Chapter IV

THE REFORMATION AT GENEVA.--FORMULARY OF FAITH AND
DISCIPLINE.

(END OF 1536 TO 1537.)

Liberty and Authority--Calvin Pastor at Geneva--The Christian
Individual and the Christian Community--Analysis and
Synthesis--Division among the Huguenots--Catechism and Confession
of Faith--Calvin’s real Mind--Diversity of Religious Opinions--Need
of Unity--Presentation of the Confession to the
Council--Characteristics of the Confession--Its Authorship assigned
to Calvin--Frequent Communion--Discipline of Excommunication--The
true Beginning of a Church--Lay Intervention--Various
Regulations--Discipline approved by the Council--The Syndic
Porral--Distribution of the Confession--Its Acceptance required of
each Citizen--Assembly of the People at St. Peter’s Church--Swearing
of the Confession--Refusal of many to Swear it--The three Pastors of
Geneva--The Schools--Activity of the
Reformers--Discipline--Description of Geneva 274

CHAPTER V.

CALVIN’S CONTEST WITH FOREIGN DOCTORS--CHARGE OF ARIANISM
BROUGHT AGAINST HIM.

(JANUARY TO JUNE 1537.)

Arrived of the Spirituals at Geneva--Their System--Public
Disputation--Expulsion of the Spirituals--Caroli--His Ambition and
his Morals--Prayers for the Dead--Scholasticism--Consistory of
Lausanne--Charge of Arianism against Calvin--His Vindication
necessary--Calvin’s Reply--His view on the Trinity--Accusation of
Farel and Viret by Caroli--Convocation of a Synod resolved
on--Farel’s Anxiety--Synod at Lausanne--Another Debate on the
Trinity--Unmasking of Caroli by Calvin--The Divinity of Christ--The
Tyranny of Creeds rejected by Calvin--The so-called Athanasian
Creed--Condemnation of Caroli by the Synod--Appeal to
Berne--Agitation of Men’s Minds--Accusation of Caroli--His
Condemnation--His Flight to France 299

CHAPTER VI.

CALVIN AT THE SYNOD OF BERNE.

(SEPTEMBER 1537.)

Disputation on the Lord’s Supper--The Doctrine of Zwingli at
Berne--Acceptance of the Doctrine of Luther there--A patched-up
Peace--Synod of September--Opinions of Bucer--Attacks of
Megander--Growing Dissension--Intervention of Calvin--His Project
of a Formula of Concord--The Tumult allayed 323

CHAPTER VII.

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH SWORN TO AT ST. PETER’S.

(END OF 1537.)

Various Acts of Discipline--Parties at Geneva--Division amongst the
Huguenots--Coercion in matter of Faith--Requirement of Oath to the
Confession--Numerous Opponents--Decree of Banishment--Power of the
Malcontents--Imprudence of the Bernese Deputies--The General
Council--Discourse of the Syndics--The Leaders of Opposition
silenced--Violent Attack on the Syndics--Tumultuous Debate--Confused
Complaints--Growing Opposition--Vindication of the
Reformers--Accusation against them by Berne--Their Vindication at
Berne--Complete Justice done them 333

CHAPTER VIII.

TROUBLES AT GENEVA.

(BEGINNING OF 1538.)

Agitation--The Lord’s Supper--Nature of the Church--Communicants
and Hearers--The Supper open to all--Disorders--Louis du
Tillet--His Return to the Church of Rome--Parties face to face with
each other--Menaces--No Freedom without Religion--Election of new
Syndics--Their Hostility to Calvin--Moderation of their first
Measures--Misleading Effects of Party Spirit--Exclusion of
Evangelicals from the Councils--Censure of the Ministers by the
Councils--Resistance of the Reformers--‘I can do no otherwise’ 350

CHAPTER IX.

STRUGGLES AT BERNE.--SYNOD OF LAUSANNE.

(JANUARY 1538.)

Expulsion of Megander from Berne--Remonstrance of Country
Pastors--Pacification--Calvin’s Regret for the Banishment of
Megander--Hostility of Kunz to Calvin--Relations between Church and
State--Variety of Usages at Geneva and at Berne--Synod at
Lausanne--A strange Condition--Absence of Calvin and Farel from the
Synod--Adoption by the Synod of the usages of Berne--Fruitless
Conference--Letters from the Lords of Berne to Calvin and Farel and
to the Council of Geneva 366

CHAPTER X.

SUCCESS OF THE COUNTER-REFORMATION--REFUSAL OF CALVIN
AND FAREL TO ADMINISTER THE LORD’S SUPPER--PROHIBITION
OF THEIR PREACHING.

(MARCH AND APRIL 1538.)

The Pulpit interdicted to Courault--Adoption by the Council of the
Usages of Berne--Resistance of Calvin--Disorders in the
Streets--Indignation of Courault--His Sermon at St. Peter’s--His
Imprisonment--His Liberation demanded by the Reformers--Refusal of
the Council--Loud Complaints--The Pulpit interdicted to Calvin and
Farel--What to do?--General Confusion--Perplexity of the
Reformers--Indifference of Forms--The Supper a Feast of
Peace--Divisions and Violence of Parties--Administration of the
Supper given up--Determination of the Reformers to
preach--Heroism 376

CHAPTER XI.

PREACHING OF CALVIN AND FAREL IN DEFIANCE OF THE
PROHIBITION BY THE COUNCIL--THEIR BANISHMENT FROM
GENEVA.

