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

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<strong>the</strong>ir teacher. Calv<strong>in</strong> was averse <strong>to</strong> assume <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry. Not that he shrunk from<br />

ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> labors or <strong>the</strong> perils <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work, but<br />

because he cherished a deep sense <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> greatness<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> function, and <strong>of</strong> his own unworth<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>to</strong> fill<br />

it. "I have hardly learned <strong>the</strong> Gospel myself," he<br />

would say, "and, lo! I am called <strong>to</strong> teach it <strong>to</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs."<br />

Not for some time did Calv<strong>in</strong> comply with<br />

<strong>the</strong>se solicitations. His timidity, his sense <strong>of</strong><br />

responsibility, above all his love <strong>of</strong> study, held him<br />

back. He sought a hid<strong>in</strong>g-place where, safe from<br />

<strong>in</strong>trusion, he might cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>the</strong> pursuit <strong>of</strong> that<br />

wisdom which it delighted him with each studious<br />

day <strong>to</strong> ga<strong>the</strong>r and hive up, but his friends surprised<br />

him <strong>in</strong> his concealment, and renewed <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

entreaties. At last he consented. "Wonderful it is,"<br />

he said, "that one <strong>of</strong> so lowly an orig<strong>in</strong> should be<br />

exalted <strong>to</strong> so great a dignity."[2]<br />

But how unostentatious <strong>the</strong> open<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> his<br />

career! The harvests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth spr<strong>in</strong>g not <strong>in</strong><br />

deeper silence than does this great evangelical<br />

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