The Life of John Calvin, compiled from Authentic Sources, and Particularly from His Correspondence
John Henry Dyer [1804-1888]

Book Description

Title:

The Life of John Calvin, compiled from Authentic Sources, and Particularly from His Correspondence

Authors:

John Henry Dyer [1804-1888]

Publication Year:

1850

Location:

London

Publisher:

John Murray

Pages:

560

Subjects:

John Calvin, Reformation, Biography

Copyright Holder:

Public domain

Table of Contents

• Preface

1. INTRODUCTION—Calvin's birth and childhood—His education-Conversion to Protestantism—State of Religion in France—The Sorbonne—Alarm inspired by the Reformation-Persecutions—Margaret de ValoisThe Reuchlinists and Erasmus—Calvin's first essays as a Reformer—Flight from Paris—Returns to meet Servetus—The Placards—Calvin flies to Basle—First edition of the Institutes"—Visits Ferrara-His arrival at Geneva
2. Some account of Geneva—Farel's arrival there—Sketch of Farel's life—His labours at Geneva and expulsion from that city—Froment succeeds him—Disturbances—Return of the bishop—Guy Furbity—Dissolution of the monasteries—Reformation established—Genevese constitution—Calvin joins Farel-Disputation of Lausanne—Anabaptists—Caroli—Accuses Calvin of Arianism—Caroli's banishment and apostasy—Calvin and Farel's orthodoxy suspected—Their scheme of discipline—Manners of the Genevese—They revolt against the discipline—French intrigues—Synod of Lausanne-Inflexibility of Farel and Calvin—Their banishment from Geneva—They appeal to the Synod of Zurich—Berne intercedes for them
3. Calvin proceeds to Basle—Accepts a ministry at Strasburgh—Writes to the church of Geneva—Attends a diet at Frankfort—His pecuniary difficulties—His marriage—Literary labours at Strasburgh—Caroli again—Diets of Hagenau and Worms—Diet of Ratisbon—State of parties at Geneva—The new pastors despised—Disorders—Negotiations for Calvin's restoration—He reluctantly returns to Geneva
4. Calvin visits Neufchâtel—His reception at Geneva—State of the church there—Farel invited—Calvin's ecclesiastical polity—Church and State—The Consistory—Service of the church—Presbyteriauism—Calvin's idea of the priesthood—Method of upholding it—Practical discipline—His scheme not perfected—Calvin's civil legislation—Rigour of his laws
5. Plague and famine at Geneva—Calvin answers the Sorbonne—Replies to Pighius—Melancthon's opinions on Free Will—Calvin's Tract on Relics—Farel at Metz—Caroli's machinations—Sebastian Castellio—Calvin's Tract "De Reformanda Ecclesia"—His remarks on the Pope's Letter to the Emperor—Tracts against the Anabaptists and Libertines—The Queen of Navarre offended—Luther and the Swiss Church—Calvin's opinion of Luther—Luther's violence—Calvin's Tracts against the Nicodemites
6. Another pestilence—Conspiracy to spread the plague—Persecution of the Waldenses—The Libertines, or Patriots—Number and privileges of the Refugees—Case of Pierre Ameaux—-Calvin's despotism—Priestcraft—Struggles with the Libertines—Ami Perrin—Calvin menaced—Affair of Gruet—Perrin imprisoned—Disturbances—Perrin disgraced—Attempts at accommodation—Calvin embroiled with the Council—Perrin restored and elected syndic
7. Work against the Council of Trent—Tract against judicial astrology—The Interim—Melancthon's concessions—Calvin blames Melancthon—Death of Calvin's wife—Beza's arrival at Geneva—The Zurich Consensus—Lielius Socinus—Fêtes abolished at Geneva—Calvin's Tract De Scandalis
8. St. Augustin and Pelagius—Predestination—Case of Bolsec—Calvin's account of his tenets—Bolsec indicted—The Swiss churches consulted—Bolsec's life in danger—Bullinger's advice to Calvin—Letter of the Bernese ministers—M. de Fallais patronises Bolsec—Calvin's Tract on Predestination—Calvin and the English Church—Affair of Dr. Hooper—Cranmer's principles and projects of union— Calvin's letter to him—Misconceives Cranmer's situation
9. Account of Servetus—His book against the Trinity—His medical studies—Settles at Vienne—His correspondence with Calvin—Broken off by the latter—Publishes his "Restoration of Christianity"—Is denounced by Trie, and apprehended at Vienne—Calvin furnishes evidence against him—Further proceedings—Examination at Vienne—Escapes from prison, and is burnt in effigy
10. Servetus arrives at Geneva—Is arrested and indicted—His trial—Is claimed by the French authorities—His insolence—Opinions of Bullinger, Fare!, and others, on his case—Brings a counter-accusation against Calvin—The Swiss churches consulted—Their replies—Servetus condemned and executed—His character—General indignation against Calvin—Calvin's book on the punishment of heretics—Grounds of his defence—Justified by Melancthon and others—Calvin and the French inquisition—Inquiry into bis motives—His defence unsatisfactory—Replies to bis book
11. Affair of Bertbelier—Calvin refuses to administer the Lord's Supper—Question of excommunication—Truce with the Libertines—Libel upon Calvin—His unpopularity—Disputes with the Bernese clergyCalvin visits Berne—Banishment of Bolsec—Further struggles with the Libertines—The Consistory's power of excommunication confirmed— Question of citizenship-Riots—The Libertines discomfited— Sentence upon them
12. Controversy with the Lutherans—Attacks of Westphal—Calvin answers him—Calvin's violence—Urges Melanctbon to declare himself—Mission of Feral and Beza—Their disingenuousness—Bullinger offended—The Marian exiles—"Troubles of Frankfort"—Lutheran persecutions—Calvin visits Frankfort-Return of the Marian exiles
13. Revival of the predestinerian controversy—Calvin's treatment of Castellio—Italian Antitrinitarians—Gribaldo-Biandrat—Alciati—Gentile—Schools founded at Geneva—Dissensions in the Pays de Vaud-Viret and others banished—Ferel's intemperate zeal—Viret, Beza, and others, repair to Geneva—Farel's marriage—Calvin's illness—His intercourse with England—Correspondence with Knox
14. State of Religion in France—Persecution of the Protestants—Conspiracy of Amboise—Progress of Calvinism in France—Danger and escape of Conde—Demand for Genevese preachers—The Triumvirate—Conference of Poissy—The Queen favours the Hugonots—They preach in public—Edict of January—Apostasy of King Anthony—Massacre of Vassy—Beza remonstrates—Religious wars—Battle of Dreux—Assassination of Guise—Peace of Orleans
15. Controversy with Baudouin—Tract against De Saconay—Answer to Hesshus-Calvin's last illness—Interview with the council—Exhortation to the ministers—His death—Will—Beza's character of Calvin —Another estimate—His literary merits—Conclusion and Appendix

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