35-1 THE EEFOEMATIOX IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
doctrine of predestination and reprobation is omitted, but it is clearly taught that man is saved by the free grace of God without any merit (Art. 10). The necessity of discipline by admonition and excommunication for the conversion of the sinner is asserted (Art. 19). This subject gave much trouble in Geneva and other Swiss churches. The Confession prepared the way for fuller Reformed Confessions, as the Galilean, the Belgic, and the Second Helvetic. It was printed and distributed in April, 1537, and read ever)- Sunday from the pulpits, to prepare the citizens for its adoption.^
Calvin's Catechism, which preceded the Confession, is an extract from his Institutes, but passed through several transformations. On his return from Strassburg he re-wrote it on a larger scale, and arranged it in questions and answers, or in the form of a dialogue between the teacher and the pupd. It was used for a long time in Reformed Churches and schools, and served a good purpose in promoting an intelligent piety and virtue by systematic biblical instruction. It includes an exposition of the Creed, the Decalogue, and the Lord's Prayer. It is much fuller than Luther's, but less adapted for children. Beza says that it was translated into German, English, Scotch, Belgic, Spanish, into Hebrew by E. Tremellius, and '• most elegantly "' into Greek by H. Stephanus. It furnished the basis and material for a number of similar works, especially the Anglican (Xowell's), the Palatinate (Heidelberg), and the Westminster Catechisms, which gradually superseded it.
Calvin has been called "the father of popular education and the inventor of free schools." ^ But he must share this honor with Luther and Zwingfli.
1 Reg. du Cons. 17 and 27 avril, 1537. It had been previouslr examined and adopted in manuscript.
- Among others by George Bancroft, in his Lit. and Hist. Miscellanies, p. 406 : " Calvin was the father of popular education, the inventor of the svstem of free schools."
§ 83. ORDER AND DISCIPLINE INTRODUCED. 355
Besides the Confession and Catechism, the Keformed pastors (/.6\ Farel, Calvin, and Courault) presented to the Council a memorial concerning the future organization and discipline of the Church of Geneva, recommending frequent and solemn celebration of the Lord's Supper, at least once a month, alternately in the three principal churches, singing of Psalms, regular instruction of the youth, abolition of the papal marriage laws, the maintenance of public order, and the exclusion of unworthy communicants.^ They regarded the apostolic custom of excommunication as necessary for the protection of the purity of the Church, but as it had been fearfully abused by the papal bishops, they requested the Council to elect a number of reliable, godly, and irreproachable citizens for the moral supervision of the different districts, and the exercise of discipline, in connection with the ministers, by private and public admonition, and, in case of stubborn disobedience, by excommunication from the privileges of church membership.
On Jan. 16, 1537, the Great Council of Two Hundred issued a series of orders forbidding immoral habits, foolish songs, gambling, the desecration of the Lord's Day, baptism by midwives, and directing that the remaining idolatrous images should be burned ; but nothing was said about excommunication.^ This subject became a bone of contention between the pastors and citizens and the cause of the expulsion of the Reformers. The election of syndics, Feb. 5, was favorable to them.
The ministers were incessantly active in preaching, catechising, and visiting all classes of the people. Five sermons
^ Me'moire de Calvin et Farel sur l' organisation de I'eglise de Geneve. In the Registers of the Council, it is called " les articles donnes par M' G. Farel et les aultres predicans." The document was recently brought to light by Gaberel (Histoire de Ve'glise de Geneve, 1858, Tom. I. 102), reprinted in Opera, vol. X. Part I. 5-14. A summary is given by Merle d'Aubigne, VI. 340 sqq.
2 Annal. Calv. 206 sq.