666 THE REFOEMATION IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
Ed. 1530. Ed. 1540.
" Concerning the Lord's Supper, " Concerning the Lord's Supper,
they teach that the body and blood they teach that with bread and wine
of Christ are truly present [under the are truly exhibited the body and blood
form of bread and wine], and are of Christ to those who eat in the
distributed to those that eat in the Lord's Supper."
Lord's Supper. And the// disapprove [Disapproval of dissenting views
of those who teach otherwise." [In the is omitted.] German text : " Wherefore also the opposite doctrine is rejected."^
It is to this revised edition of the document, and to its still living author, that Calvin confidently appealed.
" In regard to the Confession of Augsburg," he says in his Last Admonition to Westphal, " my answer is, that, as it was published at Ratisbon (1541), it does not contain a word contrary to our doctrine. ^ If tiiere is any ambiguity in its meaning, there cannot be a more competent interpreter than its author, to whom, as his due, all pious and learned men will readily pay this honor. To him I boldly appeal ; and thus Westphal with his vile garrulity lies prostrate. ... If Joachim wishes once for all to rid himself of all trouble and put an end to controversy, let him extract one word in his favor from Philip's lips. The means of access are open, and the journey is not so very laborious, to visit one of whose consent he boasts so loftily, and with whom he may thus have familiar intercourse. If I shall be found to have used Philip's name rashly, there is no stamp of ignominy to which I am not willing to submit.
" The passage which Westphal quotes, it is not mine to refute, nor do I regard what, during the first conflict, before the matter was clearly and lucidly explained, the importunity of some may have extorted from one who was then too backward in giving a denial. It were too harsh to lay it down as a law on literary men, that after they have given a specimen of their talent and learning, they are never after to go beyond it in the course of their lives. Assuredly, whosoever shall say that Philip has added nothing by the labor of forty years, does great wrong to him individually, and to the whole Church.
"The only thing I said, and, if need be, a hundred times repeat, is, that in this matter Philip can no more be torn from me than he can from his own bowels. 2 But although fearing the thunder which threatened to burst from violent men (those who know the boisterous blasts of Luther understand what
1 " De Confessione Augustana sic respondeo, verbulum in ea, qualis Ratispono' editafuit, non exstare doctrince nostrce contrarium." ' Opera, IX. 148. Comp. his letter to Schalling at Ratisbon, March, 1557, quoted on p. 377, note (Opera, XVI. 430).
2 " Solum quod dixi et guidem centies si opus sit, conjirmo, non magis a me Philippum quam a propriis visceribus in hac causa posse divelli." Opera, IX. 149.
^ 133. CALVIN AND THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION. 667
I mean), he did not always speak out openly as I could have wislie.l, there is no reason why Westphal, while pretending diiierently, should indirectly charge him with having begun to incline to us only after Luther was dead. Tor when more than seventeen years ago we conferred together on this point of doctrine, at our first meeting, not a syllable required to be changed. i Nor should I omit to mention Caspar Cruciger, who, from his excellent talents and learning, stood, next after Philip, highest in Luther's estimation, and far beyond all others. He so cordially embraced wliat Westphal now impugns, that nothing can be imagined more perfectly accordant than our opinions.
" But if there is still any doubt as to Philip, do I not make a sufficient offer when I wait silent and confident for his answer, assured that it will make manifest the dishonesty which has falsely sheltered itself under the venerable name of that most excellent man ? "
Calvin urged Melanchtlion repeatedly to declare openly his view on the points in controversy. In a letter of March 5, 1555, after thanking him for his approval of the dondemnation of Servetus, he says : " About ' the bread-worship ' Qirepl T>;9 apToXarpeiai;')^ your most intimate opinion has long since been known to me, which you do not even dissemble in your letter. But your too great slowness displeases me, by which the madness of those whom you see rushing on to the destruction of the Church, is not only kept up, but from day to day increased." Melanchtlion an.s\vered, May 12, 1555: " I have determined to reply simply and without ambiguity, and I judge that I owe that work to God and the Church, nor at the age to which I have arrived, do I fear either exile or other dangers." On August 28 of the same year, Calvin expressed his gratification with this answer and wrote : " I entreat you to discharge, as soon as you can, the debt which you acknowledge you owe to God and the Church." He adds with undue severity: "If this warning, like a cock crowing rather late and out of season, do not awaken you, all will cry out with justice that you are a sluggard. Farewell, most distinguished sir, whom I venerate from the heart." In another letter of Aug. 3, 1557, he complains of
^ He refers to their meeting at Frankfurt, which took place in 1539, seven years before Luther's death and five years before his last book against the Sacramentarians. See above, § 90, pp. 388 sq.