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imparted his last lessons； and expressed his last wishes； with the
placidity of a Christian sage。 Amid tears and sobs and stifled
groans he discoursed calmly on his approaching departure； gave his
affectionate benedictions； and commended them and his cause to
Christ； lingering longer than was expected； but dying in the
highest triumphs of Christian faith； May 27； 1564； in the； arms of
his faithful and admiring Beza； as the rays of the setting…sun
gilded with their glory his humble chamber of toil and spiritual
exaltation。
No man who knows anything will ever sneer at Calvin。 He is not to
be measured by common standards。 He was universally regarded as
the greatest light of the theological world。 When we remember his
transcendent abilities； his matchless labors； his unrivalled
influence； his unblemished morality； his lofty piety； and soaring
soul； all flippant criticism is contemptible and mean。 He ranks
with immortal benefactors； and needs least of all any apologies for
his defects。 A man who stamped his opinions on his own age and
succeeding ages can be regarded only as a very extraordinary
genius。 A frivolous and pleasure…seeking generation may not be
attracted by such an impersonation of cold intellect； and may rear
no costly monument to his memory； but his work remains as the
leader of the loftiest class of Christian enthusiasts that the
modern world has known； and the founder of a theological system
which still numbers； in spite of all the changes of human thought；
some of the greatest thinkers and ablest expounders of Christian
doctrine in both Europe and America。 To have been the spiritual
father of the Puritans for three hundred years is itself a great
evidence of moral and intellectual excellence； and will link his
name with some of the greatest movements that have marked our
modern civilization。 From Plymouth Rock to the shores of the
Pacific Ocean we still see the traces of his marvellous genius； and
his still more wonderful influence on the minds of men and on the
schools of Christian theology； so that he will ever be regarded as
the great doctor of the Protestant Church。
AUTHORITIES。
Henry's Life of Calvin； translated by Stebbings； Dyer's Life of
Calvin； Beza's Life of Calvin； Drelincourt's Defence of Calvin；
Bayle； Maimbourg's Histoire du Calvinisme； Calvin's Works； Ruchat；
D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation； Burnet's Reformation；
Mosheim； Biographie Universelle； article on Servetus； Schlosser's
Leben Bezas； McCrie's Life of Knox； Original Letters （Parker
Society）。
FRANCIS BACON。
A。 D。 1561…1626。
THE NEW PHILOSOPHY。
It is not easy to present the life and labors of
〃The wisest； brightest； meanest of mankind。〃
So Pope sums up the character of the great Lord Bacon； as he is
generally but improperly called； and this verdict； in the main； has
been confirmed by Lords Macaulay and Campbell； who seem to delight
in keeping him in that niche of the temple of fame where the poet
has placed him；contemptible as a man； but venerable as the
philosopher； radiant with all the wisdom of his age and of all
preceding ages； the miner and sapper of ancient falsehoods； the
pioneer of all true knowledge； the author of that inductive and
experimental philosophy on which is based the glory of our age。
Macaulay especially； in that long and brilliant article which
appeared in the 〃Edinburgh Review〃 in 1837； has represented him as
a remarkably worldly man； cold； calculating； selfish a sycophant
and a flatterer； bent on self…exaltation； greedy； careless； false；
climbing to power by base subserviency； betraying friends and
courting enemies； with no animosities he does not suppress from
policy； and with no affections which he openly manifests when it
does not suit his interests： so that we read with shame of his
extraordinary shamelessness； from the time he first felt the
cravings of a vulgar ambition to the consummation of a disgraceful
crime； from the base desertion of his greatest benefactor to the
public selling of justice as Lord High Chancellor of the realm；
resorting to all the arts of a courtier to win the favor of his
sovereign and of his minions and favorites； reckless as to honest
debts； torturing on the rack an honest parson for a sermon he never
preached； and； when obliged to confess his corruption； meanly
supplicating mercy from the nation he had outraged； and favors from
the monarch whose cause he had betrayed。 The defects and
delinquencies of this great man are bluntly and harshly put by
Macaulay； without any attempt to soften or palliate them： as if he
would consign his name and memory not 〃to men's charitable
speeches； to foreign nations； and to the next ages；〃 but to an
infamy as lasting and deep as that of Scroggs and of Jeffreys； or
any of those hideous tyrants and monsters that disgraced the reigns
of the Stuart kings。
And yet while the man is made to appear in such hideous colors； his
philosophy is exalted to the highest pinnacle of praise； as the
greatest boon which any philosopher ever rendered to the world； and
the chief cause of all subsequent progress in scientific discovery。
And thus in brilliant rhetoric we have a painting of a man whose
life was in striking contrast with his teachings；a Judas
Iscariot； uttering divine philosophy； a Seneca； accumulating
millions as the tool of Nero； a fallen angel； pointing with rapture
to the realms of eternal light。 We have the most startling
contradiction in all history；glory in debasement； and debasement
in glory； the most selfish and worldly man in England； the 〃meanest
of mankind；〃 conferring on the race one of the greatest blessings
it ever received；not accidentally； not in repentance and shame；
but in exalted and persistent labors； amid public cares and
physical infirmities； from youth to advanced old age； living in the
highest regions of thought； studious and patient all his days； even
when neglected and unrewarded for the transcendent services he
rendered； not as a philosopher merely； but as a man of affairs and
as a responsible officer of the Crown。 Has there ever been； before
or since； such an anomaly in human history；so infamous in action；
so glorious in thought； such a contradiction between life and
teachings；so that many are found to utter indignant protests
against such a representation of humanity； justly feeling that such
a portrait； however much it may be admired for its brilliant
colors； and however difficult to be proved false； is nevertheless
an insult to the human understanding？ The heart of the world will
not accept the strange and singular belief that so bad a man could
confer so great a boon； especially when he seemed bent on bestowing
it during his whole life； amid the most harassing duties。 If it
accepts the boon； it will strive to do justice to the benefactor；
as he himself appealed to future ages； and if it cannot deny the
charges which