Isaiah, in such a manner as to render it a new work. The Catholics at this time had obtained an entire influence over Henry II, and abused his compliance by exciting a persecution against the Protestants. With this view, they induced that prince to publish several severe edicts against them, and to imprison some of the counsellors of the parliament of Paris, who were suspected of favouring their cause; and inspired him with the design of destroying the New Sect-a name by which they were then called. But while the church was overwhelmed with consternation, Henry II was mortally wounded at a tournament, by one of his captains of the guards, who, by his orders, had a few days before arrested the counsellors: this event changing the face of affairs, the reformed were delivered from a danger which appeared inevitable. After the death of Henry II, Calvin was accused of having raised a conspiracy against Francis II, although he had disapproved of the enterprise, and employed his efforts to subdue it. After the death of Francis II, Charles IX wrote to the Council of Geneva in 1561, to complain of their receiving into the town the enemies of France, and fostering those public disturbers. Calvin was accordingly summoned, with his colleagues, before the Council; and admitted that the pastors had sent into France several pious men, to regulate the churches there, which they had been solicited to do; but that they were too deeply occupied about the advancement of religion to be employed in sowing troubles in the kingdom; and that he was ready, with his colleagues, to answer their accusers before the king. Charles acknowledged apparently the innocence of Calvin and his colleagues, for nothing farther was heard upon the subject. Soon afterwards, Calvin published a work show ing the errours with which the work of Gentilis, against the Creed of Athanasius, was filled. He also published at this time his work on Daniel, which he dedicated to the churches of France. The disputes in which Calvin was interested were not yet finished in 1561, a fresh discussion arose between him and Baldwin, who had published, during the conference of Poissy, a book of Cassander's: to this work Calvin replied; a controversy ensued, in the course of which a warmth of temper was betrayed on both sides, which reflected no honour on the disputants; but which is far from being singular in theological controversies. The disorders of Calvin were visibly increasing, and it was evident that he was making rapid advances toward another world. His afflictions, however weighty, never dejected him. His usual duties of visiting the sick and afflicted, of preaching and giving theological lectures, were punctually discharged and knowing that the churches of France were not only openly attacked, but secretly defamed to the German princes, he drew up their confession of faith, which was presented to the Diet of Frankfort. Calvin's disorders were still growing worse, which rendered his exertions at this period almost incredible; for notwithstanding his reduced state, he could not be induced to remit, in the slighest degree, his ordinary occupations. Amongst his numerous avocations at this time, were the exhortations which he gave on the subject of the Holy Trinity; his answers to the deputies of the Synod of Lyons; the Commentaries which he composed in French and in Latin, upon the Books of Moses; as well as his Commentary upon the Book of Joshua, which he began this year, and finished a little before his death. The year 1564, occasioned a deep and lasting grief to Geneva. On the second of February he delivered his last sermon, and on the same day, his last theological lecture. His asthma deprived him of the use of his voice, and he abstained from all the functions of his charge. He was sometimes carried to the congregation, but seldom spoke. In a letter which he wrote to the physicians, he gave an account of the maladies which his various labours of body and mind had brought upon him. For, besides being of a dry and feeble temperament, and strongly inclined to consumption, he slept very unsoundly. During ten years, at least, he ate no dinner, taking no nourishment until supper-time. He was subject to a head-ache, the only remedy for which was fasting; on account of which he sometimes remained thirty-six hours without eating. He was also frequently attacked by the hemorrhoids, which were brought on partly by his efforts in preaching, and partly by the excessive use of aloes: and five years before his death he was seized with a spitting of blood. After Calvin was cured of the quartan ague, he was attacked by the gout: he was afterwards afflicted with the colick, and a few months before his death, with the stone. The physicians exhausted their art upon him, and no man ever observed their instructions with more regularity. But as to what relates to the labours of the mind, he had so little respect to his health, that the most violent headaches never prevented his appearance in the pulpit in his turn. Afflicted as he was by so many maladies, he was never known to pronounce a word unworthy of a christian, or of a man of constancy and courage. In his greatest agonies, lifting his eyes to heaven, he was accustomed to repeat the words, "How long, O Lord!" When in health, he frequently made use of these words, with reference to the calamities of his brethren in Jesus Christ, whose afflictions were much more painful to him than his own. Calvin having been informed by a letter from Farel, that, though he was eighty-four years of age, and loaded with infirmities, he had resolved to visit him; replied, "I wish you perfect health, my very dear brother; and since God intends you should remain in this world after me, remember ever our union, which hath produced so many advantages to the church, and the fruit of which we shall gather in heaven. I beg, however, that you would not on my account expose yourself to the fatigue of a journey. My respiration is difficult, and I am about to breathe the last gasp, happy to live and die in Jesus Christ, who is gain to all his children in life and in death; I bid you, and all my brethren, my last adieu." On the day of his death, which was the 24th of May, he appeared to speak with less difficulty, and more strength. But it was the last effort of nature. About eight o'clock in the evening, the signs of death appeared suddenly in his face; he continued speaking, however, with great propriety, until his last breath, when he appeared rather to fall asleep than die. On the day following, the whole city was plunged into the most inconceivable grief; for the republick regretted the wisest of its citizens; the church its faithful pastor, and the school its incomparable master. Many ran in crowds to his room, and could scarcely be persuaded to separate themselves from his body. Calvin, after having been concerned in the establishment of many churches in France, Germany, England, and Poland, and having committed his flock, as well as pupils, to his friend and disciple Theodore Beza, closed his indefatigable career; and left behind him in the city which had been the principal theatre of his exertions, a reputation for piety, learning, and wisdom, which has fallen to the lot of scarcely any among his fellow-labourers. On Sunday, the day after his death, about eight o'clock in the morning, his body was covered and enclosed in a wooden coffin; and at two o'clock in the afternoon he was conveyed, without any pomp, to the common burying place, called Plein Palais. The ministers, professors, and almost all the inhabitants of the town, attended at the funeral ceremony with expressions of the deepest grief. No inscription was put upon his tomb, because he had expressly forbidden it; but the following elegant epigram was written by his friend Beza. Shall honour'd Calvin to the dust return, From whom e'en Virtue's self might virtue learn; So small a tomb, where not his name is seen? Sweet Modesty, who still by Calvin's side Walk'd while he liv'd, here laid him when he died. Calvin was fifty-four years old when he died, half of which time he spent in the labours of the ministry. He was of the middle size, a pale face, brown complexion, and brilliant eyes, which announced the penetration and vivacity of his mind. Neat and modest in his habits, as well as moderate in his eating, he had no less horrour of luxury than of impurity. He ate, indeed, so little, that during several years he partook of only one meal a day, on account of the weakness of his stomach. He slept but little. Being of a bilious habit, he was easily excited to choler, a susceptibility considerably increased by a studious and laborious life. Though Calvin was sufficiently attached to his own opinions, he respected those of others; and though fixed in his sentiments, he knew how to es |