Fresh complaints by Calvin against the ministers of Zurich and
Berne--his unpopularity in the latter city--advices to Farel.
GENEVA, _27th January 1552_.
I received your letter lately, in which you asked me silently to
repress the feeling of wrong done me by your neighbours.[359] As
for the people of Zurich, the die has been cast three days ago.
The remedy was in my hands, indeed, until then. But I have no
inclination to recall those letters which I have lately despatched.
It was absolutely necessary for me afterwards to write to the
theologians of Bâle, with whose answer, apparently so cold and
empty, I had good grounds from the first to be displeased. But those
things advanced by the others were so very worthless, that they
did not cause me much annoyance. You are much mistaken in thinking
that the former party are about to see their error. Wait rather
till they make an absolute renunciation of the election of God. We
have experienced the wonderful providence of God in this matter;
for without being at the time aware of it, I, by the formula of our
agreement, have so bound them, that they are no longer at liberty
to do damage to the cause. For, in other circumstances, as I am
informed by one, they would have become the patrons of Jerome. Even
Bibliander, carried away by a sudden fit of excitement, was within
a very little of coming to oppose us. He is at present engaged in
writing something or other. However, you will find nothing in my
letter, if I am not mistaken, except what is exceedingly temperate.
I had, in truth, enough to do in repressing the grief with which I
was at that time consumed. You will hear from Christopher what Viret
advises to be done with the third. As he has an absolute horror of
going to Berne, I have no special counsel to offer. However, the
atrocity of the evils by which we are beset, compels us to attempt
something. And now new matter for a tragedy has arisen out of mere
nothing. For the chief magistrate of Ternier, on false and reckless
information, eagerly summoned, as he is accustomed to do, John de
Saint André before a public tribunal, charging him with having
said before a public assembly, that whoever received the Supper on
Christmas-day, received the devil and not Christ.[360] And witnesses
were found to give evidence against him. In short, Satan will not
lay aside such fanners as these until he has kindled some dreadful
conflagration. But I suppose we may rather weep over evils of this
sort, than hope to prevent them. At least I do not see what can
be done. If I go to Berne, I fear I shall not receive a brotherly
welcome from the brethren. Wicked men, who are at present exhibiting
so much effrontery, while matters are in a doubtful state, will then
be certain to be more insolent in their boasting. And although the
pastors hold out some show of friendship, yet I scarcely expect to
succeed in inducing them to maintain friendly intercourse with us,
except by the permission of the Senate. You know how defective they
are in courage and firmness. If they so far comply with our wishes
in this matter, they will nevertheless think that they have doubly
discharged their duty, when they have indicated in a single word
that they have nothing to complain of. There is much talk in the
city in the meantime. While revolving these dangers in my own mind,
I can scarcely venture to seek a remedy for evils which vex me all
the more from my very desire for their removal. If you hope to find
Blaurer of any use to you, you should employ him. But I abstain from
writing, lest some might think themselves wronged by my complaining
to him. Try him, therefore, and give him advice about what he should
do.
[359] In their reply to the ministers of Geneva concerning Bolsec,
the ministers of Berne freely pleaded the cause of toleration:--"We
do not believe," said they, "that it is necessary to treat those
who err with too much severity, lest while wishing to defend,
with too great zeal, the purity of dogmas, we swerve from the law
of Jesus Christ, that is, from charity.... Jesus Christ loved
the truth, but he loved souls also; not only those who advanced
without declension, but also those who went astray. And it is the
latter of which the Good Shepherd, in the Gospel parable, takes the
greatest care."... More explicit than the theologians of Zurich
and of Bâle on the doctrine which formed the ground of the debate,
the ministers of Berne gave a deliverance against the doctrine of
predestination:--"To come," said they, "to the subject of dispute
with Bolsec, you are not ignorant how much vexation it has caused
very many good men, of whom we cannot have a bad opinion, who
reading in the Scriptures those passages which exalt the grace
of God to all men, have not sufficient discernment rightly to
understand the true mysteries of Divine election, attach themselves
to the proclamation of grace and of universal benevolence, and think
that we cannot make God condemn, harden, and blind any man, without
being guilty of the insupportable blasphemy of making God himself
the author both of man's blindness and of his perdition, and by
consequence of all sin."--See this letter, and those of the Churches
of Zurich and Bâle, in the Collection of Professor Alph. Turretin,
entitled, _Nubes Testium_, and in Ruchat, tom. v. p. 461, _et seq._
[360] This minister was banished shortly after beyond the territory
of the Seigneurs of Berne on account of this expression.
In the next place, I have something about which I wish to admonish
yourself. For I understand the prolixity of your discourses has
furnished ground of complaint to many.[361] You have frequently
confessed to us that you were aware of this defect, and that you
were endeavouring to correct it. But if private grumblings are
disregarded because they do not in the meanwhile give trouble, they
may, nevertheless, one day break forth into seditious clamours. I
beg and beseech of you to strive to restrain yourself, that you may
not afford Satan an opportunity, which we see he is so earnestly
desiring. You know that while we are not called upon to show too
much indulgence to the foolish, we are nevertheless bound to give
them something to allure them. And you are well enough aware that
you have to do with the morose and the choleric; and in truth their
aversion arises simply from too much pride on their part. Yet,
since the Lord commands us to ascend the pulpit, not for our own
edification, but for that of the people, you should so regulate
the matter of your teaching, that the word may not be brought into
contempt by your tediousness. It is more appropriate, also, for us
to lengthen our prayers in private, than when we offer them in the
name of the whole Church. You are mistaken if you expect from all an
ardour equal to your own.
[361] Farel was a genuine orator. All his contemporaries speak
with admiration of his eloquent discourses, of his beautiful
exhortations, and of his prayers, so fervent, that no one could hear
them without being charmed. But it appears that his discourses were
all extempore; none of them have been preserved, but they had a few
of the defects of improvisation. Their fault was prolixity. Calvin,
in his preface to the Psalms, paid, among other things, a brilliant
tribute to the eloquence of his friend, and to those thunders of the
word (_tonitrua_) by which he had been enchained at Geneva.
I have dictated this letter in bed.[362] Adieu, most excellent and
upright brother. Salute all friends. May the Lord preserve and guide
you by his Spirit, and bless your labours!--Yours,