In consequence of this letter the pastors of the church of Zurich wrote to Calvin, persuading him to return to his ministry at Geneva. Calvin replied in a letter from Ratisbon, dated the 31st of May, 1541.' In this he states that he shall refer the matter wholly to Bucer and the other ministers of Strasburgh, and requests that the church of Zurich will likewise send one of their ministers to consult as

to what was best to be done. All his business at Strasburgh, he says, was to give a theological lecture; and that his services were not so valuable that the school would suffer much inconvenience by his departure. "One thing only," he adds, causes anxiety to Capito, Bucer, and the rest. They expect little edification from my ministry at Geneva, unless the Bernese join me bonâ fide, and stretch out a helping hand. Nor do I dissemble that my own hope is placed chiefly in their assistance. First of all, therefore, it was thought proper to communicate with them, in order to induce them to do this; and they are by no means averse, provided it shall appear that the church of Geneva can be restored and preserved by my ministry."

Beside these public invitations, Calvin was also solicited by private individuals. Among these we find James Bernard, one of the two remaining ministers at Geneva. In a letter to Calvin, dated the 6th of February, 1541,2 he relates, that preaching one day at Rippe, and seeing the people affected even to tears, he admonished them, without mentioning Calvin's name or suspecting that he would be their choice, that they should seek by humble prayer that God would give them a minister. That on the next day there was a meeting of the Two Hundred, and, the day after that, of the general assembly; and that in both these meetings Calvin's return to his ministry was unanimously desired, as being a learned and good man. Bernard adds his own wishes for his return, and says: "You will find me not such a one as the relation of certain persons-God forgive them-has led you to believe; but a pious, sincere, and faithful brother, and moreover your friend, or, rather, your most obsequious and devoted servant in all your wishes." This being the state of public feeling at Geneva, the act of banishment of the three ministers was revoked by the general assembly on the 1st of May, 1541; and, to show their sincerity, dancing and profane songs were prohib ited, and people even talked of establishing a consistory.3 1 Printed in Henry, i., Beil. 19. 2 Calvin, Epp. et Resp., Ep. 24.

3 Spon., ii., 36.

HE RELUCTANTLY RETURNS TO GENEVA.

109

Yet Calvin still delayed his return. That his reluctance was in some degree real is probable. We can not, however, help suspecting, that he made the most of the conjuncture, and that he was determined that the Genevese should feel and know his worth. Soon after his banishment he had not been disinclined to return, nay, had even negotiated to do so, when the Genevese were unwilling to receive him. Now, when they opened their arms to him of their own accord, it was his turn to coquet and raise difficulties. Several of his letters during this period expressed a dislike almost amounting to horror of returning to Geneva. In reply to Farel's request that he would return,' he says: "Who will not pardon me if I do not again willingly throw myself into a whirlpool which I have found so fatal? Nay, who would not blame me for too much facility if I should fling myself into it with my eyes open ? Besides, putting my own danger out of the question, what if I can scarcely trust that my ministry will be of any use to them? Since such is the temper of the majority there, that they will be neither tolerable to me, nor I to them. Moreover I shall have a still more difficult fight with my colleagues than with the rest. What can the efforts of one man do, when hampered by such obstacles on all sides? And to confess the truth, though things should prove smooth enough, yet, by want of use, I have forgotten the art of governing a multitude." Writing to Viret from an inn at Ulm, on his road to Ratisbon, on the 1st of March, 1541," he says: "There is no place under heaven which I more fear than Geneva; not that I dislike it, but because I see so many difficulties in my way there, which I feel myself quite unequal to cope with. Whenever I recall what has passed, I can not help shuddering at the thought of being compelled to renew the old contests. If, indeed, I had to do with the church alone, I should be more tranquil, or, at least, less frightened; but you must necessarily understand more than I express. In short, as I perceive from many signs that the man who can hurt me most still entertains an inexpiable hatred toward me, and when I consider how many opportunities he has of injuring me, how many bellows are always blowing the flames of strife, and how many occasions of contest will offer themselves which I can not foresee, I am paralyzed with fear.”

From these two letters we can not but infer that Calvin really felt some alarm at the prospect of returning to Geneva.

1 Calvin to Farel, Strasburgh, October 21st, 1540, Ep. 23
2 Ep. 25.

In the latter it takes a definite form, and points to some indi vidual whom he does not name; probably Vandel; though in the same letter he still expresses his willingness to go, if absolutely necessary, in spite of these dangers. His answer to the council of Zurich, already referred to, runs much in the same strain. Farel used all his endeavors to persuade Calvin to return. In January, 1541, he wrote to all the Swiss and other Reformed churches, begging them to apply to the government of Strasburgh for Calvin's release from his engagements. He also wrote several letters to Calvin himself, persuading him to accept the offer of the Genevese, the last of which was couched in such forcible terms that Calvin compared it to the thunders of Pericles. Bucer also added his remonstrances, threatening him with God's judgment if he did not accept the vocation; and placing before him the example of Jonas, who refused to go and preach to the Ninevites.* Thus was Calvin for the second time forced, as it were, into the acceptance of the ministry at Geneva. But though he returned from Ratisbon to Strasburgh in July, he did not proceed to Geneva till the beginning of September, having remained at Strasburgh in order to preach there during the fairtime.5

Henry, i., Beil. 19.

