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

489
The reply of Calvin to Pighius is more cautious and guarded than Luther’s
reply to Erasmus, and more churchly than Zwingli’s tract on Providence. In
defending himself, he defended what was then the common Protestant
doctrine, in opposition to the then prevailing Pelagianism in the Roman
Church. It had a good effect upon the Council of Trent, which distinctly
disowned the Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian heresy. f877
Calvin dedicated his book to Melanchthon, as a friend who had agreed with
him and had advised him to write against Pighius, if he should attack the
Reformation. But Melanchthon, who had taught the same doctrine, was at
that time undergoing a change in his views on the freedom of the will,
chiefly because he felt that the denial of it would make God the author of
sin, and destroy man’s moral accountability. f878 He was as competent to
appreciate the logical argument in favor of necessity, but he was more open
to the force of ethical and practical considerations. In his reply to Calvin’s
dedication, May 11, 1543, he acknowledged the compliment paid to him,
but modestly and delicately intimated his dissent and his desire that
Protestants should unite in the defence of those more important doctrines,
which commended themselves by their simplicity and practical usefulness.
“I wish,” he says, “you would transfer your eloquence to the adorning of
these momentous subjects, by which our friends would be strengthened,
our enemies terrified, and the weak encouraged; for who in these days
possesses a more forcible or splendid style of disputation? ... I do not
write this letter to dictate to you who are so learned a man, and so well
versed in all the exercises of piety. I am persuaded, indeed, that it agrees
with your sentiments, though less subtle and more adapted for use.” f879
Calvin intended to answer the second part of the work of Pighius, but as he
learned that he had died shortly before, he did not wish “to insult a dead
dog” (!), and applied himself “to other pursuits.” f880 But nine years
afterwards he virtually answered it in the Consensus Genevensis (1552),
which may be considered as the second part of his refutation of Pighius,
although it was occasioned by the controversy with Bolsec.
§ 120. THE ANTI-PAPAL WRITINGS. CRITICISM OF THE
COUNCIL OF TRENT. 1547.
I. Most of Calvin’s anti-papal writings are printed in Opera, Tom. VI.
(in the Amsterdam ed., Tom. IX. 37–90; 99–335 and 409–485.) An
English translation in vols. I. and III. of Tracts relating the