[348] At a general meeting, held October 16, 1551, the minister
of Jussy, Jean de Saint André, in preaching from the words of St.
John, (viii. 47,) "He that is of God heareth God's words ...," took
occasion to develope the doctrine of eternal election, declaring
that "those who are not regenerated by the Spirit of God, continue
in a state of rebellion even to the end, because obedience is a
gift accorded only to the elect." He had scarcely finished speaking
when one of the hearers rose up, and pronounced this doctrine false
and impious, accompanying his discourse with coarse abuse of those
who make God the _author of sin_, and exhorted the people to guard
against this new doctrine as a detestable piece of folly. This man
was the old Carmelite monk, Jerome Bolsec, a physician, preacher,
and poet, who, wandering by turns in France and Italy, had retired
to Geneva some months previously, where he had already frequently
attacked the doctrines of Calvin. Unnoticed in the crowd, the
Reformer, whom Bolsec had thought absent, immediately rose up,
and by a succession of testimonies borrowed from the writings of
Augustine, eloquently refuted his adversary. Arrested on account of
the temerity of his language, and interrogated by the magistrate,
Jerome refused to retract, and was thrown into prison. The case was
brought before the Council, where he boldly maintained his opinion,
adding, besides, that many of the Swiss ministers shared in his
sentiments. Before pronouncing a judgment, which the ministers of
Geneva earnestly desired, the magistrates wrote concerning the
subject to three Reformed towns, namely, Zurich, Berne, and Bâle,
furnishing them with a list of the errors of Bolsec, and asking
their advice as to how they should treat him. See the _Registers of
the Council_, Oct. 1551; Gautier, _Manuscript History of Geneva_,
and Ruehat, tom. v. p. 456.
Statement of the controversy with Bolsec regarding Election.