James Pavanne, a Youthful Martyr
HE youthful martyr, James Pavanne, could not surely. have passed Calvin’s notice. Pavanne had a living in the church, but being enlightened by the Spirit, whose work it is to take of the things of Christ and show them to the people, he began to preach Christ, and to oppose the worship of the Virgin. This in the Church of Rome is a great offence, for Mary is the greatest idol. James was, therefore, soon arrested and thrown into prison.
“The youth, amiability, learning and uprightness of Pavanne,” says D’Aubigné, ‘‘ created a general interest in his favour. Nothing was spared to bring him to retract his supposed errors, neither sophistry, promises nor threats. The unhappy youth, seduced, agitated and shaken, sunk at last under these perfidious attacks.” Yes, like Peter, he was suffered to fall, to learn his own weakness, but like him when put to the test again, he found the strength of the Lord. On Christmas eve, 1525, he had to walk bareheaded and barefooted, with a rope round his neck, and a lighted taper in his hand, to the Church of Notre Dame, and there publicly beg pardon of the Virgin for having spoken lightly of her.
This act of idolatry brought no peace to poor Pavanne, but from that day horror of great darkness came over his soul. Bitterness of spirit seized him; like Peter he went out and wept bitterly. He was continually sighing, i Alas! there is nothing but bitterness for me in this ife,”
He felt that he had denied his Lord. From that dreadful hour he did nothing but weep and walk about with melancholy air, with his eyes fixed on the earth, and groaning inwardly. Yet the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, Who can have compassion upon the ignorant and
14 CALVIN
upon them who are out of the way, did not cast him off. Through fear he had denied the Lord with his lips; in heart’ and mind he never had. But he had sinned, and deeply he felt it, and.he repented and abhorred himself. At Meaux, about twenty-three miles N.E. from Paris, Protestantism was taking root. Here the Gospel of the Grace of God was preached, and from this place and people the poor broken hearted youth could not keep. He now feared not the fire and the stake; he longed for them. He was seen at Meaux, immediately arrested and brought before the judges. This was all the youthful James required. He felt comforted as soon as he was in chains, and found strength to confess Jesus Christ with boldness. His trial was soon concluded; a pile was erected on the Gréve, and Pavanne, strengthened by the consolations of Christ, died rejoicing. At the pile he delivered such a testimony upon the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper that a doctor said, ‘“‘I wish Pavanne had not spoken, even if it had cost the Church a million of gold.”.
THE HERMIT OF LIVRY.
About nine miles from Paris lived a poor hermit, who, having received the truth into his heart, began
“To tell to sinners round,. Whats dear Saviour he had found; To point to His redeeming blood, And say, ‘ Behold the way to God.’ ”
He visited the poor peasants in the villages around his hut, and told them of a full and free pardon for burdened souls by the blood of Jesus, without priestly absolution.
The news reached the ears of the doctors and magistrates of Paris. The humble missionary was seized and dragged from his hermitage, cast into prison, and condemned “ to suffer the exemplary punishment of the slow fire.”
To render the occasion more solemn and terrifying, the martyrdom was to take place before the cathedral of Notre Dame; all the clergy were convoked, and therefore Calvin among them, and as much pomp was displayed ason the most solemn festival.
“The great bell of the church of Notre: Dame was solemnly tolled to arouse the citizens, and people flocked in crowds: the workman from his toil, the scholar from his book, the merchant from his traffic, the soldier from his idleness.” But what are these accumulated thousands so eager to behold? They are anxious to see how the poor hermit’s new religion will stand the fire. Well, there he
a a
i}
JOHN CALVIN AND HIS COUSIN IN FRIENDLY | CONTROVERSY.
is, calm, firm and collected. The cross is presented to him with exhortations to repent. His only hope is in the pardon of God, he saya, and he is resolved to die in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, The stunning sounds of the great bell are at length silenced, and the martyr is inthe midst of the flames. The doctors, enraged at his calmness, declare he is going to hell, but the consolations of Christ sustain him until his spirit takes its flight.
CALVIN’S CONVICTIONS.
The difference between the old and the new doctrine* now form the subject of conversations everywhere, but nowhere of such importance as in the apartment where Calvin and his cousin Olivetan hold their friendly dissensions. Calvin is now about eighteen years of age, and
“‘ Th’ appointed time rolls on apace,. Not to propose, but: call by grace.”
“The contest,” says Dr. Wylie, ‘‘ between the two cousins is renewed day by day.
‘There are. two religions in the world,’ we hear Olivetan saying. ‘In the one class invented by men, man saves himself by ceremonies and good works; the other is that one religion which is revealed in the Bible, and which teaches men to look for salvation solely from the free grace of God.’
‘© ¢T will have none of your new doctrine,’ Calvin sharply rejoins; ‘think you that I have lived in error all my days?” But Calvin is not so sure of the matter even as he looks. The words of his cousin have gone deeper into his heart than he is willing to admit, even to himself, and when Olivetan has taken farewell for the day, Calvin, bursting into tears, falls upon his knees, and gives vent in prayer to the doubts and anxieties that agitate him.