TESTIMONIALS TO CALVIN.

THE estimation in which the character and learning of Calvin have been held, may be seen from the following testimonies. “He lived fifty-four years, ten months, and seventeen days; half of which time he passed in the sacred ministry. His stature was of a middle size, his complexion dark and pallid, his eyes brilliant, even till death, expressing the acuteness of his understanding. He lived nearly without sleep. His power of memory was almost incredible; and his judgment so sound, that his decisions often seemed almost oracular. In his words he was sparing; and he despised an artificial eloquence: yet was he an accomplished writer: and, by the accuracy of his mind, and his practice of dictating to an amanuensis, he attained to speak little differently from what he would have written. The consistency and uniformity of his doctrine, from first to last, are scarcely to be paralleled. Nature had formed him grave; yet, in the intercourse of social life no one showed more suavity. He exercised great forbearance towards all such infirmities in others as are consistent with integrity — not overawing his weaker brethren; but towards flattery, and every species of insincerity, especially where religion was concerned, he was severe and indignant. He was naturally irritable; and this fault was increased by the excessive laboriousness of his life: yet the Spirit of God had taught him to govern both his temper and his tongue. — That so many and so great virtues, both in public and in private life, should have called forth against him many enemies, no one will wonder, who duly considers what has ever befallen eminent men, both in sacred and profane history. Those enemies brand him as a heretic : but Christ suffered under the same reproach. He was expelled, say they, froth Geneva. True, he was, but he was solicited to return. He is charged with ambition, yea, with aspiring at a new popedom. An extraordinary charge to be brought against a man who chose his kind of life, and in this state, in this church, which I might truly call the very seat of poverty.

They say again that he coveted wealth. Yet all his worldly goods, including his library, which brought a high price, scarcely amounted to three hundred crowns. Well might he say in his preface to the book of Psalms, ‘That I am not a lover of money, if I fail of persuading men while I live, my death will demonstrate.’ How small his stipend was, the senate knows: yet they can bear witness that, so far from being dissatisfied with it, he pertinaciously refused an increase when it was offered him. He delighted, forsooth, in luxury and indulgence! Let his labors answer the charge. What accusations will not some men bring against him? But no refutation of them is wanting to those persons who knew him while he lived; and they will want none, among posterity, with men of judgment: who shall collect his character from his writings.

Having given with good faith the history of his life and of his death, after sixteen years’ observation of him, I feel myself warranted to declare, that in him was proposed to all men an illustrious example of the life and death of a Christian; so that it will be found as difficult to emulate, as it is easy to calumniate him.” — Beza. “It is impossible to refuse him the praise of vast knowledge, exquisite judgment, a penetration which is uncommon, a prodigious memory, and admirable temperance and sobriety... Affairs public and private, ecclesiastical and civil, occupied him in succession, and often all together. Consulted from all quarters both at home and abroad; carrying on a correspondence with all the churches and all the learned men of Europe, with the princes and other persons of high distinction, who had embraced the reformed religion; it seems almost inconceivable how one man could be capable of so many things, and how he should not sink under the weight of the business which pressed upon him. The enemy of all pomp; modest in his whole deportment; perfectly disinterested and generous, and even entertaining a contempt for riches; he made himself not less respected for the qualities of his heart, than admired for the powers of his understanding. When the council wished to make him a present of five and twenty crowns, on occasion of his continued illness, he refused to accept it; because, he said, since he then rendered no service to the Church, so far from meriting any extraordinary recompense, he felt scruples about receiving his ordinary stipend: and a few days before his death he absolutely refused a part of his appointments which had become due... He always presided in the company of pastors. Without envy they saw him, by reason of his rare merit, which raised him far above all his colleagues, occupy the first place... When his frequent illnesses prevented his being regularly present among them, they had requested Beza to supply his place. A few days after Calvin’s death, Beza declined this service, and at the same time recommended to them not in future to entrust an office of such importance permanently to any individual — safely as it might have been committed to Calvin, and due as it justly was to his services — ... but rather to choose a fresh moderator every year, who should simply be considered as primus inter pares — presiding among his equals. This proposition was unanimously approved, and Beza himself, notwithstanding the pleas on which he would have been excused, was immediately chosen the first moderator, as possessing all the requisite qualifications: and the choice was sanctioned by the council.” — Spon’s History of Geneva. “This (his superiority to the love of money) is one of the most extraordinary victories virtue and magnanimity can obtain, over nature, even in those who are ministers of the gospel. Calvin has left behind him many who imitated him in his active life, his zeal and affection for the cause; they employ their voices, their pens, their steps and solicitations, for the advancement of the kingdom of God, but then they take care not to forget themselves, and are generally speaking, a demonstration that the Church is a bountiful mother, and that nothing is lost in her service...