2 Kirchhofer, ii., 20.

3 Ibid, p. 21, and Feræus Farello (Calvin, Epp. et Resp., Ep. 26).
4 Spon, ii., 36.

5 See his latter to Farel (MS. Gen., apud P. Henry, i., 397).

CHAPTER IV.

Calvin visits Neufchâtel-His Reception at Geneva-State of the Church there-Farel invited-Calvin's Ecclesiastical Polity-Church and State -The Consistory-Service of the Church-Presbyterianism - Calvin's Idea of the Priesthood-Method of upholding it-Practical Discipline-His Scheme not perfected-Calvin's Civil Legislation-Rigor of his Laws.

Ir was not without regret that Strasburgh saw itself deprived of Calvin's services. In July, 1539, when he had probably given up all thoughts of returning to Geneva, he had purchased the freedom of that city, and enrolled himself in the guild of tailors. Upon his departure he was requested to retain his right of citizenship, as well as the revenues of a prebend to which he had been presented. The former of these offers he accepted; the latter he declined."

Calvin's return to Geneva was a sort of triumph. On his part it was a matter of favor and concession, and completely on his own terms. It appears from the Registers that a mounted herald was sent to escort him from Strasburgh. Three horses and a carriage were sent to bring his wife and furniture, and he was also furnished with money and other necessaries.3 While on his journey, however, some news respecting his friend Farel induced Calvin to leave the direct road, and proceed to Neufchâtel. It has been already inti

mated that at that time Farel did not stand well with his flock. His excessive zeal in introducing a strict system of discipline had proved distasteful to many; and in July this growing feeling of dissatisfaction had been brought to a crisis by his attacking from the pulpit a lady, the mother of several children, who for some reason had thought proper to separate herself from her husband. Shocked and offended at this attack the lady absented herself not only from communion, but even from the ordinary church service; and though Farel urged the government to interpose, his application was not successful. Hereupon, with his usual intemperance, he made a violent sermon against the council and general assembly, which much increased the ill-will against him. The lady's friends bestirred themselves to get him condemned; and a majority of the general assembly voted for his banishment, 1 P. Henry, i., 225. 3 P. Henry, ii., 18.

2 Beza, Vita Calv.

though two months were granted him to leave the city. In this state of things Calvin arrived at Neufchâtel, to use his good offices for his friend. From this place he addressed a letter to the syndics and council of Geneva, and then hastened to Berne, to plead Farel's cause with the government of that city. A complete reconciliation between Farel and his flock was not effected, however, till the following January.'

Calvin's return to Geneva was thus delayed till the 13th of September. On the very same day he appeared before the council to apologize for this delay; and even in this first interview intimated his wish that the affairs of the church should be put in order." He was received with every mark of honor and affection. The council earnestly entreated him to remain with them forever; and presented him with a new suit of broad-cloth, which was in those days a usual mark of their respect and good-will.3 A house had been provided for him, with a garden attached, situate, as it would appear, in the Rue des Chanoines, and thus not far from the cloisters of St. Peter's, where the consistory afterward held its sittings.1 His salary was fixed at fifty dollars, besides twelve strikes of corn and two casks of wine. This does not seem very considerable; but we must take into consideration the relative value of money; and the payment in kind seems to argue a want of means on the part of the city. That the Genevese council considered it a very liberal allowance, appears from the terms in which they speak of it in the Registers; where it is mentioned as "handsome wages," given to him on account of his great learning, and the charges he was at by reason of the visits of travelers.5 Calvin himself, among whose faults the love of money certainly was not one, seems to have been perfectly satisfied with his remuneration; and though we sometimes find him receiving presents from the council for extra services, yet many instances occur in which he refused them. The pulpit of St. Peter's church was prepared for him. It stood upon a broad and low stone pillar, so that the whole congregation might hear him with ease.

1 Kirchhofer, Leben Farels, ii., 20. Ruchat, v., 164.

2 Régistres, 13th September, 1541, apud P. Henry, ii., 23, note.

3 "On prie très instamment Calvin de rester ici pour toujours; et on lui donne un habit de drap."-Régistres, 13th September, 1541. Grénus, Fragmens Biographiques. P. Henry, ii., 19.

5 66

Gage considérable donné à M. Calvin, à cause de son grand savoir, et de ce que les passans lui coûtent beaucoup."-Régistres, 4 Oct. Grénus, Fragmens Biographiques. In his French Life (Génève 1663, p. 155), Beza states his salary at 600 florins (i.e. Genevese florins of about 41d.), or equal to 300 livres Tournois, which is about the same as the preceding statement.