Of this we have a very complete and interesting proof in the next Tract of the present Volume. It may be made a question, by which of the two the Pope suffered most — the severity of Calvin’s Remarks, or the ingenuousness of Pallavicini’s defense.
THE LIFE OF JOHN CALVIN,
THEODORE BEZA
LIFE OF JOHN CALVIN, BY THEODORE BEZA
A sudden intimation of the death of his father called him back to his native town. The name of the town where it was said to be published was also fictitious.
LETTER
JAMES SADOLET, A ROMAN CARDINAL
TO THE SENATE AND PEOPLE OF GENEVA
SADOLET’S LETTER
THE SENATE AND PEOPLE OF GENEVA
Almighty God, in whom alone is life, and after living for a little time to the deceitful and fading pleasures of the world, were forthwith doomed. We walk in this common faith of the Church, we retain her laws and precepts. I will say nothing of the Eucharist, in which we worship the most true body of Christ.
REPLY
JOHN CALVIN
TO LETTER BY CARDINAL SADOLET
SENATE AND PEOPLE OF GENEVA
REPLY BY CALVIN
CARDINAL SADOLET’S LETTER
But, in regard to the intercession of the saints, we insist on a point which it is not strange that you omit. A soul, therefore, when deprived of the word of God, is given up unarmed to the devil for. Head of the Church by the word of God, nor ordained by a legitimate act of the Church, but of his own accord, self-elected.
ARTICLES
THE FACULTY OF SACRED THEOLOGY OF PARIS,
THE ANTIDOTE
THE THEOLOGICAL FACULTY OF PARIS
Especially seeing that, before coming to a decision, they chanted a low mass of the Holy Spirit, and that some were illuminated after having broken their fast, and others made zealous by the bile still reigning in the stomach. And he exhorts the Colossians to continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not to be moved away from the hope of the gospel which they had heard, (<510123> . Colossians 1:23.) Hence, too, the Thessalonians are deservedly commended by Luke, (<441711>Acts 17:11,) because, though they had with great readiness of mind embraced the doctrine of Paul, they, notwithstanding, brought it to the test of Scripture. Nor in any way could the doctrine of Paul, in another passage, viz., that our faith stands not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, (<460204>1 Corinthians 2:4,) be maintained, unless we depend solely on God; as it is written,.
OF BAPTISM
And as of old, when the children of the Israelites died before the eighth day, they suffered not by wanting the sacrament of circumcision, so now, provided there is no contumacy or negligence on the part of the parents, the simple promise by which the children of believers are from the womb adopted into the fellowship of the Church suffices for their salvation. We ought, therefore, to hold that, as in Abraham, the father of the faith, the righteousness of faith preceded circumcision, so in the children of the faithful, in the present day, the girl; of adoption is prior to baptism.
OF FREE WILL
Likewise, with Ambrose, (De Fuga Seculi,) that neither our heart nor our thoughts are in our own power. Also, that since the fall it is owing only to the grace of God that man draws near to him, and that it is owing only to the same grace that he does not recede from him, (De Dono Pers. c. 7.)F5 Also, that we know not that any good thing which is our own can be found in our will. Also, because, by the magnitude of the first sin, we lost the free will of believing hi God and living piously, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, not because we ought not to will and to run, but because God effects both, (Lib.
OF PENITENCE
The Spirit of God calls us to repentance every where, in the law, the prophets, and the gospel; at the same time, he also defines what he. Of confession to be made in the car of a priest there is no where any mention. In regard to satisfaction, the Scripture claims, out and out, for Christ this honor, that he is an expiator for sin, that the chastisement of our peace was upon him, that through his name only is obtained forgiveness of sins, (<620202> . 1 John 2:2; <235705>Isaiah 57:5; <441043>Acts 10:43.) In regard to ourselves, it is completed gratuitously and without works, since Paul declares it to be our high privilege, that sins are not imputed to us.
OF JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS
If they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is of none effect.”—“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed,”. Also, in the Epistle to the Galatians, he uses this argument, “The just shall live by faith. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us,” that the promise made to us in Abraham might be fulfilled through faith, (<480312>Galatians In like manner to the Philippians,.
OF THE TRANSUBSTANTIATION OF THE BREAD INTO BODY
But should the sign be fallacious, what are we to think of the thing signified by it. So also, Fulgentius calls it the sacrament of the bread and cup, (Fulg. ad Mony.). Whence, too, some of the Fathers called it bread sanctified in the body of Christ.
OF THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
OF COMMUNION IN ONE KIND
Paul declares that he delivered this to the Corinthians as he had received of the Lord, (1 Corinthians 40:23.) The argument which is wont to be derived from concomitance has here no place. For it behoves us to consider not only what Christ gives, but also in what manner, or (if you will) regard must be had to the mode in which the Lord wishes us to communicate with himself. One body is set before all, and one cup.” But there is no controversy as to the observance, which all admit to have been of this description.
OF THE POWER OF CONSECRATING
OF INTENTION TO CONSECRATE
Nor, indeed, is it less absurd to pretend that priests have the power of consecrating whenever they please, though it should be contrary to the institution of Christ; for the promise is subordinate to the command to which it is annexed. Therefore, those only have the body of Christ who celebrate the sacrament according to the rule laid down by him. And hence we conclude, that the consecration is frivolous, and of no value, when the priest dares to consecrate for himself alone, apart from others; for, “This is my body,” are not words of magical incantation, but contain a promise subservient to the action instituted by Christ.
