[36] To the most honourable Doctor Theodore Vitus, most faithful
Minister of Christ at Nuremberg.
Theodore Vitus, (Dietrich de Weit,) a distinguished theologian,
friend of Luther and Melanchthon, preached the Gospel with great
success in the city of Nuremberg, his native place, and was worthy
of the esteem and affection of Calvin, not more on account of his
learning than his moderation. He died in 1549. Melanchthon wrote, at
the foot of his portrait, the following verses:
Ingenii monumenta sui, sed plura Lutheri
Edidit; his poterunt secla futura frui.
--[Melch. Adam, _Vitæ Theol. Germ._ pp. 199, 200.
Indication of the various documents wherein are set forth the
opinions of Calvin regarding the Lord's Supper--earnest desire
for union and peace among the Churches--condition of Geneva.
GENEVA, _17th March 1546_.
Your letter gave me the greater pleasure, as I had not ventured
to look for it, for it was my part to draw a letter from you by
being the first to write. But that you, without being called upon,
should of your own accord have anticipated me, I take as a proof
of your greater friendship towards me. If, however, you would know
the reason of my not writing, I refrained more from modesty than
negligence. And generally the testimony of Philip [Melanchthon]
is with me sufficient; but when no great familiarity intervenes,
the crooked policy of the times sometimes makes me apprehensive.
Wherefore, I am the more grateful to you for having removed every
scruple. I greatly rejoice, also, to find that my pamphlet, _De
Coenâ_, has met with your approbation.[37] It was written in French
ten years before. When, without my knowledge, it had been already
translated into Latin by two individuals, I at length consented to
its publication, being afraid, in fact, that some worse version
might forestall it. A style of instruction, simple and popular, and
adapted to the unlearned, shews what my purpose was from the first;
for I usually write more carefully for those acquainted with Latin.
I laboured, however, not only faithfully to express my views, and
reduce them within a brief compass, but also to unfold them lucidly,
and without technicalities. Since then the _Institution_, having
been revised, was again given to the public, in which, unless I
am mistaken, I expound and more fully confirm the same doctrine,
under a different form of expression, and with somewhat greater
development. I at length also published a _Catechism_, which is
trustworthy and pertinent evidence of the kind of doctrine with
which the common people are imbued by me. Would that the people
of Zurich, as you say, were willing to give their assent to that
confession![38] I do not think Luther is so unyielding but that
there might easily be an agreement, and they do not, withal, venture
to disapprove of my views. The chief obstacle to their giving a
public assent to my doctrine is, that being pre-occupied by a
meaning, once and now for a length of time prescribed to them, they
so stick to their customary forms as to admit nothing new. But if
you consider the tyranny manifested by certain of the adverse party
in the attempt to force the world, not only into their peculiar
views, but also into a prescribed form of words, the furious
insolence they shew, what commotions they excite,--the moderation
as well as rectitude by which you are characterized, will lead you
to condemn in the matter the absurd conduct of those parties, not
less than the people of Zurich. May the Lord by his Spirit dispose
us all to true moderation. You know that I am not in the habit of
complaining when there is no ground for it; nor do I doubt but that
you yourself, as might be expected from your eminent piety, sigh in
secret over the same evils, while it is not in your power to remedy
them. With respect to the assurances you give me regarding yourself,
I wish you in turn to believe, that I am and always will be your
sincere friend and brother. I now, with many others, request you
to go on strenuously, and make no halt in your progress, until you
have handed over to us Genesis completed.[39] For as Luther has just
grounds for congratulating himself in having found such an artist to
polish his works, so others experience how advantageous the labour
is to the public. I may have wished, however, that you had been more
sparing in your mention of the Sacramentaries, because I see that
the minds of some are thereby exasperated, of whom there was a hope
that they would be brought to moderate views. It will be for you to
consider what may be more conducive to that end. I will be satisfied
if you take my warning in good part, whether or not you act upon it.
The Ratisbon Assembly will indeed bring forth smoke for us, which
the Lord will soon dispel.[40]
[37] The following is the passage of the letter of Vitus to Calvin
to which he here refers:--"I have read your short address to the
people on the Sacrament of the Supper, and I approve of your calling
the bread and wine signs in such a sense that the things signified
are in reality present. Would that they who leave only the naked
signs, might be led by you to adopt that view!"--_Calv. Epist. et
Resp._, Amst., p. 37.
[38] This desire was happily realized some years afterwards, by the
adoption of a common symbol on the Supper, approved alike by the
theologians of Zurich and Geneva.
[39] Vitus lent useful aid to Luther in the revision of his
different writings, and rendered a real service to the Church by
collecting and offering to the public the Commentaries of Luther on
the Prophet Micah, and the first eleven chapters of Genesis.--Melch.
Adam, _Vitæ Theol. Germ._
[40] The Conference opened by the Emperor at Ratisbon, and to which
Bucer had been summoned, was a mere feint to divert men's minds, and
to transfer the decision of the points at issue to the Council of
Trent.
Here we are tranquil unless the Emperor molest us. Some suspect
him of having an eye on Burgundy, with the view of threatening
the kingdom of France from that quarter, while he would harass
Provence by means of the young Duke of Savoy, and send in the
English from the other side. I hold myself under the protection
of God alone when I see that we are not far from certain danger.
Adieu, most honoured sir, and most sincere friend. May the Lord
Jesus ever guide and direct you by his Holy Spirit, and bless your
labours. All my colleagues respectfully salute you. To yours also
you will convey the highest respects in my name, and in that of my
colleagues.--Yours,