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

661
CALVIN’S FAREWELL TO THE MINISTERS OF GENEVA,
APRIL 28, 1564.
From BEZA’S Vita Calvini. The Latin text in Opera, XXI. 166 sq.
Translation by Henry Beveridge for “The Calvin Translation
Society,” Edinburgh, 1844 (I. xciii), from the Latin text. There is
another report, in French, by minister Jean Pinaut, dated May 1,
which is fuller as regards Calvin’s persecutions, and the confession
of his infirmities, which always displeased him and for which he
asks forgiveness. It also makes grateful mention of Farel, Viret, and
Beza, and an unpleasant allusion to Bern, which always more
feared than loved Calvin. It is printed in Opera, vol. IX. 891, 892,
and in the Letters of John Calvin by JULES BONNET, transl. by
Gilchrist, vol. IV. 372–377.
“On the 28th of April, when all of us in the ministry of Geneva had gone to
him at his request, he said:—
“ ‘Brethren, after I am dead, persist in this work, and be not
dispirited; for the Lord will save this Republic and Church from the
threats of the enemy. Let dissension be far away from you, and
embrace each other with mutual love. Think again and again what
you owe to this Church in which the Lord hath placed you, and let
nothing induce you to quit it. It will, indeed, be easy for some who
are weary of it to slink away, but they will find, to their experience,
that the Lord cannot be deceived. When I first came to this city, the
gospel was, indeed, preached, but matters were in the greatest
confusion, as if Christianity had consisted in nothing else than the
throwing down of images; and there were not a few wicked men
from whom I suffered the greatest indignities; but the Lord our
God so confirmed me, who am by no means naturally bold (I say
what is true), that I succumbed to none of their attempts. I
afterwards returned thither from Strassburg in obedience to my
calling, but with an unwilling mind, because I thought I should
prove unfruitful. For not knowing what the Lord had determined, I
saw nothing before me but numbers of the greatest difficulties. But
proceeding in this work, I at length perceived that the Lord had
truly blessed my labors. Do you also persist in this vocation, and
maintain the established order; at the same time, make it your
endeavor to keep the people in obedience to the doctrine; for there