LETTER 5.
time that church already in ruins. I have given sufficient proof, that nothing is more conformable to my wishes, than to give up my life in discharge of my duty. I do not dissemble when I say this. When the Genevese ambassadors came to Worms, I entreated our friends with tears, that, omitting all consideration of me, they should consult, in the presence of God, what would be most beneficial to the church which implored their assistance. When we came to the house, although no one urged this
question, I did not cease to importune them with my prayers, to consider seriously upon this subject; and they were not wanting in their duty. As we suspected, they almost immediately decreed, that I should be united with Bucer. But I declare to you, as I did to Farel, that this was not fairly settled; for it was determined before we returned from the Convention of Worms, by the influence of those who least consulted the good of Geneva.
If you consult me, I see no reason why I should be sent on this mission to Ratisbon; but being appointed, I could not refuse, unless I wished to hear myself everywhere abused. When I received your letters, I was not at liberty to deliberate. I have stated the fact as my excuse. You have now an answer to both your inquiries. I never have, I never can refuse to go to Geneva; and I promise you that my resolution shall not be changed, unless some more powerful obstacle closes up the way. I am charged with the care of that church; and I know not how it is, but I feel myself more inclined to take the government of it, if indeed the circumstances demand it as my duty. It is agreed, that after our return from Ratisbon, I should go to Geneva with Bucer. We will then consult what will be most expedient, under existing circumstances, for the re-establishment of a pastor, and the renovation of the whole church. The decision will have more influence, and the operation will be more effectual, as we shall have present those from whom we have most to fear afterwards. When the business is once settled, they will be bound by their own judgment, and prevented from exclaiming against its operation; and also from exciting others to disturb the
established order. In the mean time, my brother, I entreat you for Christ’s sake, to be of good courage. The more uncertain our continuance is in this life, the less we should be troubled about the delay of those events which we earnestly desire. There are many things I know, which must cause you trouble and anxiety; but consider that these are trials appointed of the Lord, to support you till his coming. The day before I received your letters, I wrote to the senate of Geneva, excusing my delay in coming to
them; and I doubt not but my excuse has been accepted. Farewell, my beloved brother. Salute, in my name, all who are devoted to the truth. May the Spirit of the Lord strengthen you for all good works.
Ulm, March 1, 1541.
LETTER 6
CALVIN TO FAREL.
I am retained here as you wished; which may God grant to be for his glory.
Viret still continues with me, nor will I suffer him by any means to be torn from me. It is your duty, and that of all the brethren, to afford me
assistance, unless you wish me to be tormented and miserable, without doing any good to the cause. I reported the labors of my office to the senate, and assured them of the impossibility of settling the church on any permanent foundation, unless a system of discipline was adopted, such as is prescribed by the word of God, and was observed by the ancient church. I treated upon certain points, which might sufficiently explain my wishes. And without entering upon the whole ground, I requested them to appoint some members who might confer with us on the subject. They chose a committee of six. Articles concerning the whole polity of the church will be drawn up, which we shall lay before the senate. Our three colleagues pretend that they will consent to whatever Viret and myself shall judge expedient. Something will be effected. We are anxious to hear how matters progress in your church. We hope, through the authority of the Bernese and the Biellese, that the commotions are at least allayed, if not terminated. When fighting against the devil, under the banner of Christ, He who armed and directed you to the battle, will give you the victory.
But a good cause requires a good defender; take heed, therefore, and give diligence, that those qualifications may be found in you which command the approbation of good men. We do not exhort you to preserve a pure and undefiled conscience; of this we do not doubt. But this we desire, that you would be as accommodating to the people as your duty will allow.
There are, you know, two kinds of popularity. The one is, when we obtain approbation, by our ambition and desire of pleasing; the other, when by moderation and equity, we entice the minds of others to yield themselves to us with a pleasant docility. Pardon us, if we use too much freedom with you, on this point, we perceive that you do not fully satisfy the virtuous. If in nothing else, you transgress in this, that you do not
satisfy those to whom the Lord has made you a debtor. You know how much we respect, how much we love you. This love and this respect impel us to censure you with this exact and rigid severity. We ardently desire, that those excellent gifts, which the Lord has bestowed upon you, may not be sullied by a single blemish, which may afford a handle to the carpings of malevolence, to injure your influence. I have written these things by the advice of Viret, and for this reason have used the plural number. Farewell, dearest and excellent brother.
Geneva, 16th September 1541
LETTER 7.
CALVIN TO FAREL.
I was prepared to detail to you at large the state of our affairs; but when I was informed that our good father Capito, of sacred memory, was taken from us, and that Bucer was sick with the plague, my mind was so
shocked that I can now only weep. You know it was always resolved, that if I returned to Geneva, you should return with me; that our united
ministry might be restored. Your troubles, at that time, prevented you from leaving Neufchatel. It is now, however, the interest of our common ministry, and of the whole church, that you should come to this city. You must do it, if for no other reason but to fulfill your promise to me. Your pretext for declining, that you was banished by the people and could not be recalled by the senate, displeases me. You call that seditious faction of abandoned men, the people; and is it not enough that the people
themselves, by their decree, pronounced your banishment unjust? It is certain, that most of those who banished you have either suffered an ignominious death, or have fled from the city; and the rest are either ashamed to say any thing, or openly confess their fault. Was not that a decree of the people, by which they unanimously confessed our
innocence? It was my intention on entering the city, to have asserted that we were innocent; and although I do not excel in oratory, to have defended our cause. But when the people came to meet me, condemning themselves, and confessing their faults, I perceived that it would be useless,
ungenerous, and inhuman, as I should only be insulting our prostrate enemies, condemned of God, of men, and of their own conscience.
