The Decree of the Creature and the Decree of the Creator
N the foregoing chapters we have seen struggles and; triumphs between the light of truth and the darkness of error and superstition, in and around Geneva.
We have also seen truth established by decree in Geneva. But the decree of the creature and the decree of the Creator are vastly different. When God decrees, He foreseesall the opposition that will be brought against Him, and He knows that He is able to work all things after the council of His Own will; when man decrees he knows not how much strength may be brought to overpower him.
The decree to disestablish Popery and to establish Christianity might defend the Protestants, but it could net make one real one. God only can deliver a sinner from the power of darkness and translate him into the kingdom of His dear Son.
THE SEEDS OF INTERNAL DISCORD.
’ Truth was preached and defended in Geneva, and in this there was cause for rejoicing. But had the great Preacher of Capernaum sat on Geneva’s mountain side, we should again have heard His sublime description of the kingdom of heaven, saying, ‘Behold a sower went forth to sow, and when he sowed some seeds fell by the wayatde, and the fowls came and devoured them up; some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth, and: when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them, but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit” (Matt. xiii. 3-8).. A people trained in the lap of the mother of harlot s to see every conceivable deception and wickedness practiced under the name of religion, could not readily understand the sincerity and purity of Protestantism. Leaving, then, for awhile the seeds of internal discord, we will go t to meet
CALVIN AT THE GATES OF GENEVA.
It is toward the end of August, 1536, and the young Reformer is on his way to Basle or Strasburg, as he supposes. He has called to tarry for a night only in the Protestant city. But Farel, who is now the most influential man in Geneva, has received orders to bring preachers of the Gospel from all quarters, and he hears that the author of the ‘ Insditutes”” is in the city. Immediately he is on his way, and in a few minutes the Reformer of forty-seven years of age, full of uncompromising fiery zeal, and the young, slender, retiring, but logical, powerful student and author of twenty-seven meet together.
Farel showed what victory had been obtained and what an open field there now was in the city for useful labour, and urged Calvin to join him in the important work. Calvin shrank from the prominence that the work of Geneva would call him to; he loved retirement, and felt that his pen was his forte. He declared that he had only comes for one night.;
FAREL’S DENUNCIATION AND CALVIN’S SURRENDER.
‘¢ Why seek elsewhere for what is now offered you ?” said Farel. ‘‘ Why refuse to edify the Church of Geneva by your faith, zeal, and knowledge?” ‘ J cannot teach,” replied the modest scholar; ‘‘I have need to learn, and there are special labours for which 1 wish -to reserve myself. This city cannot afford me the leisure I require.” ‘‘ Study, leisure, knowledge!” rejoined the other. ‘‘ What, must we never practise ?”
Calvin pleaded that he was weak and needed reat. “Rest! Death alone permits the servants of Christ to rest from their labours.’ Calvin objected on the ground of his timidity. He could not battle with such strong spirits as the men of Geneva. But Farel’s withering interrogation; ‘Ought the servants of Jesus Christ to be so delicate as to. be frightened at warfare ?” almost provoked him to buckle on the armour. Next the case of Jonah and the Lord’s chastening was instanced, but Calvin still held to his purpose: his love of retirement and study had almost become a snare.
Farel, then, as if inspired from above, placed his hand upon Calvin's head, and fixing his piercing eyes in his, solemnly said, ‘ May God curse your repose! May God curse your studies, if, in such a great necessity as ours, you withdraw, and refuse to give us help and support.” He accused him of seeking himself rather than Christ.
Galvin trembled in every limb. The dreadful denunciation unhinged his purpose. He felt, as he afterwards -said, “as if God from on high had stretched out His hand ‘to stop him.” And. like the prophet who felt his pardon
CATHEDRAL OF GENEVA.
sealed, and receiving his commission from the high court of heaven, said, ‘‘ Here am I, send me,” so Calvin at once felt bound to surrender all his powers to the work of the Lord at Geneva.