The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30

speak soberiy. c~onyincinely and boldly In
lie anne In Calvin such q leader made
himsslf heard through the Letter TO the
King 90
The reasons for publishing the Institutes
early In lSSe instead Of withholding the work
for further elaboration were described by
Calvin himself twenty-five years after the
event. Leaving my native country he
said, Il removed to Germany, planning
that, concealed In some obscure corner.
I might enjoy long denied peace. But
while l was in retirement at Basel evil and
lying pamphlets. were spread abroad TO
suppress the Indignation that the fires, in
which many pious mon had been burned
In France, excited here and there among
the Germans, to the effect that those so
cruelty treated we're no other than Anabap-
lists and turbulent men. who would over
turn by their perverse insanities, not re-
ligion only but all political ORDER Calvin
goes on to say that, seeing this done by
the trtcksters OF tho court, l felt hat my
silence would be t~reachery, and that I
should oppose with all my might. not only
lest the undeserved shedding OF the inno-
cent blood Of holy martyrs should be con-
cealed by false report. but also lest they
should 20 or In future to whatever slaughter
they pleased, without arousing the pity
OF any He adds that in 1885 the Insti-
tutes was not the At and elaborate work
1t later grew TO be, but only a little hand
book. As a matter OF fact, IL numbered
sven then $40 pages, but as their dimensions
were only az by4 inches it could DO readily
carried in . fair sized pocket.
".
In Its primitive guise. the Institutes,
TO which was prefixed the letter to King
Francis, which 10 accounted one OF the few
masterpieces Of Apologize literature, was
far from exhibiting the perfection Of logical
treatment and inclusiveness Of view which
was to characterize the inal form ttained
In the edition Of 1850.
A summary Of the first edition OF the
book will be found set forth in the sixth
chapter OF the biography before us. Though
destined 70 be greatly enlarged and i'm
proved. this handbook Of Christian belief
constituted, even In its earliest form, not
merely the most significant treatise that
the French reformers had yet produced,
but had nowhere a superior as a clear.
logical and popularity apprehensible pres
ertaton Of the principles for which all
Professionalism contended. 1T was far
MORE says Prof. Walker, "than a theoretio
exposition Of Christian truth. Though
in form not strictly a programme for
action. il could easily yield the basis OF
a new constitution for the Church and OF a
regulation OF the moral life Of the COM
munity. The felicity OF the style. the
cogency Of argument, the precision Of
statement. were Calvin's own More
over: THE moral enthusiasm which
shines through it was a kindling force.
As a treatment OF Christian doctrine
It was fresh and original. But it was even
more a carefully wrought out exposition
OF the Christian life, novel and inspiring
In its cleaness and eamestness.'
The author Of the present biography
would not assert that Calvin was a creative
theologian Of the highest rank. He owed
much to Augustine and to the type Of
thought which Scotus had impressed on
the later Middle Ages. His debt to Martin
Bucer Of S~trassburg was large. Without
Luther his work could not nave been lone
In a word. Calvin's mind was ~formulative
rather than creative. Given the fundamen-
tai principles Of the Reformation he could
carry them to their logical consequences
with q keenness Of insight and a lucdity
Of statement such as none Of his contem-
poraries could equal. As q systemAtizer Of
Christian truth he stood without a rival
in his century. He best taught men the
answer to make to Roman claims; and,
under his logic, theology attained once more
q classic presentation. Calvin, however,
was much more than q theoloRiAn. As an
organizer he was at bis best. The question
which he set himself to answer was. How
could the Church be made, not simply an
institution for the worship Of God, but an
agency for the making OF men At to worship
Himt' Prof. Walker recognizes hat CAL
WINS methods were largely those Of inquisi-
torial discipline, State support and force;
but he submits that the answer was the
best given in Calvin's age.
In June, 1859. Calvin, after a short visit
to Ferrara, found himself again in Paris,
having awaited himself Of an edict permit
ting Frenchmen charged with heresy
to return on certain conditions, which
King Francis had issued a year before,
when he was cultivating the German Prot
estsnts as possible allies in a new war
with the Emperor Charles v. After trans
acting the business which had called him
to Paris he set forth on his return to Strass-
burg, but was forced by the war to make a
long detour, reaching Geneva in the latter
half Of July, and intending to pass only
a single night in that city. Recognized
by an acquaintance, his presence was made
known to Farel, who was struggling to
maintain the Evangelical cause in the re-
Gently reformed town. Farel urged and
adjured Calvin to stay and aid in the difa-
cult endeavor. 1t was a moment OF far
reaching decision. -Farel kept me at
Geneva said Calvin Rfterward. writing
Of the event, mot so much by advice and
entreaty as by a dreadful adjuration, as
II God had stretched forth His hand upon
me from on high to arrest me- 1t seemed
to him that God had spoken, and he obeyed
the divine call.
v.
From 1928 onward Geneva had been in
a difficult situation. in view Of the religious
controversies OF the hour. To defeDd bar
self against aggression on the part Of the
Duke Of Savoy she had previously entered
into alliance Nth thu Qw iaa cantora ~ r.;