[151] _Entitled_: To our very dear lords and brethren who desire the
advancement of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
During the period that the Reformation was for a while overcome in
Germany, and that it had to sustain the rudest conflicts in order to
its establishment at Geneva, the most alarming reports were spread
among the French Protestants, and carried discouragement and dismay
into their ranks. Calvin, addressing his brethren from the midst
of the struggle in which he was engaged against the party of the
Libertins, reassured and comforted them by his letters, and exhorted
them to place their entire confidence in God.
State of Germany--details regarding the struggles of the
Reformer in the cause of the truth at Geneva.
_This 24th of July 1547._
The electing love of God our Father, and the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, rest always upon you by the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Very dear lords and brethren, I doubt not that you have daily much
news, as well from hence as from Germany, which might prove a
stumblingblock to those who are not overmuch confirmed in our Lord
Jesus Christ. But I trust in God he has so strengthened you, that
you shall not be shaken, either thereby or by any still greater
marvel which may yet arise. And verily, if we are indeed built upon
that solid stone which has been ordained for the foundation of the
Church, we may well sustain more boisterous storms and tempests
without being foundered. It is even expedient for us that such
things should happen, that the firmness and constancy of our faith
may be approved.
As for the state of Germany, our Lord has so abased the worldly
pride of our people, and given all power and authority to him from
whom we can look for nought but ill, as that it indeed appears that
he means himself to maintain his spiritual kingdom wheresoever he
had already set it up. It is very true, that according to the carnal
mind it is in danger; yet in commending to himself the care of his
poor Church and the kingdom of his Son, let us hope that he will
provide for all, beyond what we can think. The danger hitherto has
been, lest human means might have dazzled our eyes. Now, however,
since there is nothing to prevent our looking to his hand, and
recalling to mind how he has preserved his Church in time past, let
us not doubt but he will glorify himself in such sort that we shall
be amazed. Meanwhile, we must never grow weary of fighting under the
ensign of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that is worth more
than all the triumphs of the world.
As regards the rumours of our troubles which have flown abroad, they
seem, the greater part of them, in the first place, to have been
improvised; because, were you upon the spot, you would not see a
tenth part of what is told at a distance. True it is, that we have
many hard-headed and stiff-necked rebels, who on all occasions seek
only to raise themselves, and by riotous courses to dissipate and
abolish all order in the Church, and these, indeed, as well young as
old. And the state of our young people, especially, is very corrupt;
so that, when we will not allow them every license, they go from bad
to worse.[152] Of late, they were sorely enraged under cover of a
small matter. It was because they were not allowed to wear slashed
breeches, which has been prohibited in the town for these twelve
years past. Not that we would make overmuch of this, but because
we see that, by the loop-holes of the breeches, they wish to bring
in all manner of disorders. We have protested, however, in the
meantime, that the slashing of their breeches was but a mere piece
of foppery, which was not worth speaking about, but that we had
quite another end in view, which was to curb and to repress their
follies. During this little conflict, the devil has interjected
others, so that there has been great murmuring. And because they
perceived in us more courage than they could have wished, and more
determination to resist them, the venom which some of them had
concealed within their heart burst forth. But this is nought but
smoke; for their threats are nothing else but a splutter of the
pride of Moab, who is powerless to execute what he thus presumes to
threaten.
[152] Ils font des mauvais chevaulx à mordre et à regimber.
Howsoever that may be, you need not be astonished. There have been
greater commotions stirred against Moses and against the prophets,
although they had to govern the people of God; and such exercises
are needful for us. Only beseech our Lord, that he would vouchsafe
us grace not to flinch, but that we may prefer his obedience to our
life if need be, and that we may be more afraid of offending him
than of stirring up all the fury of the wicked against ourselves,
and that at length it may please him to allay all the tumults which
might otherwise break the courage of the unsettled, for it is that
which down-weighs me more than all the rest. This grace our Lord has
vouchsafed us, that we have a right good will to remedy the evil,
and all our brethren are well agreed to go forward earnestly in
that which is our duty, so that there is the same constancy in all.
Nothing is needful, except that this good Lord continue to conduct
his own work.
I entreat of you, my dear brethren, continue steadfast on your part
also; and let no fear alarm you, even although the dangers were
more apparent than you have seen them hitherto. May the reliance
which God commands us to have in his grace and in his strength
always be to you an impregnable fortress; and for the holding fast
the assurance of his help, may you be careful to walk in his fear,
although, when we have made it our whole study to serve him, we
must always come back to this conclusion, of asking pardon for our
shortcomings. And inasmuch as you know well from experience how
frail we are, be ever diligent to continue in the practice which
you have established, of prayer and hearing of the holy word, to
exercise you, and to sharpen and confirm you more and more. Let
nothing turn you aside, as sometimes there are many colourable
pretexts adduced to justify the remission of such duties. I am
convinced that it would be much better that all those who desire
to honour God should assemble together, and that every one should
call the others thither as by sound of trumpet. But yet, it is much
better to have what you have, though it be but a part, than nothing
at all. And so, watching well against declension, seek rather to
advance in the way of proficiency, and make use of what God gives
you,--edifying one another, and in general all poor and ignorant
ones, by your good life, that so, by the same means, the wicked may
be put to confusion. In so doing, you will perceive the hand of God
upon you, to whom I pray that he would increase in you the graces
which he has put within you; that he would strengthen you in true
consistency; that, in the midst of dogs and of wolves, he would
preserve you, and every way glorify himself in you; after having
commended me affectionately to your kind prayers.
Your humble brother and entire friend,
CHARLES D'ESPEVILLE.
[_Fr. copy_--_Library of Geneva._ Vol. 107.]