In the midst of his other labors, he made so great a progress in the study of the. We see what vices reign in the greatest number of the assemblies convened in the world.
CHARACTER OF CALVIN
BY THE TRANSLATOR
There is no part of the conduct of the reformers more worthy of imitation than their admirable disinterestedness. As a brother, friend, husband, father, and minister of the word of God, he displayed strong and steady. The distressing impulses of the day are followed by the more torturing anguish of the night.
Is such conduct worthy of the generosity for which my countrymen are so justly renowned.
NOTES
LIFE OF CALVIN
He was curate of the present bishop of Bath and Wells, who afterwards promoted him to Hayton. One of the party, after a little time, went to awake him, but his spirit had departed. This is merely one specimen of the numerous false statements concerning Calvin, with which this.
That is deemed heresy, in every age and country, which is opposite to the doctrines of the established church.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
NOTE A
The mind of the Emperor is entirely inclined to peace, and to obtain it he will contend with all. The confederates will not easily yield to this, but persist in demanding the reformation of the Church. I was requested to give my opinion in Latin, and although I understood not the opinions of the others, I freely, and without.
What obstacles will lie across our way when we come to the open profession of the real presence.
NOTE B
It is referring the objector from the deduction to the principle; and inviting him to examine, not only the process of the reasoner’s logic, but the truth. He rejects these assertions as blasphemous, while he maintains the scriptural doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God. He boasted to have an act, signed by a notary, which certified the truth of the process and condemnation.
He was convicted of sedition and Pelagianism at Geneva, in 1551, and banished the territory of the republic.
NOTE C
At the same time he was furiously opposed to many of the doctrines always regarded as fundamental in the church of Christ. But it was the doctrine of the Holy Trinity that he set himself chiefly to impugn. acknowledges, that Faustus Socinus himself was not free from persecution, in the case of Francis Davides, superintendent of the.
And, after all, many seem to be ignorant of the history of this hateful scheme of opinions.
NOTE D
THE CATECHISM OF EDWARD VI
The reformation commenced in the English church, in 1547, and Cranmer set forth the Homilies, 12 in number. In 1548, Calvin, in his letter to Somerset, the Protector, recommends, That a summary of doctrines and a Catechism for the use of children be published. It becomes you,” he says, “to be fully persuaded, that the Church of God, cannot be built up without a Catechism.” The Protector himself translated this letter from the original French, and it was published in 1550.
Burnet says, “it was printed with a preface in the king’s name, bearing date the 24th of May, 1553, about seven weeks before his death: In which he sets forth that it was drawn by a pious and learned man, supposed to be bishop Poynet, and was given to be revised by some bishops and learned men.” f99 Rector Strype, in his Annals, vol.
THE CATECHISM COMMONLY CALLED DR. NOWELL’S
In 1548, the Liturgy was compiled, by the care of archbishop Cranmer, Somerset, Ridley, and Peter Martyr, and passed the house of Lords, January 15th, 1549. But his proof is not of much weight; as it is more probable that Newell followed Poynet in compiling his, in 1561. Accordingly, “It was printed by Reynold Wolf, the 16th of the calends of July (that is the 16th of June) 1570, and was dedicated unto the bishops because it was offered them seven years before in convocation, and allowed by them all, as above said.”.
This Catechism,” adds the diligent and impartial Strype, “was printed again in the year 1572, and in Greek and Latin 1573, and so from time to time had many impressions, and was used a long time in all schools, even to our days,” (that is, of Charles II) “and pity it is, it is now so disused.”.
THE SHORTER CATECHISM
Calvin, it is a great wrong untruly to report so great a father, and so worthy an ornament of the church of God. The archbishops Whitgift, Hutton, and Parker, were all Calvinists, and approved of the Lambeth articles. At what period, then, did the members of the church of England generally change their opinions on the subject of doctrinal Calvinism.
This sudden change in the theological opinions of the court and clergy was certainly owing to a.
CORRESPONDENCE
BUCER TO CALVIN
You are sensible, my respected brother, and fellow-laborer in the Lord, how highly the apostle Paul estimated the meetings and conferences of holy men, as tending to promote knowledge and purity; how cheerfully he traveled over land and sea to animate those believers, whom he knew to be anxious for the edification of the church, to be frequent in their society. I cannot well express how much it grieves me not to have known and conversed with you, when you were here. I know not what evil spirit made him so forgetful as not to introduce you to me, which omission he now very much regrets.
