[224] While Calvin was engaged in active negotiations with the
ministers of Zurich for the adoption of a common formula regarding
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, he addressed to the ministers of
the Church of Berne a statement of what the Church of Geneva held
on that important question, in the hope of leading that Church into
the proposed union. But the Bernese clergy, placed in a position
of absolute dependence on the seigneury, could not adopt any
formula without its authority; and the seigneurs, jealous of their
influence, regarded with a distrustful eye any communication with
the ministers of Geneva. The approaches of Calvin, also, were not
well received, and the noble desire of the Reformer for the union of
the Helvetian churches, realized at a later period by Bullinger, met
with no response.--_Ruchat_, tom. v. pp. 578, 579.
Desire of union between the Churches of Berne and Geneva.
GENEVA, _13th March 1549_.
Seeing that we have, unsolicited, offered you a reading of our views
on the sacraments, it seems desirable to furnish you, briefly, with
some reason for our resolution in this matter; although, indeed, no
lengthened introduction is needed in dealing with us in so just a
cause. When your illustrious senate has publicly called upon you to
deliberate, among other matters, regarding the peace of the Church,
of which the peculiar bond is harmony in purity of doctrine, it is
probable there will be some discussion regarding the sacraments,
as that subject has for a long time occupied the attention of the
Bernese Church. And while we are not required to make any exposition
of our doctrine, we have, nevertheless, thought it our duty, even
though unasked, to take part with you in bearing testimony on a
matter in which we have all been completely unanimous. For since
we both preach the same Christ, both profess the same gospel, are
both members of the same church, and have both the same ministry,
there ought not to be that diversity of authority among us to which
we have been subject, either to break up the unity of our faith,
or to hinder from flourishing amongst us so many rights of holy
fellowship consecrated to the service of Christ. That proximity
of residence, also, which is so influential among the children
of this world, in drawing them into close friendship, ought not,
at least, to be less powerful among us. We are, in reality, so
commingled, that even the situation of the two places brings us, as
it were, within a bond of mutual union. So far is this the case,
that there is a federal union between the two cities. Some of our
ministers, moreover, supply the churches of the Bernese district,
just as certain of your body, again, have some of the churches of
Geneva under their charge. It is, consequently, to a great extent,
as much your interest as it is ours to become intimately acquainted
with those doctrines to which we conform. At all events, in this
way--passing by other considerations--many unfavourable suspicions
will be counteracted, and malicious men will be deprived of a source
of abuse. We confidently trust that our wishes will be agreeable,
not only to yourselves, but also to your most illustrious senate.
It only remains that you receive this communication calmly and with
forbearance. And if you do so, as there is the highest hope you
will, it will not be found to contain anything which you may not
easily comprehend. Adieu, dearly beloved and estimable brethren and
fellow-ministers; may the Lord Jesus long preserve, by his strength,
the Bernese republic in a most prosperous condition. May he uphold
the illustrious senate, under whose auspices ye have been assembled.
May he direct and bless your assembly, and guide you by a spirit of
wise zeal and uprightness to promote the advancement and edification
of the Church.
Signed in the name of all your brethren and fellow-ministers of the
Church of Geneva,