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

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colleagues, especially with Deacon Klebitz, who was a Melanchthonian,
but no less violent and pugnacious. He even tried to wrest the eucharistic
cup from him at the altar. He excommunicated him because he would not
admit the in and sub, but only the cum (pane et vino), in the scholastic
formula of the Lutheran doctrine of the real presence. Elector Frederick
Ill., called the Pious, restored peace by dismissing both Heshusius and
Klebitz (Sept. 16, 1559), with the approval of Melanchthon. He afterwards
ordered the preparation of the Heidelberg Catechism, and introduced the
Reformed Church into the Palatinate, 1563. f975
On the other hand, the Lutheran clergy of Würtemberg, under the lead of
Brenz, in a synod at Stuttgart, gave the doctrine of the ubiquity of Christ’s
body, which Luther had taught, but which Melanchthon had rejected,
symbolical authority for Würtemberg (Dec. 19, 1559). f976
Calvin received the book of Heshusius from Bullinger, who advised him to
answer the arguments, but to avoid personalities. f977 He hesitated for a
while, and wrote to Olevianus (November, 1660): “The loquacity of that
brawler is too absurd to excite my anger, and I have not yet decided
whether I shall answer him, I am weary of so many pamphlets, and shall
certainly not think his follies worthy of many days’ labor. But I have
composed a brief analysis of this controversy, which will, perhaps, be
shortly published.” It was one of his last controversial pamphlets and
appeared in 1561.
In the beginning of his response he made that most touching allusion to his
departed friend Melanchthon, which we have noticed in another
connection. f978 What a contrast between this noble tribute of unbroken
friendship and the mean ingratitude of Heshusius, who most violently
attacked Melanchthon’s memory immediately after his death. f979
Calvin reiterates and vindicates the several points brought out in the
controversy with Westphal, and refutes the arguments of Heshusius from
the Scripture and the Fathers with his wonted intellectual vigor and
learning, seasoned with pepper and salt. He compares him to an ape
clothed in purple, and to an ass in a lion’s skin. The following are the chief
passages: —
“Heshusius bewails the vast barbarism which appears to be
impending, as if any greater or worse barbarism were to be feared
than that from him and his fellows. To go no further for proof, let