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SECTION IV.

Calvin's intrepidity in refusing the sacrament

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to Bertelier-Persecution of Farel-Calvin's behaviour to the persecuted protestantsCharacter of Gentilis-Reflections on intolerance-Calvin the means of founding a College.

BERTELIER, a man of an abandoned character, having been suspended from the communion of the Church, petitioned the Seigneurs to terminate his suspension. In consequence of the clamours of those who maintained that the Consistory usurped the authority of the magistrates, the Council granted him permission to communicate.

Perrin and his faction pleased themselves with the expectation that Calvin would either disobey the orders of the Seigneurs, and thus be treated as a criminal against the state; or that if he obeyed, the authority of the Consistory, which repressed their disorders, might be easily

overthrown. But Calvin, having received notice of this resolution two days before the administration of the Supper, discovered the most intrepid courage on the Sunday following; when, after having preached with energy against those who despised the sacred mysteries, "I will," declared he, "imitate the example of St. Chrysostom, and, like him, rather expose myself to death, than give holy things to the profane, who have been declared unworthy to partake of the body of Jesus Christ." Wicked and unruly as were the enemies of Calvin, these words had such effect upon them, that Perrin sent some one secretly to Bertelier, to desire him not to approach the table of the Lord, and they partook of the holy mysteries in the most devout and edifying manner.

Leaving Calvin to his repose, these seditious persons turned their rage against Farel. Having visited Geneva, and thinking that his age and the important services which he had rendered to the Church might give him considerable authority, he censured them severely in one of his sermons. But they complained loudly that Farel had done them a serious injury, and he was no sooner returned to his church, than they procured him to be cited to Geneva, to give an account of his conduct.

Farel in complying with this order, exposed himself to considerable danger; for the faction was extremely incensed against him, and theatened to throw him into the Rhone; but a bold and courageous young man having warned Perrin, that if Farel, the common father of the city, suffered any oil treatment, his person should no longer be safe; and others well disposed having joined him, the seditious were so dismayed, that they asked pardon for their behaviour; after which, Farel having received audience, was fully justified.

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This year proved, upon the whole, propitious to the church; the principal thing, however, which afflicted it was the death of Edward, King of England; a prince of extraordinary virtue and piety, universally lamented by the whole reformed world. The troubles of Geneva did not, however, hinder Calvin from prosecuting his studies; for it was in the midst of these confusions that he composed his Commentary on St. John.

Calvin was at this time occupied with the care of the numerous strangers who had been obliged to quit England, some of whom had retired to Vezel, others to Embden, and the rest to Francfort, and who all frequently solicited his advice.

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The great labours in which he was engaged for the interests of the church, appear in the number of letters which he wrote to different princes, to induce them to embrace the reformation; and to the persecuted protestants, to exhort them to suffer death courageously, with which they were threatened; and to others to support their confinements and chains with constancy.

The harmony which, after much contention, prevailed on the subject of the supper of the Lord, was now interrupted by Joachin Vestphal, who having sounded the tocsin, was followed by Heshusius, who was afterwards made a bishop. This obliged Calvin to publish a work on the subject, which, whilst it mortified his enemies, proved highly useful and acceptable to the friends of truth.

The destruction of the faction which had so long annoyed our reformer, was accelerated by the disclosure of a conspiracy against the State, made by some drunkards concerned in it, in consequence of which, some were condemned to a capital punishment, and others quitted the city.

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These troubles being appeased, Calvin was not left without occasion for the exercise of his

virtue, as he took great pains to promote the establishment of the churches of Poland; and England was afflicted with a most cruel persecution, in which many persons were put to death, and amongst others, those glorious martyrs and illustrious bishops, John Hooper, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, and Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. The afflictions of England affected him deeply: he also did his utmost to comfort his brethren who were persecuted in France, and to inspire with christian courage the five generous martyrs who were burned at Cambray.

Matthieu Gribald, a celebrated lawyer who had revived the opinions of Servetus at Geneva, having escaped from Tubingue, was taken at Berne, and after renouncing his heresies, in order to escape the danger which threatened him, he was no sooner set at liberty than he openly supported Gentilis, of whom an account will be given in its place. He afterwards died of the plague, which probably spared him a more ignominious death.

In the neighbourhood of Geneva arose a faction composed of ministers, who were extremely bitter against Calvin, and who acted under the influence of Bolzec. These persons, though of infamous characters, thinking to

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