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

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4. Pierre Vandel was a handsome, brilliant, and frivolous cavalier, and
loved to exhibit himself with a retinue of valets and courtesans, with rings
on his fingers and golden chains on his breast. He had been active in the
expulsion of Calvin, and opposed him after his recall. He was imprisoned
for his debaucheries and insolent conduct before the Consistory. He was
Syndic in 1548. He took a leading part in the conspiracy of Perrin and
shared his condemnation and exile. f767
5. Philibert Berthelier (or Bertelier, Bertellier), an unworthy son of the
distinguished patriot who, in 1519, had been beheaded for his part in the
war of independence, belonged to the most malignant enemies of Calvin.
He had gone to Noyon, if we are to believe the assertion of Bolsec, to
bring back scandalous reports concerning the early life of the Reformer,
which the same Bolsec published thirteen years after Calvin’s death, but
without any evidence. f768 If the Libertines had been in possession of such
information, they would have made use of it. Berthelier is characterized by
Beza as “a man of the most consummate impudence” and “guilty of many
iniquities.” He was excommunicated by the Consistory in 1551 for abusing
Calvin, for not going to church, and other offences, and for refusing to
make any apology. Calvin was absent during these sessions, owing to
sickness. Berthelier appealed to the Council, of which he was the secretary.
The Council at first confirmed the decision of the Consistory, but
afterwards released him, during the syndicate of Perrin and the trial of
Servetus, and gave him letters of absolution signed with the seal of the
Republic (1553). f769
Calvin was thus brought into direct conflict with the Council, and forced to
the alternative of submission or disobedience; in the latter case he ran the
risk of a second and final expulsion. But he was not the man to yield in
such a crisis. He resolved to oppose to the Council his inflexible non
possumus.
On the Sunday which followed the absolution of Berthelier, the September
communion was to be celebrated. Calvin preached as usual in St. Peter’s,
and declared at the close of the sermon that he would never profane the
sacrament by administering it to an excommunicated person. Then raising
his voice and lifting up his hands, he exclaimed in the words of St.
Chrysostom: “I will lay down my life ere these hands shall reach forth the
sacred things of God to those who have been branded as his despisers.”