[40] This is the first letter of the Reformer after his settlement
at Geneva. Having left his retreat of Basle in the end of the year
1535, he had made a rapid tour in the north of Italy, and revisited
France, which he had left in the month of July on his return to
Switzerland. Not being able, without danger, to traverse Champagne
and Lorraine, he went back to Basle by the way of Geneva, (August
1536,) when he was detained in that town by the entreaties of Farel.
Afterwards he accepted the office of Professor of Theology, and
attended the disputation of Lausanne on the 1st of October, which
was followed by the establishment of the Reformation in the Pays de
Vaud, conquered by the Seigneury of Berne from the Duke of Savoy.
Calvin in Geneva--translation into French of the "Christian
Institutes"--disputation of Lausanne--establishment of the
doctrines of the Reformation in the Pays de Vaud.
LAUSANNE, _13th October 1536_.
That you may not, according to old use and wont, lay a long and
clamorous accusation against my indolence, seeing that whole three
months have passed away during which you have received not a single
letter from me, accept now a brief statement as to the state of
matters upon the whole. For some days
I was detained at Geneva by the brethren, until they extracted
from me a promise to return; then after that, I brought back my
relative Artois[41] to Basle, and gave offence to several churches
in the course of my journey, by whom I was requested to stay with
them for a little while. In the meantime, the August fair was over,
which was the most favourable opportunity for the conveyance of
letters. Furthermore, as soon as I got back to Geneva, a violent
cold attacked me, which afterward settled upon the upper gum, so
that there was scarce any relief even after nine days, and after
having been twice bled, with a double dose of pills and several
fomentations. Nor is it yet completely shaken off. During that lost
opportunity, although there was abundant leisure for writing, and
the way or channel of correspondence was not entirely closed, yet I
was kept continually occupied upon the French version of my little
book;[42] and the almost certain expectation began then to arise,
that the letters might reach you enriched by that acquisition,
rather than that they should come empty handed. But before my
intention could be fulfilled, the day fixed for the disputation at
Lausanne had already arrived,[43] at which my presence was required;
and at the same time I saw the November fair approaching, which I
considered to be a more convenient time for writing, and therefore
it seemed to me better to wait for that opportunity. So much to stop
your expostulations.
[41] Calvin had left Noyon accompanied by his brother Antony and his
sister Mary, who went to settle at Basle. Bèze, _Calvini Vita_.
[42] The book here referred to is no other than the _Institution
Chrétienne_, first published in Latin, (Basle, 1536, in 8vo.) Calvin
thought of giving a translation of that work. The first known
edition of the _Institution Chrétienne_ in French bears date 1540.
[43] The disputation of Lausanne, in which Farel, Viret, and
Calvin took part began the 2d October, and lasted seven days. The
narrative of what took place may be found in Ruchat, _Histoire de la
Réformation en Suisse_, edit. 1836, vol. iv. pp. 161-163.
The talk of the disputation above mentioned has, I understand, been
spread so far and wide, that I do not doubt some whiff of it has
reached your city. The disputation was appointed by a decree of the
Council of Berne, accompanied by a solemn Edict,[44] whereby the
Senate declared, that it was free to every one, and _that_ without
the dread of being called in question, to state whatever might
concern the matter of disagreement upon the point of religion. They
considered that this was the most likely method, by which publicly
to expose the unskilfulness of those who try to oppose the Gospel,
and that thus they might render of no avail the triumph arising
out of this new authority which they have accepted at the hand of
the Duke of Savoy. Already, in many places, the idols and altars
of Popery have begun to disappear, and I hope it will not be long
before all remaining superstition shall be effectually cleared away.
The Lord grant that idolatry may be entirely uprooted out of the
hearts of all. I do not describe to you the precise form in which
the disputation presents itself, because it is not easy to do so
in a brief explanation, and also because I trust it will some time
or other be published. To-morrow, if the Lord will, I set out for
Berne, about which affair you shall hear from me by other letters;
and I am afraid it will be necessary for me to hasten forward as
far as Basle: which inconvenience, however, I shall endeavour if
it be possible to avoid; more especially taking into account the
state of my health, and the very unseasonable time of the year. If
those idle bellies with you, who chirp together so sweetly in the
shade, were only as well disposed as they are talkative, they would
instantly flock hither to take on themselves a share of the labour,
to which we must be inadequate, since there are so few of us. You
can hardly believe the small number of ministers compared with
the very many churches which need pastors. How I wish, seeing the
extreme necessity of the Church, that, however few they may be in
number, there were at least some right-hearted men among you who may
be induced to lend a helping hand! May the Lord preserve you.--Yours,