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

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While at Lausanne, Beza was taken sick with the plague. Calvin in writing
of this to Farel, under date of June 15, 1551, thus pays his tribute to the
character of Beza: “I would not be a man if I did not return his love who
loves me more than a brother and reveres me as a father: but I am still
more concerned at the loss the church would suffer if in the midst of his
career he should be suddenly removed by death, for I saw in him a man
whose lovely spirit, noble, pure manners, and open-mindedness endeared
him to all the righteous. I hope, however, that he will be given back to us
in answer to our prayers.”
Lausanne was then governed by Bern. It was therefore particularly
interested in Bern’s alliance with Geneva, and when this was renewed in
1557, after it had been suffered to lapse a year, Beza considered it very
providential. In the spring of that year, 1557, persecution broke out against
the neighboring Waldenses, and on nomination of the German clergy and
with special permission of Bern, Beza, and Farel began a series of visits
through Switzerland and upon the Protestant princes of Germany in the
interest of the persecuted. The desire was to stir up the Protestants to unite
in an appeal to the king of France. Beza was then thirty-eight years old and
had been for eight years a successful teacher and preacher. He was
therefore of mature years and established reputation. But what rendered
the choice of him still more an ideal one was his aristocratic bearing and his
familiarity with court life. He accepted his appointment with alacrity, as a
man enters upon a course particularly suited to him. Thus Beza started out
upon the first of the many journeys which furnished such unique and
invaluable services to the cause of French Protestantism.
The two delegates made a favorable impression everywhere. The Lutherans
especially were pleased with them, although at first inclined to look
askance upon two such avowed admirers and followers of Calvin. But
when they had returned full of rejoicing that they had accomplished their
design and that the Protestant princes and cantons would unite in
petitioning the French king on behalf of the persecuted Waldenses, albeit to
small effect, alas! they were called to sharp account because at Göppingen
on May 14, 1557, they had defined their doctrine of the Eucharist in terms
which emphasized the points of agreement and passed by those of
disagreement. f1284 This was in the interest of peace. They rightly felt that it
would be shameful to shipwreck their Christian attempt upon the shoals of
barren controversy. But the odium theologicum compelled their home
friends to charge them with disloyalty to the truth! Calvin, however, raised