§ 64. ANTOINE FROMENT. 253
good article by Th. Schott in Herzog^, IV. 677-099, and by Roget in Lichtenberger's " Enoycl.," V. 342-344. On his literary merits see Phil. GoDET, Histoire litteraire de la Suisse Romande, 82 sqq.
Antoine Froment was born in 1509 in Mens, in Dauphin^, and was one of the earliest disciples of Farel, his countryman. He accompanied him in his evangelistic tours through Switzerland, and shared in his troubles, persecutions, and successes. In 1532 he went for the first time to Geneva, and opened an elementary school in which he taught religion. He advertised it by placards in these words : " A man has arrived, who in the space of one month will teach anybody, great or small, male or female, to read and write French ; who does not learn it in tiiat time need not pay anything. He will also heal many diseases without charge." The people flocked to him ; he was an able teacher, and turned his lessons into addresses and sermons.
On new year's day, in 1533, he preached his first sermon on the public place, Molard, attacked the pope, priests, and monks as false prophets (Matt. 7 : 15 sq.), but was inteirupted by armed priests, and forced by the police to flee to a retreat. He left the city by night, in February, but returned again and again, and aided Farel, Viret, and Calvin.
Unfortunately he did not remain faithful to his calling, and fell into disgrace. He neglected his pastoral duties, kept a shop, and at last gave up the ministry. His colleagues, especially Calvin, complained bitterly of him.^ In December, 1549, he was engaged by Bonivard, the official historian of the Republic, to assist him in his Chronicle, which was completed in 1552. Then he became a public notary of Geneva (1553). He got into domestic troubles. Soon after the death of his first wife, formerly abbess of a convent, he married a second time (1561), but committed adultery with a servant, was deposed, imprisoned, and banished, 1562.
His misfortune seems to have wrought in him a beneficial
1 "Froment," says Farel, "a de(/ene're' en ivraie (u-resse)."
254 THE REFORMATION IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
change. In 1572 he was permitted on application to return to Geneva in view of his past services, and in 1574 he was reinstated as notary. He died in 1581 (?) The Genevese honored his memory as one, though the least important, and the least worthy, of the four Reformers of their city. His chief work is the Chronicle mentioned above, which supplements the Chronicles of Bonivard, and Sister Jeanne de Jussie.^
^ Michelet (Hist, de France, XI. 91) : " Nitl livre plus amusant que la chronique de Froment, hardi colporteur de la grace, naif et mordant satirique que les de't-otes ge'nevoises, plaisamment d€voil€es par lui, essayerent de jeter au Rhone."
From the original oil painting in the University Library of Geneva. This picture represents the Reformer as teaching or preaching, and is considered the best.
CHAPTER VIII. JOHN CALVIN AND HIS WORK.
The literature in § 58, pp. 225-231. § 65. Joh7i Calvin compared with the Older Reformers.
We now approach the life and work of John Calvin, who labored more than Farel, Viret, and Froment. He was the chief founder and consolidator of the Reformed Church of France and French Switzerland, and left the impress of his mind upon all other Reformed Churches in Europe and America.
Revolution is followed by reconstruction and consolidation. For this task Calvin was providentially foreordained and equipped by genius, education, and circumstances.
Calvin could not have done the work of Farel ; for he was not a missionary, or a popular preacher. Still less^ could Farel have done the work of Calvin ; for he was neither a theologian, nor a statesman. Calvin, the Frenchman, would have been as much out of place in Ziirich or Wittenberg, as the Swiss Zwingli and the German Luther would have been out of place and without a popular constituency in French-speaking Geneva. Each stands first and unrivalled in his particular mission and field of labor.
Luther's public career as a reformer embraced twenty-nine years, from 1517 to 1546 ; that of Zwingli, only twelve years, from 1519 to 1531 (unless we date it from his preaching at Einsiedeln in 1516) ; that of Calvin, twenty-eight years, from 1536 to 1564. The first reached an age of sixty-two; the second, of forty-seven ; the third, of fifty-four. Calvin