[257] Endowed, according to the testimony of his contemporaries,
with a powerful and impetuous eloquence which charmed multitudes,
and which, with the strong faith with which he was animated,
could alone explain his splendid success as a missionary, Farel
was abler with the tongue than with the pen, and his various
writings, called forth by circumstances, are in general defective.
We find in them a few ideas, cast forth at hazard, without plan,
in strange disorder, and with a superabundance of explanation, in
a diffuse and obscure style. It is not uninteresting to know the
judgment which Calvin pronounced upon the works of his friend, and
to find in this judgment even a new testimony to the brotherly
candour which presided at all times over the intercourse of the two
Reformers.--See on the writings of Farel, Senebier, _Hist. Litt._
tom. i. pp. 148, 149; Sayous, _Etudes sur les Ecrivains de la
Réformation_, tom. i., 1st sketch; and Haag, _France Protestante_,
Art. Farel.
Criticism on a work by Farel.
GENEVA, _1st September 1549_.
You will learn from your brother that the painful case of Ferron
has been renewed.[258] Bullinger, as you will observe, writing
previous to receiving my letter, had good hopes of publishing a
union. I make honourable mention of you in my preface; even if it
should give pain to the wicked, they must nevertheless swallow it
in silence. I have written nothing regarding your book,[259] as
I laid the whole burden on Viret. I said from the first, what is
true, that I mistrusted my own judgment regarding your writings,
seeing that our mode of writing is so different. You know with what
respect I regard Augustine. Not, however, because I disguise from
myself how much his prolixity dissatisfies me. Perhaps my style, in
the mean time, is over-concise. But I am not at present discussing
which is best. For I have not confidence in myself [to do so], for
this reason, that whilst I follow my own inclination, I had rather
pardon than condemn others. Normandie--who is so great a friend of
mine, that he is a great friend of yours also--will furnish the best
testimony as to what I think of your book. I am only afraid that the
involved style and tedious discussion will obscure the light which
is really in it. I know, and that not without pleasure too, that
nothing but what is excellent is expected from you. I speak without
flattery. Your book seems to deserve a place among [works of] that
class. But because the readers of our time are so fastidious, and
not possessed of great acuteness, I should wish the language to
be so managed, that one might allure them by the fluency of his
expression, and bring forward at the same time, that erudition which
lies concealed under those coverings of which I have spoken. This
is my candid judgment. Although I prefer acquiescing in the opinion
of Viret, yet I could not be altogether silent, seeing that you had
already insisted on it for the second time. Your brother will let
you know about our affairs.
[258] See Note 1, p. 223.
[259] The only work of Farel's mentioned at this date by Senebier,
is the following: _Le Glaice de la Parole Véritable contre le
Bouclier de Défense, duquel un Cordelier s'est voulu servir_, in
12mo, Geneva, 1550. It is a vehement reply to a Cordelier who had
adopted the sentiments of that spiritual mysticism which leads to a
denial of all morality. It presents, besides, the ordinary defects
of the works of Farel--confusion and prolixity.
Adieu, brother and very honest friend, with all your
fellow-ministers, especially Christopher, and Michael Faton. May
the Lord ever guide and watch over you.--Yours,