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

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As to Calvin, it is quite probable that his body, broken by so many diseases,
soon showed signs of decay, which put a stop to the reception of strangers,
and may have given rise to some “calumnies,” of which Beza vaguely
speaks. But it was not till fifteen years after his death, that Bolsec, the
Apostate monk, fastened upon Calvin’s youth an odious vice (see above, p.
302), and spread the report that he died of a terrible malady,—that of being
eaten by worms,—with which the just judgment of God destroys His
enemies. He adds that Calvin even invoked the devils and cursed his studies
and writings. (“Il mourut invoquant les diables … . Même il maudissait
l’heure qu’il avait jamais étudié et écrit.”) But he gives no authority,
living or dead.
Audin (Life of Calvin, p. 632, Engl. transl.) repeats this infamous
fabrication with some variations and dramatic embellishments, on the
alleged testimony of an unknown student, who, as he says, sneaked into the
death-chamber, lifted the black cloth from the face of Calvin and reported:
“Calvinus in desperatione furiens vitam obiit turpissimo et faedissimo
morbo quem Deus rebellibus et maledictis comminatus est, prius
excruciatus et consumptus, quod ego verissime attestari audeo, qui
funestum et tragicum illius exitum et exitium his meis oculis praesens
aspexi. Joann. Harennius, apud Pet. Cutzenum!”
We regret to say that a Roman Catholic archbishop, Dr. Spalding, whose
work on the Reformation gives no evidence of any acquaintance with the
writings of Calvin or Beza, retails the slanders of Bolsec and Audin, and
informs American readers that Calvin was “a very Nero” and “a monster of
impurity and iniquity!” (See above, § 110, p. 520.)
Calvin’s whole life and writings, his testament, and dying words to the
senators and ministers of Geneva, and the minute account of his death by
his friend Beza, who was with him till his last moments, ought to be
sufficient to convince even the most incredulous who is not incurably
blinded by bigotry.
§ 165. CALVIN’S LAST WILL, AND FAREWELLS.
CALVIN’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, APRIL 25, 1564.
In BEZA’S Vita Calv., French and Latin; in Opera, XX. 298 and
XXI. 162. Henry gives the French text, III., Beilage, 171 sqq. The
English translation is by Henry Beveridge, Edinburgh, 1844.