
as a benefactor of mind is immortal； although it cannot be said
that he is as much admired and extolled now as he was fifty years
ago。 Nor was he ever a favorite with the English Church。 He has
been even grossly misrepresented by theological opponents； but no
critic or historian has ever questioned his genius； his learning；
or his piety。 No one denies that he has exerted a great influence
on Protestant countries。 As a theologian he ranks with Saint
Augustine and Thomas Aquinas；maintaining essentially the same
views as those held by these great lights； and being distinguished
for the same logical power； reigning like them as an intellectual
dictator in the schools； but not so interesting as they were as
men。 And he was more than a theologian； he was a reformer and
legislator； laying down rules of government； organizing church
discipline； and carrying on reforms in the worship of God；second
only to Luther。 His labors were prodigious as theologian；
commentator； and ecclesiastical legislator； and we are surprised
that a man with so feeble a body could have done so much work。
Calvin was born in Picardy in 1509；the year that Henry VIII。
ascended the British throne； and the year that Luther began to
preach at Wittenberg。 He was not a peasant's son； like Luther； but
belonged to what the world calls a good family。 Intellectually he
was precocious； and received an excellent education at a college in
Paris； being destined for the law by his father； who sent him to
the University of Orleans and then to Bourges； where he studied
under eminent jurists； and made the acquaintance of many
distinguished men。 His conversion took place about the year 1529；
when he was twenty； and this gave a new direction to his studies
and his life。 He was a pale…faced young man； with sparkling eyes；
sedate and earnest beyond his years。 He was twenty…three when he
published the books of Seneca on Clemency； with learned
commentaries。 At the age of twenty…three he was in communion with
the reformers of Germany； and was acknowledged to be； even at that
early age； the head of the reform party in France。 In 1533 he went
to Paris； then as always the centre of the national life； where the
new ideas were creating great commotion in scholarly and
ecclesiastical circles； and even in the court itself。 Giving
offence to the doctors of the Sorbonne for his evangelical views as
to Justification； he was obliged to seek refuge with the Queen of
Navarre； whose castle at Pau was the resort of persecuted
reformers。 After leading rather a fugitive life in different parts
of France； he retreated to Switzerland； and at twenty…six published
his celebrated 〃Institutes；〃 which he dedicated to Francis I。；
hoping to convert him to the Protestant faith。 After a short
residence in Italy； at the court of the Duchess of Ferrara； he took
up his abode at Geneva； and his great career began。
Geneva； a city of the Allobroges in the time of Caesar； possessed
at this time about twenty thousand inhabitants； and was a free
state； having a constitution somewhat like that of Florence when it
was under the control of Savonarola。 It had rebelled against the
Duke of Savoy； who seems to have been in the fifteenth century its
patron ruler。 The government of this little Savoyard state became
substantially like that which existed among the Swiss cantons。 The
supreme power resided in the council of Two Hundred； which alone
had the power to make or abolish laws。 There was a lesser council
of Sixty； for diplomatic objects only。
The first person who preached the reformed doctrines in Geneva was
the missionary Farel； a French nobleman； spiritual； romantic； and
zealous。 He had great success； although he encountered much
opposition and wrath。 But the reformed doctrines were already
established in Zurich； Berne； and Basle； chiefly through the
preaching of Ulrich Zwingli； and OEcolampadius。 The apostolic
Farel welcomed with great cordiality the arrival of Calvin； then
already known as an extraordinary man； though only twenty…eight
years of age。 He came to Geneva poor； and remained poor all his
life。 All his property at his death amounted to only two hundred
dollars。 As a minister in one of the churches； he soon began to
exert a marvellous influence。 He must have been eloquent； for he
was received with enthusiasm。 This was in 1536。 But he soon met
with obstacles。 He was worried by the Anabaptists； and even his
orthodoxy was impeached by one Coroli； who made much mischief； so
that Calvin was obliged to publish his Genevan Catechism in Latin。
He also offended many by his outspoken rebuke of sin； for he aimed
at a complete reformation of morals； like Latimer in London and
like Savonarola at Florence。 He sought to reprove amusements which
were demoralizing； or thought to be so in their influence。 The
passions of the people were excited； and the city was torn by
parties； and such was the reluctance to submit to the discipline of
the ministers that they refused to administer the sacraments。 This
created such a ferment that the syndics expelled Calvin and Farel
from the city。 They went at first to Berne； but the Bernese would
not receive them。 They then retired to Basle； wearied； wet； and
hungry； and from Basle they went to Strasburg。 It was in this city
that Calvin dwelt three years； spending his time in lecturing on
divinity； in making contributions to exegetical theology； in
perfecting his 〃Institutes；〃 forming a close alliance with
Melancthon and other leading reformers。 So pre…occupied was he
with his labors as a commentator of the Scriptures； that he even
contemplated withdrawing from the public service of religion。
Calvin was a scholar as well as theologian； and quiet labors in his
library were probably more congenial to his tastes than active
parochial duties。 His highest life was amid his books； in serene
repose and lofty contemplation。 At this time he had an extensive
correspondence； his advice being much sought for its wisdom and
moderation。 His judgment was almost unerring； since he was never
led away by extravagances or enthusiasm： a cold； calm man even
among his friends and admirers。 He had no passions； he was all
intellect。 It would seem that in his exile he gave lectures on
divinity； being invited by the Council of Strasburg； and also
interested himself in reference to the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper； which he would withhold from the unworthy。 He lived
quietly in his retreat； and was much respected by the people o