440 THE KEFORMATION IN FRENCH S^Y1TZERLAND.
He met at first with no opposition, but hearty co-operation among the people. About a fortnight after his arrival he presented a formula of the ecclesiastical order to the Small Council. Objection was made to the monthly celebration of the Lord's Supper, instead of the custom of celebrating it only four times a year. Calvin, who strongly favored even a more frequent celebration, yielded his better judgment "in consideration of the weakness of the times," and for the sake of harmony. With this modification, the Small Council adopted the constitution Oct. 27 ; the Large Council confirmed it Nov. 9 ; and the general assembly of the citizens ratified it, by a very large majority, in St. Peter's Church, the 20th of November, 1541. The small minority, however, included some of the leading citizens who were opposed to ecclesiastical discipline. The Articles, after the insertion of some trifling amendments and additions, were definitely adopted by the three councils, Jan. 2, 1542.^
This was a great victory ; for the ecclesiastical ordinances, which we shall consider afterwards, laid a solid foundation for a strong and well-regulated evangelical church.
Calvin preached at St. Peter's, Viret at St. Gervais. The first services were of a penitential character, and their solemnity was enhanced by the fearful ravages of the pestilence in the neighboring cities. An extraordinary celebration of the holy communion on the first Sunday in November, and a weekly day of humiliation and prayer were appointed to invoke the mercy of God upon Geneva and the whole Church.
The second year after his return was very trying. The pestilence, which in 1541 had been raging in Strassburg and
1 Rpgisters, Oct. 25 and 27, Nov. 9 and 20, 1541 ; and Jan. 2, 1542. Opera, X. 15; XI. 379; XXI. 287, 289, 290. The Begisters dii Conseil of Jan. 2, 1542 (vol. XXXV. f. 449), record as follows: " Ordonnances sus le'glise : lesquelles hont este passe par petit grand et ge'ne'ral conseijl touteffoys hont estes corri'ge's, et avant quil soyent mys a limprymerie Resoluz que en ung conseyl exti'aordinaire lesdictes ordonnances soyent vehues \yues'\ affin que telle quest passe par le ge'ne'ral ne soyt change'." Annal., XXI. 289 sq.
§ 96. THE FIRST YEARS AFTER THE RETURN. 441
all along the Rhine, crept into Switzerland, diminishing the population of Basel and Ziirich, and reached Geneva in the autumn, 1542. To the pestilence was added the scourge of famine, as is often the case. The evil was aggravated by the great influx of strangers who were attracted by Calvin's fame and sought refuge from persecution under his shelter. The pest-house outside of the city was crowded. Calvin and Pierre Blanchet offered their services to the sick, while the rest of the ministers shrank back.^ The Council refused to let Calvin go, because the Church could not spare him.^ Blanchet risked his life, and fell a victim to his philanthrophy in eight or nine months. Calvin, in a letter dated October, 1542, gives the following account to Viret, who, in July, had left for Lausanne : ^ —
" The pestilence also begins to rage here with greater violence, and few who are at all affected by it escape its ravages. One of our colleagues was to be set apart for attendance upon the sick. Because Peter [Blanchet] offered himself all readily acquiesced. If anything happens to him, I fear that I must take the risk upon myself, for, as you observe, because we are debtors to one another, we must not be wanting to those who, more than any others, stand in need of our ministry. And yet it is not my opinion, that while we wish to provide for one portion we are at liberty to neglect the body of the Church itself. But so long as we are in this ministry, I do not see that any pretext will avail us, if, through fear of infection, we are found wanting in the discharge of our duty when there is most need of our assistance."
Farel, on a like occasion, visited the sick daily, rich and poor, friend and foe, without distinction.* We must judge Calvin by his spirit and motive. He had undoubtedly the spirit of a martyr, but felt it his duty to obey the magistrates, and to spare his life till the hour of necessity. We may refer to the example of Cyprian, who fled during the
^ They said that they would rather go " au diahle" than to the pest-house.
2 That Calvin offered himself is asserted not only by Beza (XXXI. 134), but also by Roset and Savion. See Bonnet, I. 334, note. Castellio, who was not a minister, though he wished to become one, also offered his services, but changed his mind when the lot fell on him.
3 Bonnet-Constable, I. 334.
* Kirchhofer, Leben Farels, II. 33.