[397] Ambroise Blaurer, of a noble family of Constance, entered
in early youth a convent, which he soon left to become a preacher
of reform, for which he had contracted a taste from reading the
writings of Luther. Present at the Controversy of Berne with
Zwingle, Œeolampadius, Bucer, and Capito, he beheld his preaching
attended with the most gratifying success, and saw the Gospel
victoriously established in his native town, where he exercised his
valuable ministry until the war of Smalkald. Having at that time
refused submission to the _Interim_, he left Constance, and retired
first to Winterthur, near Zurich, and afterwards to Bienne, whilst
his unfortunate city, fallen into the hands of the Imperialists,
saw itself deprived at once of the Gospel and of liberty. Esteemed
by Calvin, Blaurer witnessed his influence at Zurich and at Berne
solicited more than once by the Reformer of Geneva. He died in
1567.--See Beza, _Icones_, and Melch. Adam, _Theolog. Germ._, p. 413.
Troubles at Geneva--sad intelligence from France and
Germany--steady in the promises of God.
GENEVA, _19th November 1552_.
As I hope that my dearly beloved brother Beza will be with you
about the same time that you receive this letter, and as he will
inform you more fully as to my own state and that of the Church
than I can in the longest epistle, I shall at present be brief.
He will tell you the annoyance and disturbance we suffered from
some worthless wretches, whose sole power of injuring us lies in
the impunity and license which is allowed them. But God apparently
wishes us to be destitute of human aid, that himself alone may
protect us. In the meantime, though I little expected it, I live a
survivor of my native town. The city in which I was born has lately
been utterly destroyed by fire.[398] We are also compelled to hear
daily of fearful disasters throughout all Picardy, but so far is
the King's fierceness from being subdued by them, that never was
his pride more insulting to God. I wish that I might at length hear
from your beloved Germany something that might cheer me; yet as
nothing now appears but what is saddening, or at least confused,
I scarcely venture to ask what is doing there. And I suppose you
also are filled with alarm whenever any news is announced, fearing
lest some addition be made to the existing evils. Unless the Lord
stretch forth his hand to us from heaven, the wise and far-sighted
perceive that these misfortunes, severe and bitter as they are, are
but a gentle prelude to tremendous calamities. But although Satan
is going about everywhere with fearful license, yet if we consider
the desperate wickedness of the world, it is wonderful that God
has not given him much greater liberty. But we who have our anchor
fixed in heaven, must sail amid these troubled storms just as in the
peaceful haven, until the Lord brings us to the blissful rest of
his own kingdom.
[398] In a letter to an unknown personage, (_Opera_, tom. ix. p.
238,) Calvin mentions this same event, adding to it a curious detail
taken from the letter of an eye-witness: "Among other things, he
informed me of a circumstance which I am unwilling to withhold
from you--that a striking spectacle presented itself to him in the
destruction of our city, viz., that my father's house stood entire
after all the others had been reduced to ashes." Farther on he
adds,--"I have no doubt but that God wishes to make this a testimony
against all those of our city who, eight or ten days before, had
burnt in effigy Monsieur de Normandie."
F---- promised to hand over to you, my letters to Beza. If he
has not come to you, he will send them to Farel at his earliest
opportunity. Robert Stephens has my Commentary on John in the
press.[399] As soon as he has finished it, I shall cause a copy to
be sent to you.
[399] _Commentarius in Evangelium Johannis._ Geneva, 1553. Fol.
Robert Estienne.
Adieu, most distinguished sir, and excellent servant of Christ,
deserving of my hearty regard. May the Lord continue to guide you by
his Spirit, to shield you by his protection, and to bestow upon you
every kind of blessing. Salute your fellow-minister earnestly in my
name. My colleagues both salute you, and those who were lately my
companions. I desire you to convey my regards to the treasurer of
your city, and to the other pious and wise men. I beseech you very
earnestly to remember me in your prayers, for I am more in need of
this aid at present than words can express. Adieu, together with
your wife and family.--Yours sincerely,