Peter Toussaint was preaching at Montbeliard, the first parish in which Farel had laboured. To his surprise, Caroli came there to get an appointment from the Duke of Wurtemberg. Toussaint found that he was the same man that he had long been, and dismissed him. He went next to Valangin, and the wonder is that he did not enter the service of Madame Williamette. Farel still aided him, insisting upon his thorough repentance. Then he went to Strasburg to see what he could do with Calvin, who asked advice of Farel, and was answered that Caroli should be helped in making a living, but not placed over a church until he gave evidence of his conversion. Thence he went to Metz, where he wrote a vapouring letter' to Calvin, asking for a parish. The reply was, that neither he nor Farel had any churches at their command, and even if they had, he could not have it until he should prove himself worthy of the trust. When we meet him again, he will have made another shift for bread, reputation, and power.

6

It is not strange that Farel was sick after these contacts with this ambitious waverer; but we should barely notice his illness, did it not bring to light the esteem and friendship of Calvin, who felt that his life was almost bound up with that of his friend. After his recovery Calvin wrote to him: 'While I reflect how much of the greatest

chide you, get warm with you, accuse you, that you may take it all the same as if you were dealing with yourself. Concerning Caroli, the Lord will give counsel, in whose case, if there had been anything sinful on our part, the Lord can correct it. Our friends also acknowledge that they were more lenient than they ought to have been.... If he shall return, let us take care that our gentle treatment of him may not prove hurtful to you. . . . I am already aware that he thinks better of you than rashly to entertain any accusation.' Thus Calvin wrote to his 'much longed for brother' Farel, 1540.

importance may depend on the little man, it is not possible for me not to be, in a more than ordinary degree, anxious about your life. Wherefore from the time that the report of your illness was brought hither [Strasburg], I have not enjoyed one pleasant moment until I heard you had recovered. On that account, I experienced the like joy from hearing, by the messenger, good news of your health, as he enjoys who is delivered from a long continued sickness.'

The life of Farel may appear much tamer while he passes several years as a minister in one place, than while he was imperilling his life by his journeys and his contests as a missionary. But it may have been equally

By his correspondence he still held a great influence over the whole region where his voice had been heard. In his charge he was greatly annoyed by the opposition to his discipline. It grieved him to give the bread, at a communion, to those who showed no evidence of conversion, and who thought that their high rank entitled them to share in all the privileges of the church and yet neglect the practice of their duties. He had put down the useless holidays, and to a good degree had broken up the dances, and the idleness, and the drunkenness of the people; but those who wished such pleasures and sins were restless and quite ready for a riot. They wanted Farel to leave them, and sought for some occasion to exhibit their feelings and their strength.

There was a lady of high rank in the town, who had for several years lived on bad terms with her husband, a man of integrity, separated from him, set a bad example to her children, brought suspicion upon her own character, and given very general offence. Yet she claimed her place at

the sacramental table. Farel tried to bring her back to her duty, by serious but gentle remonstrances. After several such attempts, with no success, he gave his opinion of such conduct publicly, but mentioned no names. At this she ceased to go to church. The congregation and senate would do nothing, and he at length declared that the authorities were shamefully negligent, and that such a pest ought not to be endured in the church as a member of it. The sermon was not politic; it arrayed against him all the young and old who had before felt stung by his rebukes. No efforts were spared to raise a general commotion. The whole town was divided in two parties; the one intent upon retaining their pastor, and the other upon dismissing him. His opponents at last gained a majority for his leaving within two months. The greater part of the senate and the better class of the people were on his side; but the governor and some others of rank so excited the common people that the vote against him was obtained.

It was a day of trouble to the minister. The first friend who came to console him was John Calvin, who was on the way to Geneva,' and who turned aside to use his good offices for his brother. He pleaded with the people, and thence went to Berne to engage their help in behalf of the preacher and the endangered church. All efforts seemed in vain, until a mysterious providence secured a reconciliation of the parties. The plague began to rage in the town. The courage of Farel rose with the dangers of his situation. He acted the part of a pastor who had never

■ 'Having heard at Soleure that there was some trouble in this church, I have been constrained, in brotherly love, to go out of my way to see whether I could do anything to remedy it.'-Calvin to the Lords of Geneva, dated Neufchatel, September 7, 1541.

been disowned by any of the people. He visited the sick every day, relieved the poor, and sought to win his enemies by kindness. They could not but respect him for all this, and the bitterest opposers began to be the warmest friends. A day of humiliation and prayer was appointed. Every one partook of the sacrament. The preachers warned the people, and urged them to unity and peace. The example of their devoted but injured pastor softened their hearts, and they wished to retain him among them. Some weeks after this he was re-elected for life; and by degrees every trace of the disturbance was gone, and complete harmony was established.

Calvin spent some time with his friends; and we must now see how this exile came to be on the way to Geneva.

The faction, which had expelled him and Farel, enjoyed their triumph by trying to undo almost all that had been gained. The old manners were restored, and carried to such an extreme as to create disgust. From liberty the people passed to licentiousness. Every social tie was broken; order gave way to discord, tumult, and deeds of violence. The reading of the Bible was totally forbidden to the women, and very much restricted among all others. The teachers were removed from the schools that Farel had established; the preachers were set aside for mere hirelings, and the fanatics seemed to rule the day. But a reaction followed. The people saw that masquerades, balls, blasphemies, and indecencies must be checked. They began to wish for the return of the banished ministers. Many prayed for it. The subject of calling back Calvin was openly discussed; the senate held meetings; and at last, on the 1st of May 1541, the act of banishment was revoked. To show their sincerity, the

people intimated that the amusements and dissipations, which the reformers had once tried to put down, should be abated.

But it was not so easy to persuade those whom they had expelled to return to Geneva. Farel was now settled, and Neufchatel refused to give him up. Calvin did not wish to go unless his vigorous friend could join him in the difficult work, and, besides, Strasburg was not willing to part with him, for he was now a pastor in that city. From all sides went letters urging Calvin to accept the call; but Farel and Viret had the chief influence in securing the end. With great reluctance he went. The troubles at Neufchatel detained him, as we have seen, on the way, and prevented Farel from attending him.

There was reason for Calvin to expect a hearty reception. James Bernard1 had written and told him how the weeping people had prayed, and how, the next day, the great council met and said, with one voice, 'Calvin, that righteous and learned man, it is he whom we would have as the minister of the Lord;' and with much warmth Bernard continued, "Come, therefore, thou worthy father in Christ; thou art ours; God has given thee to us; all sigh for thee; thou wilt see how pleasant thine arrival I will be to all.' On the 13th of September 1541, this promise was fulfilled. A herald met him; the gates were crowded, the city full of joy, and the senate soon entreated him never to leave Geneva.

We left the Chevalier Esch at Metz, and we cannot learn what became of him, except that persecution drove him to Strasburg. The agents of Beda had waged a

1 Bernard had been induced to vote for the expulsion of Calvin and Farel from Geneva; but he was penitent for it, and was ever afterward the friend and helper of Calvin.