Defense of the French Church of Strasbourg – explanation of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Congratulations and thanks for the Christian hospitality extended to the Locarno refugees.
LETTER 340
However, lest these complaints spread further, you will do a worthy deed if you summon both sides before you. For if the marriage is not advantageous to a pious and excellent woman, you will prevent Perrin from being entertained any longer by vain hopes, or if there are no reasonable objections, she will be free to enter into this marriage.
TO AMBROSE BLAURER. F2
Twenty-two sermons in French on the octonary psalm, as it is called, f3 were recently published. What remains of my work on the Acts of the Apostles has now been brought forth.
TO BULLINGER
And it is not a small or a vulgar virtue to approve by works that we desire to be the disciples of the Son of God, that he may also declare us his followers. Hence it is that a fair number of those to whom God has given a savor of His grace break out into double carelessness, until at last they become quite brutalized.
LETTER 344
For this promise of the Lord is true, that we lose not our pains when his word shall go before us, unless we seem to beat the air. Recognize, therefore, the effect of this promise in the increase of the Lord's flock, which you are now looking at, and which will doubtless drive out the abominations of the antichrist from your city.
LETTER 345
TREATY NOT TO BREAK THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF SOME DIVERSITY IN THE CEREMONIES. We do not keep lighted candles in the celebration of the eucharist, or think that bread is such an indifferent thing that we will willingly consent to its introduction, or approve of it, though we object not to accommodate ourselves to its use, where they are already established, when we have no authority to oppose them.
LETTER 347
The king has lately proclaimed in all the provinces that he will punish the indolence of the judges, as if they were accomplices, unless they proceed with greater rigor in their sentences against the professed of our faith. In the meantime, I don't know what to expect from his total change in the form of forensic procedures.
LETTER 349
TO FAREL
Our most excellent brother, Bullinger, took a different view of the matter, and thought that our victory would be best secured by our silence and patience. I rejoice that God has long looked down upon you, that you have found a quiet abode, in which you may not only find rest, but also labor in profitable work for the cause of God and his church.
LETTER 351
Further remember that it is not for us to put asunder what God has joined together, and that along with the use of the Lord's supper we are required to have baptism. CONGRATULATIONS ON DUMOULIN'S GRADUATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TUBINGEN.
TO SULZER
DEFENSE OF THE FRENCH CHURCH OF STRASBOURG – EXPLANATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE SUPPER – AN APPEAL TO THE MEMORY OF LUTHER, CAPITO. But there were, as far as I can understand, two main causes of the whole evil.
LETTER 357
LETTER 358
But if someone has fallen away, it is your duty to bear the burden that is imposed on you all the more courageously; which when I plainly see you do it, I am more and more confirmed in the opinion that you have been kept where you are by a wonderful providence of God, to help a distressed church.
LETTER 359
For daring as ignorance may be, still no one doubts that you could bring your mind to speak openly what you think, but that it would be an easy task for you to appease, at least in part, their violence. Strive only that the brazen wall of a good conscience will enable you to stand up boldly.
LETTER 361
It also gives me the greatest pleasure that you approve of my zeal to appease the discord which broke out so unhappily at the beginning of the Reformation. I congratulate you on the tranquility of your churches, but it is very unfortunate that you do not possess, along with it, the essence of discipline so necessary to ensure its continuity.
TO THE BRETHREN OF POITOU. F50
Even when the dangers are obvious, we must not withdraw from the flock because of excessive timidity. To this point God does not condemn our prudence to avoid the wrath of the unrighteous.
LETTER 364
TO A GENTLEMAN OF PROVENCE. F52
Since then there has been no disrespect of the sacrament on your part, it brings no prejudice to the salvation of your child, that it died before you had leisure or the means to have it baptized. I am not a little afraid that his nuttiness will be injurious to his defense of the good cause.
TO THE SEIGNEURS OF BERNE. F55
At an assembly of the Morges class, in the presence of a large number of people, an individual so slandered our brother, Master John Calvin, that a rumor spread throughout the country that he was condemned as a heretic. Since that time Zebedee, preacher of Nyon, at the marriage of the son and daughter of Mr. Crans, speaking of the doctrine which we hold and are ready to seal with our blood, publicly said from the pulpit, that it was a heresy worse than whatever errors of papacy, that those who preach it are papists, and that they would commit a less dangerous error in keeping the mass.