CALVIN TO PETER CAROLI
But we are not able to enter into that compact which you demand; for how shall we at this time promise you a church. You certainly know, that it is the highest wisdom to turn from the evil course into which you have entered. You will remember, that the charity which you so severely demand of others, must be shown, in some measure, towards others.
The Lord Jesus Christ guide you by the spirit of counsel and prudence, that from those dangerous rocks, against which you have broken, and that tempestuous sea, on which you are tossed, you may be received safe into the haven of rest.
CALVIN TO FAREL
When Bucer last wrote me, nothing had been determined concerning the embassy to the king of France, for the safety of the brethren, and the support of the cause of religion. I was also anxious to confer with Melancthon on religion, and the discipline of the church. For Joachim was favorable to the cause of the gospel, and the palatine was by no means unfriendly to its success.
My success in the cause of the brethren, and the subjects of my conference with Philip, you will learn more minutely from Michael.
CALVIN TO VIRET
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. Articles concerning the whole polity of the church will be drawn up, which we shall lay before the senate. We hope, through the authority of the Bernese and the Biellese, that the commotions are at least allayed, if not terminated.
It is now, however, the interest of our common ministry, and of the whole church, that you should come to this city.
CALVIN TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE CHURCH OF MONTBELLIARD
Let it be an opportunity for advising and reproving those who are wanting in their duty
Let the minister endeavor to strengthen the weak in faith, and encourage those who are of a tender conscience
In burials of the dead, I would wish this to be observed, that the body, instead of being carried to the place of worship, be conveyed directly to the place of burial; and that the exhortation should there be given to all the attendants of the funeral. As to the ringing of the bell, f115 I would not advise you to be very tenacious in your opposition, if the prince cannot be persuaded to abolish it, as it is not worth contending about. I would not have you oppose every festival, but insist on the abolition of those which carry the most decided marks of superstition, without any tendency to edification.
I entirely agree with you, u to the danger of varying from those forms which are commonly used in our churches; but as we have not yet arrived to that perfection, which we anticipate, and towards which we hope we are advancing, you need not hesitate to admit some of those rites, which you can neither wholly approbate, nor totally abolish.
CALVIN TO THE MINISTERS OF NEUFCHATEL
If he is unjustly criminated, they will thus provide, that the reports spread no further; but if true, he ought not to be. Here the question is changed: whether that which is a deficiency is to be treated as a fault, and corrected. The discipline of the church is not only of divine authority, but we find, by experience, that it is necessary, and by no means to be neglected or omitted.
Now it is not to be doubted, but that a deliberation among the Elders preceded this advice; and that this consultation was held, Paul not being present.
CALVIN TO THE QUEEN OF NAVARRE
I do not believe that you expect me, in order to please you, to prevaricate in the defense of the gospel, which is committed to me. What the author of the letter says in your name, that such servants as I am will not be very acceptable to you, I judge the same of myself, and acknowledge that I cannot be of any great service to you; for neither have I the ability, nor you the occasion of my personal assistance. I should be the most ungrateful of all mortals, if I did not prefer this my condition to all the honors and riches of the world.
That it may appear more evident that those, who have endeavored to injure me in your estimation, have basely abused your generous disposition, I will name to you, as a witness, Cleracus, from whom you may most certainly ascertain the extreme falsehood of the calumny, which has been invented against me, and which is insufferable, as by it the name of God may be blasphemed.
CALVIN TO MELANCTHON
CALVIN TO THE PROTECTOR OF ENGLAND
Although God has endowed you, most noble Lord, for your station, with the fortitude, prudence and other virtues, which the magnitude of the office demands; yet as you acknowledge me to be a servant of his Son, whom you account yourself to prefer before all things else, I have. I propose to myself nothing more, than that you should continue to advance his glory, by pursuing the work you have begun, until you have brought his kingdom to the most desirable state, of which it is capable on earth. In perusing this letter you will perceive, that I have produced nothing of my own, but have transcribed from the Scriptures whatever you have here for your benefit.
But as you do not despise the doctrine of that Master to whom I am devoted, and as you consider it a distinguished privilege to be in the number of his disciples, I need not apologize in many words, believing that you are sufficiently prepared to receive whatever manifestly comes from him.
