THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
sand: therefore his influence was constantly spread-
ingV] As was natural, it was most formative in
France, whence most of his pupils came, and .to
whose Protestants Calvin was leader
14. His Ec- and spiritual father. ~ But in other
clesiastical lands he exerted his power. ]n Italy
Influence, he came to the aid of the troubled
duchess of Ferrara. To England
he sent his commentary on Isaiah, with a dedication
to the youthful king, Edward. VI. To Cranmer
he wrote letters; and through Knox he molded
Scotland. He counseled the Moravian Brethren.
He helped the Poles in the Trinitarian controversy,
and likewise the Reformed cause in Hungary. He
also prepared, in his way, the present interest in
foreign missions by his unfoitunate mission to
Brazil in 1555 (see Villegagnon, Nicolas Durand
LCalvin's relations with Switzerland and Germany were unpleasant. He strove most earnestly to unite the different branches of the Protestant Church. But unhappily he was suspected by many Swiss of Lutheran views on the Lord's Supper— for this was the controverted point — and by many Germans of too much Zwinglianism; so that he made but an indifferent mediator. He had high hopes of the Consensus of Zurich ^1549), which harmonized the Swiss churches; but the controversy with the Lutherans was violently renewed by Hesshus.
The common conception of Calvin is erroneous. He was not the stony-hearted tyrant, the relentless persecutor, the gloomy theologian, the popular picture represents him to have been. Men, by a blessed inconsistency, are often kinder than their creeds. So, at all events, was Calvin. To the superficial observer he is not attractive; but it is the opinion of every one who has studied him that he improves upon acquaintance. Granted that he was constitutionally intolerant; that he did draft and sternly carry out regulations 15. His which were vexatious and needlessly
Character, severe; that he knew no other standpoint in government, morals, or the- 'Ology than his own — he had qualities which entitle him to respect and admiration. 'He was refined, conscientious, pure, faithful, honest, humble, piqus^ (He attracted men by the strength of his character, the loftiness of his aims, and the directness of his_ efforts. He had the common human affections. , He loved his wife, and mourned her death. He grieved over his childlessness. He took delight in his friends; and they were the noblest in the Protestant Church. Somewhat of the forbidding aspect of his life may perhaps be accounted for by the unnatural life he was forced to lead. He desired to spend his days in study; whereas he was forced to incessant, multifarious, and most prominent labor. Experience shows there is no harder master than a timid man compelled to lead. Again, his ill-health must be taken into account. He was a chronic invalid. Such men are not apt to be gentle. The wonder rather is that he showed so patient a spirit. The popular verdict has been given against him; but vox populi is not always vox del. What Beza, his
biographer, wrote is nearer truth: " Having been an observer of Calvin's life for sixteen years, I may with perfect right testify that we have in this man a most beautiful example of a truly Christian life and death, which it is easy to calumniate, but difficult to imitate." Ernest Kenan finds the key to his influence in the fact that he was " the most Christian man of his generation " (Studies of Religious History and Criticism, New York, 1864 pp. 286 sqq.).
Calvin was of middle stature, and, through feeble
health, of meager and emaciated frame. He had a
thin, pale, finely chiseled face, a well-
16. His formed mouth, a long, pointed beard, Personal black hair, a prominent nose, a lofty
Appearance, forehead, and flaming eyes. He was modest, plain, and scrupulously neat in dress, orderly and methodical in all his habits, temperate, and even abstemious, allowing himself scarcely food and sleep enough for vigorous work. (The famous portrait by Ary Scheffer is too much idealized.)
Leaving out of view his correspondence, the writings of Calvin divide themselves into the theological and the exegetical. In regard to the latter it suffices now to say that they have never been excelled, if, on the whole, they have been equaled. He possessed all the requisite qualifications for an exegete — knowledge of the original tongues, good common sense, and abundant piety/? His expositions are brief, pithy7 and clear.
17. His His theological writings are remark- Literary able for their early maturity and their Labors, unvarying consistency. Besides his
minor writings, we possess that masterpiece of Protestantism, the " Institutes of the Christian Religion." He produced at twenty-six a book in which he had nothing essential to change at fifty-five. The repeated enlargements were mere developments of its germinal ideas. The first edition (Basel, 1536) contained 519 pages, measuring 6J by 4 inches, was divided into six chapters, and was intended merely as a brief apology of the Reformed doctrine: (1) Of law, with an exposition of the decalogue; (2) Of faith, with an exposition of the Apostles' Creed; (3) Of prayer, with an exposition of the Lord's Prayer; (4) Of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper; (5) Of the other so-called sacraments; (G) Of Christian liberty, church government and discipline. The French translation made by Calvin himself appeared in Basel, 1541. The final form was given to the " Institutes " in the Latin edition of Geneva, 1559, when it was made into a treatise of four books, divided into a hundred and four chapters.
Bibliography: For a comprehensive bibliography, giving full details as to the successive publications of Calvin, their later editions, also of books written on Calvin's life and theology, consult A. Erichson, Bibliographic Calviniaiia, Berlin, 1900.
The complete edition of Calvin's Works, superseding previous editions, is Joannis Calvini Opera quiv supersunt omnia, vol. i.-lix., ed. J. W. Baum, E. Cunitz, E. Reuss, P. Lobstein, and A. Erichson. The last was assisted by W. Baldensper^er and L. Horst. The edition was be^un by the three first-named, Berlin, I860, and finished by Erichson in 1900. There is an excellent