436 THE REFORMATION IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
promised him (Oct. 4), in consideration of his great learning and hospitality to strangers, a fixed salary of fifty gold dollars, or five hundred florins, besides twelve measures of wheat and two casks of wine.^ It also voted him a new suit of broadcloth, with furs for the winter. This provision was liberal for those days, yet barely sufficient for the necessary expenses of the Reformer and the claims on his hospitality. Hence the Council made him occasional presents for extra services ; but he declined them whenever he could do without them. He lived in the greatest simplicity compatible with his position. A pulpit in St. Peter's was prepared for him upon a broad, low pillar, that the whole congregation might more easily hear him.
The Council sent three horses and a carriage to bring Calvin's wife and furniture. It took twenty-two days for the escort from Geneva to Strassburg and back (from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8). 2
On the 13th of September Calvin appeared before the Syndics and the Council in the Town Hall, delivered the letters from the senators and pastors of Strassburg and Basel, and apologized for his long delay. He made no complaint and demanded no punishment of his enemies, but asked for the appointment of a commission to prepare a w^ritten order of church government and discipline. The Council complied with this request, and resolved to retain him permanently, and to inform the Senate of Strassburg of this intention. Six prominent laymen, four members of the Little Council,
^ " Cinq cens florins, douze coppes de froment et deux bossot de vin." Annal. 284. Five hundred florins of Geneva were equivalent to about four thousand francs at the present standard of value. This is the estimate of Franklin and of Merle d'Aubigne', VII. 69. Galiffe {Qnelq. pages d'hist. p. 89, as quoted by Kampschulte, I. 388, note 3) estimates Calvin's annual income at 9 to 10,000 francs of our money (.$2000). A syndic at that time received only 100, a counsellor 25 francs, according to the same authority.
2 Herminjard, VII. 289, note : " Oii paya au voiturier, Emoz Daiz, pour 22 jouvne'es 7 florins, 4 sols."
§ 95. calvin's return to geneva. 437
two members of the Large Council, — Pertemps, Perrin, Roset, Lambert, Goulaz, and Porral, — were appointed to draw up the ecclesiastical ordinances in conference with the ministers.^
On Sept. 10, Calvin wrote to Farel: " Thy wish is granted, I am held fast here. May God give his blessing." ^
He desired to retain Viret and to secure Farel as permanent co-laborers; but in this he was disappointed — Viret being needed at Lausanne, and Farel at Neuchatel. By special permission of Bern, however, Viret was allowed to remain with him till July of the next year. His other colleagues were rather a hindrance than a help to him, as " they had no zeal and very little learning, and could not be trusted." Nearly the whole burden of reconstructing the Church of Geneva rested on his shoulders. It was a formidable task.
Never was a man more loudly called by government and people, never did a man more reluctantly accept the call, never did a man more faithfully and effectively fulfil the duties of the call than John Calvin when, in obedience to the voice of God, he settled a second time at Geneva to live and to die at this post of duty.
" Of all men in the w^orld," says one of his best biographers and greatest admirers,^ " Calvin is the one who most worked, wrote, acted, and prayed for the cause which he had embraced. The coexistence of the sovereignty of God and the freedom of man is assuredly a mystery ; but Calvin never supposed that because God did all, he personally had nothing to do. He points out clearly the twofold action, that of God and that of man. ' God,' said he, ' after freely bestowing his
1 Beg. du Conseil, vol. XXXV. 324, quoted in Annal. 282, and by Herminjard; Calvin's letter to Farel, Sept. 16, 1541, in Opera, XI. 281, and Herminjard, VII. 249-250.
2 " Quod bene vertat Deus, hie retentus sum, ut volebas. Superest ut Viretxtm quoque mecum retineam, quern a me avelli nidlo modo patiar. Tuoe quoque omniumque fratrum partes me hie adjuvare, nisi vultis me frustra excruciari, ac sine commodo esse miserrimiim." Herminjard, VII. 249.
3 Merle d'Aubigne, VII. 70.