[299] On the back, in the handwriting of Viret:--"Letters sent to
those of Neuchatel, when they wished to drive away Farel, their
minister, brought by Viret, sent on the part of the ministers of
Geneva, with the following instructions to inform them of their
opinion."
Inflexible in the exercise of the duties of his ministry, Farel had
publicly censured, in one of his discourses, a lady of rank, whose
conduct had been a matter of scandal in the Church of Neuchatel.
Irritated by that censure, the relatives of that lady roused a party
of the towns-people against that courageous minister, and obtained
a sentence of deposition against him, which was not annulled but
upon the interference of the Seigneury of Berne and of the principal
Swiss Churches.--Ruchat, _Hist. de la Réf._, tom. v. p. 164, and
following pages.
Efforts to pacify the Church of Neuchatel--instructions given to
Viret.
FROM GENEVA, _this 29th of September 1541_.
ILLUSTRIOUS AND HONOURABLE LORDS,--Having understood that your
Church is not yet freed from the troubles and annoyances which have
of late occurred, we have considered that it would only be our duty
to send some of our company to you, to offer themselves, should
the occasion present itself wherein we might be of service to you
in that matter, in so far as our calling and office engage, to
extinguish this scandal which the Devil has stirred up among you.
Wherefore, we have been advised to send unto you our good brother
and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and former pastor of your
Church, to let you understand the desire we have to serve you in
the Lord, and the earnest desire we entertain for the welfare of
your Church, beseeching you, Right Honourable Lords, of your good
pleasure, that you will hearken to what he shall say to you in the
name of our Assembly, to satisfy our conscience, according to the
duty of our ministry, which constrains and obliges us to intermeddle
in that case, seeing that it is ecclesiastical, and so it concerns
us, inasmuch as we are members of the same body. And now,
Illustrious and Honourable Lords, after our humble commendations to
your kind favour, we beseech the Lord Jesus, the alone good Shepherd
and Governor of his Church, well to counsel and advise you in this
cause, as it is of the utmost importance; and after having quite
calmed these troubles which the Devil sets himself continually to
sow in your Church to ruin the work and upbuilding of the heavenly
Father, we pray him also that he would ever uphold you in sound
prosperity.--Your humble servants in our Lord,
JOHN CALVIN.
AYME CHAMPEREAU.
JAMES BERNARD.
* * * * *
Summary of those things as to which we desire that our brother,
Master Peter Viret, would warn and admonish the Seigneury of
Neuchatel in our name, requesting of him that he would follow what
is here plainly set forth as his instruction.
In the first place, he will have to make our excuse for that we
intermeddle in that affair, explaining to them, and declaring that
it is according to the duty of our office, for unto the communion of
saints it is highly important, that neighbouring Churches may have a
mutual care to confirm one another, and that, whenever an emergency
calls for it, the one come to the help of the other; besides,
that over and above all that, we hold their Church in peculiar
estimation, and that it touches us, moreover, very nearly, for many
other causes which he can state.
After that, he shall have clearly set before them, what order we
consider should be observed in the Church upon the deposition of
a minister, that is to say, that the formal procedure must be
according to the command of Scripture, by form of trial, and that
spiritual, and not by way of tumult nor sedition. And, so far as
happens otherwise, what is it but to dishonour God and to disturb
the polity of the holy city?
That if we deprive a man of his station without cause and good
reason, constrain him to abandon the Church which he has served
faithfully, and by this means, withdraw him unjustly from the
calling whereto he has been appointed of God, not only the
individual has been outraged by this means, but God also, seeing
that his lawful call is violated and made of none effect.
Also, such is the opinion which we have of Farel, and of the esteem
in which he is held by all faithful men, as that we hold him to have
been always well and loyally engaged in the work of our Lord, and
that, therefore, they could not deprive him of the ministry until
somewhat appeared proved to the contrary, except against all right
and reason.
To warn them against the inconveniences which may happen as well in
the town as without, especially of the scandals which must follow.
What will it be but to defame the Evangel of our Lord among the
wicked, offend all the good, trouble the weak-minded, so that in
proportion as their Church has been greatly renowned, it will now be
as much cried down?
That within their town the embers may be blown up, besides, into
mutinous assault and battery; that even among the ministers it may
engender schism. If it seem good and advisable to you, cite some of
the ancient examples, without touching upon present circumstances.
Finally, admonish them that it is what the wrath of God usually
brings along with it, when we provoke it, as we should do in
committing such a scandal.
Then, in his own name, he can add whatsoever shall seem good, after
having explained and set before them these things for us.