OF CONIRMATION AND UNCTION
OF THE MIRACLES OF THE SAINTS
OF WORSHIPPING SAINTS
Now, let every pious person consider with himself, how perilous it is to attempt a new kind of prayer, not only without sanction from the word of God, but without example. But when the Spirit bids us pray one for another, it is as an exercise of mutual charity in this life, as it is evident from all the. Lastly, in addition to this, no man can assert that the ears of the saints are so long that our prayers can reach them.
OF VENERATION OF SAINTS
OF PILGRIMAGES
SAINTS MAY BE DULY INVOKED, BEFORE INVOKING GOD
OF THE WORSHIP OF THE CROSS AND OF IMAGES
Augustine even relates the excuses which the idolators of his time were wont to frame, (in . <19B301>Psalm 113) For the vulgar said, that they did not worship the. For he says, the effect produced, and in a manner extorted by the figure of the. She found the inscription, she adored the king, certainly not the wood, for this is the heathen error, and the vanity of the wicked.”.
OF PURGATORY
Of purgatory there is not one word in Scripture, and Augustine, who in this matter yields to custom, acknowledges that this opinion is supported by no passage of Scripture, unless it be the history concerning the oblation of Judas Maccabeus, although the fact of its not being canonical and of certain authority, both he himself confesses, and Jerome teaches, and universal consent; confirms. Nay, he even speaks doubtingly, saying, that it is not incredible, and that its existence may be made a question. But since it is not in the power of any man to determine concerning the souls of the dead, nothing is safer in judging of their state than to hear God himself, who has the power over their state, speaking of it.
OF THE CHURCH AND ITS AUTHORITY
That there is an universal Church, that there has been, from the beginning of the world, and will be even to the end, we all acknowledge. Horrible confusion would arise, if the Church had not the power of pronouncing a definitive sentence on disputed doctrines, as in the present day the Lutherans would fain have a voice in the Chapter, and would boast the word of the Lord, did we not oppose to them this reply, which has no exception, — That it belongs to the Church to determine ultimately, without contradiction. Those, therefore, who will have their definition of the visible Church to be received indiscriminately, and without exception, lay the faithful under the necessity of denying Christ, abandoning the truth of God, and oftentimes adhering to impiety.
OF THE ARTICLES OF FAITH DELIVERED BY THE CHURCH
As Christ declares that he spoke not of himself, because he spoke from the law and the prophets; so, if any thing beside the gospel is obtruded upon us under the name of the Spirit, let us not; believe it. For as Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, so is the Spirit the fulfillment of the Gospel.” On the whole, since the certainty of faith should be sought from none but God only, we conclude that true faith is founded only on the Scriptures which proceeded from him, since therein he has been pleased to teach not partially, but fully, whatever he wished us to know, and knew to be useful.
OF THE POWER OF EXCOMMUNICATION
OF THE AUTHORITY OF COUNCILS
Church of God, was liable to this misfortune, why should not the same thing happen to us. Our conclusion then is, that a council, that has been assembled in the name of Christ, is governed by the Holy Spirit, and is under his guidance led into truth. We maintain, moreover, that in some councils, though guided at the outset by the Spirit of God, the will of the flesh creeps in and turns them aside from the truth.
OF THE PRIMACY OF THE ROMAN SEE
Moreover, the hierarchy, which, as the flatterers of the Pope pretend, consists chiefly in the primacy of the Roman see is there. Why, against the laws of the Church, vindicate the few, from whom superciliousness has sprung. Romans, he cannot be the chief of the bishops who is no bishop at all.
OF HUMAN CONSTITUTIONS
There is one Lawgiver,” says James, (<590412>James 4:12,) “who can save and destroy.” And the reason for this is twofold; because the will of God is to us a perfect rule of righteousness and holiness, and he alone. Stand fast,” says he, (<480501> . Galatians 5:1,) “in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not again entangled with the yoke of bondage.” He elsewhere gives the reason,. For if God has abolished the distinction of meats which he had introduced into the law, and has subjected all meats indifferently to the power of men, who can now assume to himself the right of making new laws, by which the liberty allowed by God is taken away.
OF VOWS, AND THEIR OBLIGATION
In vows three things are to be attended to: First, Whether the thing vowed is in our power; Secondly, Whether the purpose of the vow is right;. Then the voluntary poverty which God recommends to us is, that he who is rich should, by bestowing his goods to relieve the wants of the brethren, make himself poor after the example of Christ. So Paul tells us, (<470809>2 Corinthians 8:9.) But the poverty which the monks profess is one by which, though idle, they never hunger, but devour the goods of the poor, and deprive themselves of the power of well-doing.
THE NEW STATUTES OF THE FACULTY
That invocation of the Virgin which they have hitherto used in seeking the grace of the Spirit, who sees not to be execrable blasphemy. All the writers of the Church used it; but it is not relished by our masters. But by what reason, or what example, do they impose it as a law upon preachers to commend the souls of the dead to the people.
NECESSITY OF REFORMING THE CHURCH,
NECESSITY OF REFORMING THE CHURCH
A HUMBLE EXHORTATION
To enable me to prove this, it is necessary to attend to the matters in dispute. I wish only to show how just and necessary the causes were which forced us to the changes for which we are blamed. In like manner, will it enable us to discover whether, after robbing Him of his glory, they transfer it to the creatures.