(APRIL 1538.)

Great Distress of mind--Easter Sunday--Farel’s Preaching at St.
Gervais--Disorders in the Church--Calvin’s preaching at St.
Peter’s--Statement of his Motives--The Church a Holy Body--A quiet
Hearing given him--His Sermon at Rive--Great Disorder--Swords
drawn--Deliberation of the Councils--Proposal to expel the
Ministers--Denial of Justice--Expulsion voted by the General
Council--Calvin’s Reply--Farel’s Reply--Departure of the Ministers
from Geneva--A Prophecy of Bonivard--Journey of Farel and Calvin to
Berne--Joy and Sorrow 393

CHAPTER XII.

GREAT CONFUSION AT GENEVA--USELESS INTERVENTION OF
THE COUNCIL OF BERNE.

(END OF APRIL 1538.)

Ridicule and Sarcasm--The New Ministers--Their Incompetency--Arrival
of the Reformers at Berne--Their appearance before the
Council--Their Grievances--Excitement in the Council of
Berne--Letter of the Council to Geneva--Reply of the Council of
Geneva 412

CHAPTER XIII.

SYNOD OF ZURICH--CALVIN RECONDUCTED TO GENEVA BY
BERNESE AMBASSADORS--REFUSAL TO ADMIT HIM TO THE
TOWN.

(END OF APRIL TO END OF MAY 1538.)

Farel and Calvin at Zurich--Their Claims--Their Moderation--Their
Humility--The Justice of their Cause--Their approval by Synod of
Zurich--Letter of the Synod to Geneva--Hostility of Kunz--His
Wrath--His Accusations--Hesitation of Berne to intervene--Justice
prevails--Embassy from Berne--Excitement at Geneva--Stoppage of
Calvin and Farel at Genthod--The General Council--Favorable
Appearances--Treachery of Kunz--Pierre Vandel--Passionate
Excitement--Vote of the General Council--The Opponents--The
Minority 420

CHAPTER XIV.

BANISHMENT OF THE MINISTERS--THEIR SUCCESSORS AT
GENEVA.

(END OF 1538.)

Licentiousness--Journey of Calvin and Farel to Berne--Journey to
Basel--Their Reception there--Their Vindication--Hesitation as to
Choice of a Post--Rivalry between Basel and Strasburg in seeking
for Calvin--Farel called to Neuchâtel--Settlement of Calvin at
Strasburg--Death of Courault--Calvin’s Grief--The new Ministers of
Geneva--Calvin’s Opinion of them--Discontent--Accusations--The
Complaints not unfounded--Calvin’s Letter to Christians of
Geneva--His Advice--Farel’s Letter--His deep Sadness 439

CHAPTER XV.

STRASBURG AND GENEVA.

(END OF 1538 TO 1539.)

Calvin at Strasburg--Widening of his Horizon--Calvin a Pastor--His
spiritual Joy--Calvin a Doctor--Treatise on the Lord’s
Supper--Theological Debates--Calvin’s Poverty--Death of
Olivétan--Calvin’s Courage--Despotism at Geneva--Purification--The
Regents of the College--Their Banishment--Difficulty of finding
Substitutes--The Friends of the Reformers--Prosecutions--New
Syndics--Suppression of Disorders--Conference at Frankfort--Calvin
at Frankfort--His intercourse with Melanchthon--On the Supper and
on Discipline--On Ceremonies of Worship--Melanchthon called to
Henry VIII.--Calvin’s opinion of Henry VIII.--Calvin’s Return to
Strasburg 456

CHAPTER XVI.

CALVIN’S CORRESPONDENCE WITH SADOLETO.

(1539.)

Colloquy of Bishops at Lyons--Cardinal Sadoleto--His Letter to the
Genevese--Its Portraiture of the Reformers--Its Conclusion--Delivery
of his Letter to the Council--Immediate Consequences--An important
Step towards Rome--Two Martyrs in Savoy--Calvin’s Reply to
Sadoleto--Reason for his replying--Separation of the
Church--Christian Antiquity--Justification by Faith--The Judgment
Seat of God--Defence of Calvin--His first Faith--His Resistance--His
Conversion--Who tears to Pieces the Spouse of Christ--To whom
Dissensions are to be imputed--Luther’s Joy--Copy received at
Geneva--Caroli--His End 478

CHAPTER XVII.

CATHOLICISM AT GENEVA--MARRIAGE OF CALVIN AT STRASBURG.

(END OF 1539-1540.)

Citation of Priests before the Council--Their Attitude--The former
Syndic Balard--His Courage--His Abjuration--Calvin’s Thoughts on
Geneva--His household Cares--His Desire to Marry--Various
Projects--Hesitation--Idelette de Bure--Marriage--Catherine von
Bora and Idelette de Bure--Second Assembly at Hagenau--Nothing
done 499

CHAPTER XVIII.

GENEVA--DISSENSIONS AND SEVERITIES.

(1540.)

Conflict between Berne and Geneva--Treaty with Berne--The
_Articulants_--Refusal of Geneva to ratify the Treaty--Judgment
given at Lausanne--Indignation at Geneva--Prosecution of the
Articulants--Their Condemnation--Jean Philippe Captain-General--His
Irritation--Riot excited by him--His Defeat--His Arrest--His
Condemnation to Death--Death of Richardet--A Prediction of
Calvin--The Ways of God 512

HISTORY

OF THE

REFORMATION IN EUROPE

IN THE TIME OF CALVIN.