The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

167unwittingly he was brought face to face with the heresy and forced to testthe power of Romish theology to combat the Protestant teaching.A cousin of Calvin's, who had joined the Reformers, was in Paris. The twokinsmen often met and discussed together the matters that were disturbingChristendom. "There are but two religions in the world," said Olivetan, theProtestant. "The one class of religions are those which men have invented,in all of which man saves himself by ceremonies and good works; the otheris that one religion which is revealed in the Bible, and which teaches man tolook for salvation solely from the free grace of God.""I will have none of your new doctrines," exclaimed Calvin; "think you thatI have lived in error all my days?" –Wylie, b. 13, ch. 7.But thoughts had been awakened in his mind which he could not banish atwill. Alone in his chamber he pondered upon his cousin's words. Convictionof sin fastened upon him; he saw himself, without an intercessor, in thepresence of a holy and just Judge. The mediation of saints, good works, theceremonies of the church, all were powerless to atone for sin. He could seebefore him nothing but the blackness of eternal despair. In vain the doctorsof the church endeavored to relieve his woe. Confession, penance, wereresorted to in vain; they could not reconcile the soul with God.While still engaged in these fruitless struggles, Calvin, chancing one day tovisit one of the public squares, witnessed there the burning of a heretic. Hewas filled with wonder at the expression of peace which rested upon themartyr's countenance. Amid the tortures of that dreadful death, and underthe more terrible condemnation of the church, he manifested a faith andcourage which the young student painfully contrasted with his own despairand darkness, while living in strictest obedience to the church. Upon theBible, he knew, the heretics rested their faith. He determined to study it, anddiscover, if he could, the secret of their joy.In the Bible he found Christ. "O Father," he cried, "His sacrifice hasappeased Thy wrath; His blood has washed away my impurities; His crosshas borne my curse; His death has atoned for me. We had devised forourselves many useless follies, but Thou hast placed Thy word before melike a torch, and Thou hast touched my heart, in order that I may hold inabomination all other merits save those of Jesus." –Martyn, vol. 3, ch. 13.Calvin had been educated for the priesthood. When only twelve years of agehe had been appointed to the chaplaincy of a small church, and his head hadbeen shorn by the bishop in accordance with the canon of the church. He