The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-04
John Calvin.
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The Church of Geneva, although sur
rounded by affections, increased rapidly.
Calvin received with tenderness those
who were banished from their country on
account of their attachment to the Re-
formed religion. Calvins writings hav-
ing been translated into the different
languages of Europe, Geneva was
thronged with strangers from Germany.
Poland, France, Hungary, and even
Spain and Italy, who came to consult
him about the progress of the Reforma-
tion, or to find shelter from the persecu-
tions to which they were exposed in their
own countries. Knox was refugee from
Scotland; he was most affectionately re-
ceived by Calvin; friendship was thus
commenced between these two distin-
guished Reformers, which lasted without
interruption until the death of Calvin, in
1864.
The greatest and best men of his age
were his friends and correspondents, the
best evidence in the world of the purity
of his life and the uprightness of his
character. Calvin was no doubt man
of warm passions as well as of strict pro-
bity and uncompromising morals. He
lent all the energies of his powerful mind
to the establishment of true religion and
publication of society. He certainly ap-
proved of the punishment of evil-doers
and of those who vitiated society by the
PRONUNCIATION of opinions injurious to
good morals. Yet he was lenient to those
who differed in opinion with him, as is
shown by his continued friendship with
the excellent Malancthon.
In the course of animated controversy,
he may have been betrayed into an acri-
mony inconsistent with the manners of
the present age; that may have been
owing to the circumstances of his early
life, when cruelty was the order of his
day and religion. We can attribute it
to divine grace alone that these early i'm
pressions were so much effaced as to make
him the admirable man he was in mature
life.
The case of Servetus is that which has
thrown most odium on his memory. Let
us see whether he deserves the censures
cast upon him. Servetus was accused of
heresy and blasphemy, and was convicted
by the Council of Geneva. Calvin be-
ing a good lawyer, was employed to draw
up the Indictment and collect the evil
dence. This l suppose he did conscen-
tiously, as all Attorneys for the Com
monwealth are supposed to do. The
Council of Geneva referred their decis-
ions to the four Swiss Cantons, who ap-
proved them. If Calvin could influence
the Council of Geneva, could he also have
influenced these four Swiss Cantons !?
Could his ''hatred" have been infused
into so many magistrates whom he had
never known? The gentle Malancthon
and most of the eminent ecclesiastics of
the day approved and sanctioned the YER
dict. Let us concede that the intolerant
spirit of the age dictated the sentence,
and that Calvin was influenced by it, why
should he, individually,be blamed for it !?
Rigid in his morals, warm in the defence
of his doctrines, and anxious for the pre-
servation of the purity of the Church
and the community, he thought every
thing that tended to the corruption of
society ought to be punished. And
where is the wise Legislator who does
not think so?
AS has been said, Calvin's private life
was irreproachable, and the warm at
tachment of his friends, the best and
greatest men of the age, show he had
many amiable qualities. Not long be-
fore he died, Farel wrote to him, that
although "a years old, and loaded with
infrmites, he intended to visit him; to
which Calvin replied:
81 wish you perfect health, my very
dear brother; since God intends you to
remain in this world after me, remember
ever our union, which has produced so
many advantages to the Church, the fruit
of which we shall gather in heaven. /
beg you will not, on my account, expose
yourself to the fatigue of a journey. My
respiration is difficult, and 1 am about tc
breathe my last gasp; happy to live and
die in Jesus Christ, who is gain to all his
children in life and in death, | bid you
and all my brethren my last adieu."
One of his historians observes:
Although greatly afflicted, he was
never known to utter a word unworthy {
Christian, or of man of consistency an(
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