[297] Calvin had arrived at Geneva the 13th September 1541.
We find under that date, in the Extracts from the Council
_Registers_:--"Calvin, having arrived at Geneva, presented himself
to the Council, to whom he brought letters from the Magistrates
and Ministers of Strasbourg. He excused himself on account of
his journey having been delayed. He represented that it would be
necessary to set about the work of ecclesiastical ordinances.
Resolved, that they would apply themselves to it immediately, and
for that purpose appointed, along with Calvin, Claude Pertemps,
Amy Perrin, Claude Roset, Jean Lambert, Poralis, and Jean Balard.
Resolved also to retain Calvin here always.--October 1541. The
stipend of Calvin assigned at five hundred florins, twelve measures
of corn, and two tuns of wine." For a dwelling they offered the
mansion _Fregneville_, purchased at the price of two hundred and
sixty crowns, with an ell of velvet for clothing.
Arrival of Calvin at Geneva--his interview with
the magistrates--draws up a form of Ecclesiastical
Discipline--advises Farel to moderation.
GENEVA, _16th September 1541_.
As you wished, I am settled here; may the Lord overrule it for good.
For the present, I must retain Viret also, whom I shall not suffer
on any account to be dragged away from me. Do you, besides, and
all the brethren, exert yourselves to help me here to the utmost,
unless you would have me tortured to no purpose, and made utterly
wretched, without having any benefit to be gained by it. Immediately
after I had offered my services to the Senate, I declared that a
Church could not hold together unless a settled government should
be agreed on, such as is prescribed to us in the word of God, and
such as was in use in the ancient Church. Then I touched gently on
certain points from whence they might understand what my wish was.
But because the whole question of discipline was too large to be
discussed in that form, I requested that they would appoint certain
of their number, who might confer with us on the subject. Six were
thereupon appointed. Articles concerning the whole ecclesiastical
polity will be drawn up, which we shall thereafter present to the
Senate. The three colleagues make some show of agreement with us
two. Somewhat, at least, will be obtained. We earnestly desire to
know how matters are proceeding with your Church.[298] We hope,
however, that, influenced by the authority of those of Berne and
Bienne, these troubles have been entirely put to rest, or at least
somewhat calmed. When you have Satan to combat, and you fight under
Christ's banner, He who girds on your armour and has drawn you
into the battle, will give you the victory. But since a good cause
requires also a good instrument, have a care that you do not make so
much allowance for yourself, as to think that there has been nothing
wanting on your part which good men may reasonably expect of you. We
do not exhort you to keep a good and pure conscience, as to which,
we entertain no doubt whatever; we only desire earnestly that, in
so far as your duty will admit, you will accommodate yourself more
to the people. There are, as you know, two kinds of popularity: the
one, when we hunt after favour from motives of ambition and the
desire of pleasing; the other, when, by fairness and moderation,
we gain upon their esteem, so as to make them willing to be taught
by us. You must forgive us if we deal rather freely with you. With
reference to this particular point, we perceive that you do not give
satisfaction even to some good men. Even were there nothing else
to complain of, you sin to this extent, because you do not satisfy
those to whom the Lord has made you a debtor. You are aware how much
we love, how much we revere you. This very affection, yea truly,
this respect impels us to a more exact and strict censoriousness,
because we desire earnestly that in those remarkable endowments
which the Lord has conferred upon you, no spot or blemish may be
found for the malevolent to find fault with, or even to carp at.
This I have written by advice of Viret, and on that account have
used the plural number. Adieu, most excellent and friendly brother.
[_Lat. orig. autogr.--Library of Geneva._ Vol. 106.]
[298] That Church was at this time in a state of great disorder,
which Calvin had in vain tried to tranquillize, at Neuchatel. See
the following Letter.