From Rise of Protestantism in France to Publication of the Institutes - James Aitken Wylie

now rose a temple of idols. How could he minister
at her altars? True, his head had been shorn, but he
had not yet received that indelible character which
is stamped on all who enter the priesthood, and so
it was not imperative that he should proceed farther
in that path. He resolved to devote himself to the
profession of law. This mode of retreat from the
clerical ranks would awaken no suspicion.
It is somewhat remarkable that his father had
come, at about the same time, to the same
resolution touching the future profession of his son,
and thus the young Calvin had his parent's full
consent to his new choice -- a coincidence which
Beza has pointed out as a somewhat striking one.
The path on which Gerard Chauvin saw his son
now entering was one in which many and brilliant
honors were to be won: and not one of those prizes
was there which the marvelous intellect and the
rare application of that son did not bid fair to gain.
Already Gerard in fancy saw him standing at the
foot of the throne, and guiding the destinies of
France. Has Calvin then bidden a final adieu to
theology, and are the courts of law and the offices
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