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organization； their constitution； were deemed hostile to liberty
and the progress of society。 And if zealous governmentsCatholic
princes themselvesshould feel that the Jesuits were opposed to
the true progress of nations； how much more reason had Protestants
to distrust them； and to rejoice in their fall！
And it was not until the French Revolution and the empire of
Napoleon had passed away； not until the Bourbons had been restored
（in August； 1814）； that the Order was re…established and again
protected by the Papal court。 They have now regained their ancient
power； and seem to have the confidence of Catholic Europe。 Some of
their most flourishing seminaries are in the United States。 They
are certainly not a scandal in this country； although their spirit
and organization are still maintained： regarded with some mistrust
by the strong Protestants； as a matter of course； as such a
powerful organization naturally would be； hostile still to the
circulation of the Scriptures among the people and free inquiry and
private judgment；in short； to all the ideas of the reformation。
But whatever they are； and however askance Protestants regard them；
they have in our country；this land of unbounded religious
toleration；the same right to their religion and their
ecclesiastical government that any other sects have； and if
Protestants would nullify their influence so far as disliked； they
must outshine them in virtues； in a religious life； in zeal； and in
devotion to the spiritual interests of the people。 If the Jesuits
keep better schools than Protestants they will be patronized； and
if they command the respect of the Catholics for their virtues and
intelligence； whatever may be the machinery of their organization；
they will retain their power； and not until they interfere with
elections and Protestant schools； or teach dangerous doctrines of
public morality； has our Government any right to interfere with
them。 They will stand or fall as they win the respect or excite
the wrath of enlightened nations。 But the principles they are
supposed to defend；expediency； casuistry； and hostility to free
inquiry and the circulation of the Scriptures in vernacular
languages；these are just causes of complaint and of unrelenting
opposition among all those who accept the great ideas of the
Protestant Reformation； since they are antagonistic to what we deem
most precious in our institutions。 So long as the contest shall
last between good and evil in this world； we have a right to
declaim against all encroachments on liberty and sound morality and
an evangelical piety from any quarter whatever； and we are recreant
to our duties unless we speak our minds。 Hence； from the light I
have； I regard the Society of Jesus as a questionable institution；
unfortunately planted among us； but which we cannot help； and can
attack； if at all； only with the weapons of reason and truth。
And yet I am free to say that for my part I prefer even the Jesuit
discipline and doctrines； much as I dislike them； to the unblushing
infidelity which has lately been propagated by those who call
themselves savans；and which seems to have reached and even
permeated many of the schools of science； the newspapers；
periodicals； clubs； and even pulpits of this materialistic though
progressive country。 I make war on the slavery of the will and a
religion of formal technicalities； but I prefer these evils to a
godless rationalism and the extinction of the light of faith。
AUTHORITIES。
Secreta Monita； Steinmetz's History of the Jesuits； Ranke's History
of the Popes； Spiritual Exercises； Encyclopaedia Britannica；
Biographie Universelle； Fall of the Jesuits； by St。 Priest； Lives
of Ignatius Loyola； Aquiviva； Lainez； Salmeron； Borgia； Xavier；
Bobadilla； Pascal's Provincial Letters； Bonhours' Cretineau；
Lingard's History of England； Tierney； Lettres Aedificantes； Jesuit
Missions； Memoires Secretes du Cardinal Dubois； Tanner's Societas
Jesu； Dodd's Church History。
JOHN CALVIN。
A。 D。 1509…1564。
PROTESTANT THEOLOGY。
John Calvin was pre…eminently the theologian of the Reformation；
and stamped his genius on the thinking of his age；equally an
authority with the Swiss； the Dutch； the Huguenots； and the
Puritans。 His vast influence extends to our own times。 His fame
as a benefactor of mind is immortal； although it cannot be said
that he is as much admired and extolled now as he was fifty years
ago。 Nor was he ever a favorite with the English Church。 He has
been even grossly misrepresented by theological opponents； but no
critic or historian has ever questioned his genius； his learning；
or his piety。 No one denies that he has exerted a great influence
on Protestant countries。 As a theologian he ranks with Saint
Augustine and Thomas Aquinas；maintaining essentially the same
views as those held by these great lights； and being distinguished
for the same logical power； reigning like them as an intellectual
dictator in the schools； but not so interesting as they were as
men。 And he was more than a theologian； he was a reformer and
legislator； laying down rules of government； organizing church
discipline； and carrying on reforms in the worship of God；second
only to Luther。 His labors were prodigious as theologian；
commentator； and ecclesiastical legislator； and we are surprised
that a man with so feeble a body could have done so much work。
Calvin was born in Picardy in 1509；the year that Henry VIII。
ascended the British throne； and the year that Luther began to
preach at Wittenberg。 He was not a peasant's son； like Luther； but
belonged to what the world calls a good family。 Intellectually he
was precocious； and received an excellent education at a college in
Paris； being destined for the law by his father； who sent him to
the University of Orleans and then to Bourges； where he studied
under eminent jurists； and made the acquaintance of many
distinguished men。 His conversion took place about the year 1529；
when he was twenty； and this gave a new direction to his studies
and his life。 He was a pale…faced young man； with sparkling eyes；
sedate and earnest beyond his years。 He was twenty…three when he
published the books of Seneca on Clemency； with learned
commentaries。 At the age of twenty…three he was in communion with
the reformers of Germany； and was acknowledged to be； even at that
early age； the head of the reform party in France。 In 1533 he went
to Paris； then as always the centre of the national life； where the
new ideas were creating great commotion in scholarly and
ecclesiastical circles； and even in the court itself。 Giving
offence to the doctors of the Sorbonne for his evangelical views as
to Justification； he was obliged to seek refuge with the Queen of
Navarre； whose castle at Pau was the resort of persecuted
reformers。 After leading rather a fugitive life in different parts
of France； he retreated to Switzerland； and at twenty…six published
his celebrated 〃Institutes；〃 which he dedicated to Francis I。；
hoping to convert him to the Protestant faith。 After a short
residence in Italy； at the court of the Duchess of Ferrara； he took
up his abode at Geneva； and his great career began。
Geneva； a city of the Allobroges in the time of Caesar； possessed
at this time about twenty thousand inhabitants； and was a free
state； having a constitution somewhat like that of Florence when it
was under the control of Savonarola。 It had rebelled against the
Duke of Savoy； who seems to have been in the fifteenth century its
patron ruler。 The government of this little Savoyard state became
substantially like that which existed among the Swiss cantons。 The
supreme power resided in the council of Two Hundred； which alone
had the power to make or abolish laws。 There was a lesser council
of Sixty； for diplomatic objects only。
The first person who preached the reformed doctrines in Geneva was
the missionary Farel； a French nobleman； spiritual； romantic； and
zealous。 He had great success； although he encountered much
opposition and wrath。 But the reformed doctrines were already
established in Zurich； Berne； and Basle； chiefly through the
preaching of Ulrich Zwingli； and OEcolampadius。 The apostolic
Farel welcomed with great cordiality the arrival of Calvin； then
already known as an extraordinary man； though only twenty…eight
years of age。 He came to Geneva poor； and remained poor all his
life。 All his property at his death amounted to only two hundred
dollars。 As a minister in one of the churches； he soon began to
exert a marvellous influence。 He must have been eloquent； for he
was received with enthusiasm。 This was in 1536。 But he soon met
with obstacles。 He was worried by the Anabaptists； and even his
orthodoxy was impeached by one Coroli； who made much mischief； so
that Calvin was obliged to publish his Genevan Catechism in Latin。