Will you continue to urge your scruples about the people’s recall, when you are told, that when they decreed, that those who were banished should be recalled, the question was put in this form, Do you not confess that injustice was done to Farel and his associates? Will you require more than this, that the people condemn themselves, and acquit you? It was added, Will ye, that Farel and his associates, etc.? Shall I not ascribe (forgive me, my brother, if I err) your scrupulous difficulties to
moroseness, rather than sound judgment? I know your sincerity — how little you regard yourself; but others, less acquainted with you, may suspect your motives, and make a handle of it for detraction. I do not pretend, that the church has made satisfaction, proportioned to its offense.
But if you saw how tender every thing is here, you would yourself agree to press this matter no farther at present. I entreat you, my Farel, to yield to the counsel of those who are prudently solicitous for the honor of your ministry. Give up, if not to our judgment, at least to the entreaties of your friends. Farewell, best and beloved brother.
Geneva, November 29, 1541.
LETTER 8.
CALVIN TO FAREL.
The numerous deaths, which have occurred this year among my pious friends, I hope will instruct me in the emptiness of this present life; and impress me, in the midst of my sorrow, with holy meditations concerning my own morality. Poralis, the first syndic of this city, has departed to be with the Lord. His death, as was to be expected, is severely felt, and deeply lamented by us. His dying testimony was a source of consolation, while the very circumstance of his piety increased our grief; as we felt his loss to be, on that account, a more extensive deprivation. The day after he fell sick, Viret and myself were with him, and he informed us that he was in danger of losing his life; for the disease with which he was afflicted was fatal to his family. We conversed on a variety of subjects, in which he interested himself with as much familiarity as if in usual health. The two following days, his complaint increased, but in no period of his life, had he discovered more strength of mind, or greater powers of eloquence, than at this time, while he addressed those who visited him with some excellent exhortations, adapted to the character and circumstances of each
individual, he now appeared to be much better, and we entertained hopes of his recovery. But after three days, the disease renewed its severity, and he was evidently in great danger; but as his body was oppressed, his mind grew more enlarged and animated. I pass the intermediate time, to the day on which he died. Viret and myself visited him about nine o’clock in the morning, I said a few things concerning the cross, the grace of Christ, and the hope of eternal life, for we would not fatigue him with a long
discourse. He answered, that he knew how to accept the messenger of God in a proper manner, and of what importance the ministry of Christ was in confirming the consciences of believers. He then discoursed upon the ministry and its use so powerfully, that we were both struck with astonishment, and as often as I reflect upon it, I am still confounded; for he appeared to be delivering some of our discourses improved by his own deep and long meditations, he concluded by saying, that he believed the
remission of sins, of which we assured him from the promise of Christ, with as much confidence as though an angel should appear to him from heaven. He then enlarged upon the harmony of the members of the church, which he commended with the highest eulogy; testifying that his best consolations, in the warfare of death, were drawn from his being established so fully in that unity. He had, a little time before, called for some of our colleagues, with whom he became reconciled, lest by persisting in this disagreement, others might make a bad use of his
example. He observed to us, “As the welfare of the church obliges you to bear with them as brethren, why should I not, for the same reason,
acknowledge them as pastors?’ He admonished them with seriousness, and called up to their remembrance the sins of which they had been guilty. But I come to his last words. Turning to those who were present, he exhorted them, that they should hold in high estimation the communion of the church, and advised those who were still addicted to superstitious
ceremonies and festivals, to lay aside their obstinacy, and unite with us in the worship of God; for we saw better, and judged more perfectly than they could in these matters. He confessed, that he himself had been obstinate in these things, but at last his eyes were opened to see the
baneful effects of contention. After this, he summed up his faith in a short, solemn, and clear confession. He than exhorted Viret and myself to
constancy in all the parts of our official duty, and, as in a prophetic vision, he spoke of our future difficulties. Concerning the interests of the republic, his counsel was judiciously directed to whatever related to its prosperity.
He urged the most diligent attention to be given, to effect a reconciliation with the allied cities; and that the clamors of some turbulent people should not discourage us in our efforts. After addressing a few words to him, we prayed with him and retired. About two in the afternoon, my wife visited him, when he exhorted her to be of good courage, whatever might happen, and to consider that she was led to this city not rashly, but by the
wonderful wisdom of God, to assist in spreading the gospel. He soon after said, that his voice began to fail him; that however that might fail him, he should retain in his mind, and die in the confession of faith that he had made. He recited the song of Simeon, and applied it to himself, saying, “I have seen and embraced thy salvation;” and then composed himself to rest.
From this time he was deprived of his voice, but continued to indicate by signs, that he had lost nothing of the rigor of his mind. About four in the
afternoon, I went with the syndics to visit him. As he sometimes attempted to speak, and was unable, I requested him not to fatigue himself, adding that we were abundantly satisfied with his confession. I then began to speak as well as I could. He heard with a composed and tranquil mind. We had scarcely left him, when he rendered up his pious soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. This narration will be scarcely credible to you, when you consider the nature of the man; but remember that he was endowed entirely with a new spirit.
We are now deeply occupied in choosing new colleagues; and our trouble is increased, as those whom we suppose fit for the place, upon trial, disappoint our expectations. We will inform you of our progress, as your advice may be useful to us. Farewell.
June 16, 1542.