[419] The reading of this letter, filled with the most lively and
disinterested testimonies of affection for Farel, calls to one's
mind the beautiful preface of Calvin's Commentary on the Epistle of
St. Paul to Titus, dedicated to Farel and Viret:--"I do not think,"
says Calvin, "that there have ever been friends who have lived
together in such fast friendship and concord, as we have done during
our ministry. I have been a fellow-pastor here with both of you. So
far from there having been any appearance of envy between you and
me, I always regarded us as one. We have since been separated. As
for you, Master William, the Church of Neuchatel, which you have
delivered from the tyranny of the Papacy, and won over to Christ,
called you to be its pastor; and as for you, Master Peter, you
stand in a similar relation to the Church of Lausanne. Each of us,
however, guards so well the place committed to us, that by our
united efforts, the children of God assemble within the fold of
Jesus Christ, and are even united in one company."--Dedication of
29th November 1549.
Serious illness and unexpected recovery of Farel--Calvin's joy.
GENEVA, _27th March 1553_.
When I recently performed the last offices of a friend towards you,
as I indeed thought, I was desirous of escaping the remainder of the
grief which was incidental to your premature death. I have suffered
the punishment which I deserved for my overhastiness. And would that
I had been the only one who suffered it. It made the thing worse,
that I involved very many good men in the same grief with myself.
Consoled, however, now by more joyful news, I am forgetting my
folly and disgrace. And it is certainly proper that this wonderful
goodness of God should absorb all cause for sorrow. Seeing now that
your disease has left you, you must endeavour gradually to recover
that vigour of mind which you exercised too actively in the most
trying conflicts, and to regain possession of that strength of body
which must needs be worn out and exhausted. Since I have buried you
before the time, may the Lord grant that the Church may see you my
survivor. My own private comfort is joined with the public good of
the faithful in this prayer; for my warfare will be the shorter,
and I shall not be subjected to the pain of lamenting your death.
Yet I am not, in the meanwhile, averse, if it should so please
God, to your life being so long lengthened out, as to allow me ten
years of labour. But let us now live so for Christ, that we may be
daily prepared to die for him; we ought, while we have opportunity,
to prepare for what will befall us. Make it your sole study, in the
meanwhile, to take care of your health, that you may soon recover.
My brother will tell you better, orally, than I can here how many
friends salute you. Adieu, very worthy brother. May the Lord, who,
contrary to our expectation, has restored you to his Church, cause
you ever to triumph over Satan and the wicked. Much health to your
fellow-ministers and others.--Yours truly,