LETTER 367
TO THE SWISS CHURCHES. F57
And it is for causes like these that turbulent men, from the shores of the frozen ocean, throw themselves upon theirs. STATEMENT OF THE CHURCHES OF SWISS ON CONSENSUS — GREATEST NEWS FROM FERRARA — ARRIVAL OF A.
TO THE PASTORS OF ZURICH. F61
In this opinion I certainly agree, because there would be more dignity in the handling of the matter, if there was no express mention of a private. I have not thought fit to omit all mention of the confession, so as not to arouse unnecessary scruples in the minds of those who would join our party.
LETTER 371
Among other things, they complained that the small family property was taken from them at the first outbreak of the storm. This was their only resource against the poverty they had to contend with in exile.
LETTER 372
I have always guessed quite wisely at his extravagant character, but he has nevertheless fairly exceeded the idea I had of him. But as such vermin cannot be tamed by any human application, the Lord must combat them with His own strength.
LETTER 373
And as for his pretending that the superiority was conceded to the dignity of the place, it is still more foolish. For it is not possible that the public government of the church should be changed at once.
LETTER 375
LETTER 376
Some new method must then be adopted; I will strive to the best of my ability to make it so. But as these continue to be employed for the benefit of criminals, I fear they will at last divert themselves at our expense.
LETTER 377
LETTER 378
I should like to hear soon that they have been repulsed by the people of your town, with the severity they deserve, so that they may at last begin to feel something. Bless your holy zeal, that through you it may triumph over these unfaithful Pilates, who, while scourging Christ, to exclude him from the crucifixion, still do unjustly.
LETTER 379
LETTER 380
For this more frank and sincere confession will force the believers still in that land to reflect deeply on the depth of the abyss into which they have fallen. For their own stubborn fall will wound them more deeply when they shall see you advance far beyond the middle of the course from which they themselves have forcibly withdrawn.
LETTER 381
LETTER 382
But it is good for us that the remedy is certain, and what is more, that we do not have to look far for it. For the rest, madam, I beg you to be careful not to succumb to such calumnies.
LETTER 386
LETTER 387
In short, with what indifference is that matter treated, which should not only occupy the foremost place among our concerns, but even occupy all our thoughts. And though I understand that his most serene majesty is rather favorably disposed to the good cause, still, as you see in the ashamed course of things that he proceeds too slowly, remember that this task of God is laid upon you , namely, not only to be his majesty's companion and co-worker, but also to encourage him, and where necessity requires, to surpass him.
LETTER 388
TO THE LORDS OF BERNE
Call us to your presence when you will, you will see that the goodness of our cause gives us confidence, that we are afraid not to have you for judges, aware as we are that you are Christian princes who will not allow that the truth is not suppressed. And upon this, right worshipful, obstinate, and honorable Lord, having again most humbly committed ourselves to your gracious favor, we will pray our heavenly Father to have you in his protection, to rule you by his Holy Spirit, and to increase you in all good .
LETTER 389
On one point alone they are united, that heretics should not be punished. Therefore, we must confess that it is a defect in us not to follow the example of the Apostles.
LETTER 399
Since then, not only to comply with the wishes of my co-pastors, but as I thought it my duty, I thought it my duty to express some gratitude to you. After he too had spoken loudly of your virtues in my presence, and had, as it were, vowed that if I published any of my words addressed to the Senate of Frankfort my courtesy would not be displeasing, I was at length persuaded by his.
LETTER 402
If you wish a fuller account of the whole matter, I shall feel no hesitation in making it my own. For our defense, the inhabitants of Coire thanked us some time ago in the name of all the churches of Graubünden.
LETTER 403
On the contrary, he who delights in his unfortunate condition closes, as it were, the door to the compassion of God. For my part, I will also pray to him that he may always have you in his holy keeping, increase you in knowledge, zeal and steadfastness and in all good things, that you may contribute more and more to his honor.
LETTER 404
For I feared that some hidden resentment, arising from former quarrels, might still subsist, and nothing would make me more grateful than to be freed from that apprehension. For if by any chance one of you should retire to this place, I should be struck with the very suspicion of a secret strife between you.
LETTER 405
As that night's sentinels were posted in the middle of the city, they hear a shout not far off. As if, forsooth, the two hundred to if. prejudice they have fallen a victim was not of the citizens.
