THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
not even the choice of a majority, that he had many personal enemies, and would encounter many difficulties; but he believed that God had called him and would sustain him.
He received an honorable reception from the government, and was given a house to live in, and, for salary, five hundred florins, twelve measures of wheat, and two tubs of wine. From that time on, Geneva was his home and his parish, his center
of activity, but by no means his cir- 10. Second cumferenceof influence. (Under his firm Residence rule the city assumed a new aspect. in Geneva. Immorality of every sort was sternly
suppressed. It was well for the success of this system that Geneva was a refuge for the persecuted in every land?] Hollanders, English, Italians, Spaniards, and more particularly Frenchmen, settled in the town, and readily lent their aid in maintaining Calvin's peculiar methods. But not refugees alone came : his lectures and those of Beza attracted many thousands of students, and thus spread their fame far and wide. But incessant study, a vast correspondence, " the care of all the churches," his sedentary life — these conspired to make him the victim of disease, and at fifty-five years of age he breathed his last. He had spent little on himself, but given generously both in money and service, so he left behind him only a hundred and seventy dollars, but an incalculable fortune in fame and consecrated influence; and from him Geneva inherited faith, education, government, brave citizens, and pride in an honored name.
Calvin based his system upon the Apostles' Creed, and followed its fines. Ethics and theology were handled in the closest connection. His reformation in theology was preeminently a practical affair. Even the doctrine of predestination was developed, not as a speculation, but as a matter of practical concern. By the extraordinary emphasis put upon it, the Genevans were taught to consider it almost the corner-stone of the Christian faith. In opposition to the lax views of sin and grace- which the Roman Church inculcated, he revived the Augustinian doctrine in order by it to conquer Rome] In so doing he was one with Zwingli, CEcolampadius, Luther, and Melanchthon. But in his supralapsarian views he stood alone
among the Reformers. His views of
ii. Calvin's ecclesiastical authority and discipline
Fundamen- are also important. He allowed to
tal Ideas, the Church a greater authority than
any other Reformer. Here, again, the influence of Augustine is seen. He says, " The Church is our mother " (" Institutes," IV. i. 1). Outside of the Church there is no salvation. Her ministry is divinely constituted, and to it believers are bound to pay deference. Her authority is absolute in matters of doctrine; but, when civil cases arise, she hands the offenders over to the State for punishment. State and Church have, therefore, separate and exclusive jurisdiction; yet they exist side by side, and cooperate. They mutually support each other. The ideal government embraced a democracy, an aristocracy, and a king or autocrat. Calvin taught obedience to the
powers that be. In this scheme be had in mind the Israelites.^ J3e aimed at a theocracy. He bowed before the majesty of the righteous Judge. His fear of God led him to unquestioning submission.( In a sense it was his very breath; and so in Iris system justice is more prominent than love. jGod as the ruler, rather than as the lover of all in Christ, was the object of his reverence. ;
In accordance with his principles was his work. During his first residence in Geneva he showed his determination to separate Church and State; and therefore he and his fellow preachers protested against the interference of the State in the matter of the use of fonts, of unleavened bread in the Lord's Supper, and in the celebration of the churchfestivals, as these were, properly within the ecclesiastical province. ^When* also, he refused the Eucharist unto the city, because of its immorality, he asserted for the Church freedom from the civil authority. This determined stand cost him temporarily his position; but, when he resumed his work in Geneva, he and the citizens knew that he aimed to rule absolutely, i The reforms he instituted are famous, and often condemned as infamous. They are, however, not only defensible, but commendable, if judged by the standard of that age. We can not withhold our admiration of the moral courage, the self-forgetfulness, the stern morality, and the uncompromising zeal with which Calvin addressed himself unto the apparently hopeless task of curbing the passions of the loose populace, and gaining the cordial co- 12. His operation o^ the upper classes. He
Reforms, succeeded. Geneva came to be regarded as a normal school of religious life. Religion was the life of the greater part of the inhabitants.; jWith a correct insight into the necessities of the case, Calvin declared immediately after his victorious reentry that he could not take up work without a reorganization of the Church; viz., by the formation of a church-court, which should have full authority to maintain discipline. On Nov. 20, 1541, at a popular meeting, the scheme he drew up was ratified. This provided for a consistory, composed of the pastors of the city churches, who were five in number, and three assistants, and twelve eldersj— one of the latter to be a syndic and their president— which met every Thursday, and put under church-discipline, without respect of persons, every species of evil-doers.;, The rigor and vigor of this administration quickly awakened natural indignation, in part even among those who on the whole favored Calvin. His life was at times in danger. Some showed their terrified contempt for him by naming their dogs after him. In a city like Geneva, full of refugees of every description, there were many who looked upon all restraint as oppression; others who objected to Calvin's measures as going too far, or criticized his methods. In order still further to increase the authority oFThe church-court, Calvin secured (],").V>) an important modification of the city government^jEhereby the Conseil Gi'neml (the " General Council "^ the highest law-making body, was only called twice a year — in February to elect syndics, and in November to fill some