Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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occasionally from the neighboring Lausanne. Calvin’s brother, and his
relative Olivetan, who joined them at Geneva, increased his influence.
The infant Church of Geneva had the usual trouble with the Anabaptists.
Two of their preachers came from Holland and gained some influence. But
after an unfruitful disputation they were banished by the large Council from
the territory of the city as early as March, 1537. f472
A more serious trouble was created by Peter Caroli, a doctor of the
Sorbonne, an unprincipled, vain, and quarrelsome theological adventurer
and turncoat, who changed his religion several times, led a disorderly life,
and was ultimately reconciled to the pope and released from his concubine,
as he called his wife. He had fled from Paris to Geneva in 1535, became
pastor at Neuchâtel, where he married, and then at Lausanne. He raised the
charge of Arianism against Farel and Calvin at a synod in Lausanne, May,
1537, f473 because they avoided in the Confession the metaphysical terms
Trinity and Person, (though Calvin did use them in his Institutio and his
Catechism,) and because they refused, at Caroli’s dictation, to sign the
Athanasian Creed with its damnatory clauses, which are unjust and
uncharitable. Calvin was incensed at his arrogant and boisterous conduct
and charged him with atheism. “Caroli,” he said, “quarrels with us about
the nature of God and the distinction of the persons; but I carry the matter
further and ask him, whether he believes in the Deity at all? For I protest
before God and man that he has no more faith in the Divine Word than a
dog or a pig that tramples under foot holy things” (Matt. 7:6). This is the
first manifestation of his angry temper and of that contemptuous tone
which characterizes his polemical writings. He handed in with his
colleagues a confession on the Trinity. f474 The synod after due
consideration was satisfied with their orthodoxy, and declared Caroli
convicted of calumny and unworthy of the ministry. He died in a hospital at
Rome. f475
§ 83. THE REFORMERS INTRODUCE ORDER AND DISCIPLINE.
Confession de la Foy laquelle tous les bourgeois et habitans de
Genève et subjectz du pays doyvent jurer de garder et tenir; extraicte
de l’instruction dont on use en l’église de la dicte ville, 1537.
Confessio Fidei in quam jurare cives omnes Genevenses et qui sub
civitatis ejus ditione agunt, jussi sunt. The French in Opera, vol. IX.