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that Calvin was obliged to publish his Genevan Catechism in Latin。
He also offended many by his outspoken rebuke of sin； for he aimed
at a complete reformation of morals； like Latimer in London and
like Savonarola at Florence。 He sought to reprove amusements which
were demoralizing； or thought to be so in their influence。 The
passions of the people were excited； and the city was torn by
parties； and such was the reluctance to submit to the discipline of
the ministers that they refused to administer the sacraments。 This
created such a ferment that the syndics expelled Calvin and Farel
from the city。 They went at first to Berne； but the Bernese would
not receive them。 They then retired to Basle； wearied； wet； and
hungry； and from Basle they went to Strasburg。 It was in this city
that Calvin dwelt three years； spending his time in lecturing on
divinity； in making contributions to exegetical theology； in
perfecting his 〃Institutes；〃 forming a close alliance with
Melancthon and other leading reformers。 So pre…occupied was he
with his labors as a commentator of the Scriptures； that he even
contemplated withdrawing from the public service of religion。
Calvin was a scholar as well as theologian； and quiet labors in his
library were probably more congenial to his tastes than active
parochial duties。 His highest life was amid his books； in serene
repose and lofty contemplation。 At this time he had an extensive
correspondence； his advice being much sought for its wisdom and
moderation。 His judgment was almost unerring； since he was never
led away by extravagances or enthusiasm： a cold； calm man even
among his friends and admirers。 He had no passions； he was all
intellect。 It would seem that in his exile he gave lectures on
divinity； being invited by the Council of Strasburg； and also
interested himself in reference to the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper； which he would withhold from the unworthy。 He lived
quietly in his retreat； and was much respected by the people of the
city where he dwelt。
In 1539 a convention was held at Frankfort； at which Calvin was
present as the envoy of the city of Strasburg。 Here； for the first
time； he met Melancthon； but there was no close intimacy between
them until these two great men met in the following year at a Diet
which was summoned at Worms by the Emperor Charles V。； in order to
produce concord between the Catholics and Protestants； and which
was afterwards removed to Ratisbon。 Melancthon represented one
party； and Doctor Eck the other。 Melancthon and Bucer were
inclined to peace； and Cardinal Contarini freely offered his hand；
agreeing with the reformers to adopt the idea of Justification as
his starting point； allowing that it proceeds from faith； without
any merit of our own； but； like Luther and Calvin； he opposed any
attempt at union which might compromise the truth； and had no faith
in the movement。 Neither party； as it was to be expected； was
satisfied。 The main subject of the dispute was in reference to the
Eucharist。 Calvin denied the real presence of Christ in the
Sacrament； regarding it as a symbol；though one of special divine
influence。 But on this point the Catholics have ever been
uncompromising from the times of Berengar。 Nor was Luther fully
emancipated from the Catholic doctrine； modifying without
essentially changing it。 Calvin maintained that 〃This is my body〃
meant that it signified 〃my body。〃 In regard to original sin and
free…will； as represented by Augustine； there was no dispute； but
much difficulty attended the interpretation of the doctrine of
Justification。 The greatest difficulty was in reference to the
doctrine of Transubstantiation； which was rejected by the reformers
because it had not the sanction of the Scriptures； and when it was
found that this caused insuperable difficulties about the Lord's
Supper； it was thought useless to proceed to other matters； like
confession； masses for the dead； and the withholding the cup from
the laity。 There was not so great a difference between the
Catholic and Protestant theologians concerning the main body of
dogmatic divinity as is generally supposed。 The fundamental
questions pertaining to God； the Trinity； the mission and divinity
of Christ； original sin； free…will； grace； predestination； had been
formulated by Thomas Aquinas with as much severity as by Calvin。
The great subjects at issue； in a strictly theological view； were
Justification and the Eucharist。 Respecting free…will and
predestination； the Catholic theologians have never been agreed
among themselves；some siding with Augustine； like Aquinas；
Bernard； and Anselm； and some with Pelagius； like Abelard and
Lainez the Jesuit at the Council of Trent （a council assembled by
the Pope； with the concurrence of Charles V。 of Germany and Francis
I。 of France）； the decrees of which； against the authority of
Augustine in this matter； seem to be now the established faith of
the Roman Catholic Church。
After the Diet of Ratisbon； Calvin returned to Geneva； at the eager
desire of the people。 The great Council summoned him to return；
every voice was raised for him。 〃Calvin； that learned and
righteous man；〃 they said； 〃it is he whom we would have as the
minister of the Lord。〃 Yet he did not willingly return； he
preferred his quiet life at Strasburg； but obeyed the voice of
conscience。 On the 13th of September； 1541； he returned to his
penitent congregation； and was received by the whole city with
every demonstration of respect； and a cloth cloak was given him as
a present； which he seemed to need。
The same year he was married to a widow； Idelette de Burie； who was
a worthy； well…read； high…minded woman； with whom he lived happily
for nine years； until her death。 She was superior to Luther's
wife； Catherine Bora； in culture and dignity； and was a helpmate
who never opposed her husband in the slightest matter； always
considering his interests。 Esteem and friendship seem to have been
the basis of this union；not passionate love； which Calvin did not
think much of。 When his wife died it seems he mourned for her with
decent grief； but did not seek a second marriage； perhaps because
he was unable to support a wife on his small stipend as she would
wish and expect。 He rather courted poverty； and refused reasonable
gratuities。 His body was attenuated by fasting and study； like
that of Saint Bernard。 When he was completing his 〃Institutes；〃 he
passed days without eating and nights without sleeping。 And as he
practised poverty he had a right to inculcate it。 He kept no
servant； lived in a small tenement； and was always poorly clad。 He
derived no profit from any of his books； and the only present he
ever consented to receive was a silver goblet from the Lord of
Varennes。 Luther's stipend was four hundred and fifty florins； and
he too refused a yearly gift from the booksellers of four hundred
dollars； not wishing to receive a gratuity for his writings。
Calvin's salary was only fifty dollars a year； with a house； twelve
measures of corn and two pipes of wine； for tea and coffee were
then unknown in Europe； and wine seems to have been the usual
beverage； after water。 He was pre…eminently a conscientious man；
not allowing his feelings to sway his judgment。 He was sedate and
dignified and cheerful； though Bossuet accuses him of a surly
disposition；un genre triste； un esprit chagrin。 Though formal
and stern； women never shrank from familiar conversation with him
on the subject of religion。 Though intolerant of error； he
cherished no personal animosities。 Calvin was more refined than
Luther； and never like him gave vent to coarse expressions。 He had
not Luther's physical strength； nor his versatility of genius； nor
as a reformer was he so violent。 〃Luther aroused； Calvin
tranquillized。〃 The one stormed the great citadel of error； the
other furnished the weapons for holding it after it was taken。 The
former was more popular； the latter appealed to a higher
intelligence。 The Saxon reformer was more eloquent； the Swiss
reformer was more dialectical。 The one advocated unity； the other
theocracy。 Luther was broader； Calvin engrafted on his reforms the
Old Testament observances。 The watchword of the one was Grace；
that of the other was Predestination。 Luther cut knots； Calvin
made systems。 Luther destroyed； Calvin legislated。 His great
principle of government was aristocratic。 He wished to see both
Church and State governed by a select few of able men。 In all his
writings we see no trace of popular sovereignty。 He interested
himself； like Savonarola； in political institutions； but would
separate the functions of the magistracy from those of the clergy；
and he clung to the notion of a theocratic government； like Jewish
legislators and the popes themselves。 The idea of a theocracy was
the basis of Calvin's system of legislation； as it was that