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

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They received the news with great composure. “Very well,” said Calvin, “it
is better to serve God than man. If we had sought to please men, we should
have been badly rewarded, but we serve a higher Master, who will not
withhold from us his reward.” f492 Calvin even rejoiced at the result more
than seemed proper.
The people celebrated the downfall of the clerical régime with public
rejoicings. The decrees of the synod of Lausanne were published by sound
of trumpets. The baptismal fonts were re-erected, and the communion
administered on the following Sunday with unleavened bread.
The deposed ministers went to Bern, but found little sympathy. They
proceeded to Zürich, where a general synod was held, and were kindly
received. They admitted that they had been too rigid, and consented to the
restoration of the baptismal fonts, the unleavened bread (provided the
bread was broken), and the four Church festivals observed in Bern; but
they insisted on the introduction of discipline, the division of the Church
into parishes, the more frequent administration of the communion, the
singing of Psalms in public worship, and the exercise of discipline by joint
committees of laymen and ministers. f493
Bullinger undertook to advocate this compromise before Bern and Geneva.
But the Genevese confirmed in general assembly the sentence of
banishment, May 26.
With gloomy prospects for the future, yet trusting in God, who orders all
things well, the exiled ministers travelled on horseback in stormy weather
to Basel. In crossing a torrent swollen by the rains they were nearly swept
away. In Basel they were warmly received by sympathizing friends,
especially by Grynaeus. Here they determined to wait for the call of
Providence. Farel, after a few weeks, in July, received and accepted a call
to Neuchâtel, his former seat of labor, on condition that he should have
freedom to introduce his system of discipline. Calvin was induced, two
months later, to leave Basel for Strassburg.
It was during this crisis that Calvin’s friend and travelling companion,
Louis du Tillet, who seems to have been of a mild and peaceable
disposition, lost faith in the success of the Reformation. He left Geneva in
August, 1537, for Strassburg and Paris, and returned to the Roman
Church. He had relations in high standing who influenced him. His brother,
Jean du Tillet, was the famous registrar of the Parliament of Paris; another