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

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admirable frankness, moderation, wisdom, and patience. The result was the
“Consensus Tigurinus,” in which Calvin states his doctrine as nearly as
possible in agreement with Zwingli. This document was published in 1551,
and adopted by all the Reformed Cantons, except Bern, which cherished a
strong dislike to Calvin’s rigorism. It was also favorably received in
France, England, and in parts of Germany. Melanchthon declared to
Lavater (Bullinger’s son-in-law) that he then for the first time understood
the Swiss, and would never again oppose them; but he struck out the
clause of the “Consensus” which confined the efficacy of the sacrament to
the elect.
But while the “Consensus” brought peace to the Swiss Churches, and
satisfied the Melanchthonians, it was assailed by Westphal and Hesshus,
who out-luthered Luther in zeal and violence, and disturbed the last years
of Melanchthon and Calvin. We shall discuss this controversy in the next
chapter.
The Calvinistic theory of the Eucharist passed into all the Reformed
Confessions, and is very strongly stated in the Heidelberg Catechism
(1563), the chief symbol of the German and Dutch Reformed Churches. f871
In practice, however, it has, among Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and
Baptists, largely given way to the Zwinglian view, which is more plain and
intelligible, but ignores the mystical element in the holy communion.