RELATING TO THE REFORMATION. BY JOHN CALVIN. WITH HIS LIFE BY THEODORE BEZA. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, BY HENRY BEVERIDGE, ESQ. VOLUME FIRST. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR THE CALVIN TRANSLATION SOCIETY. M.DCCC.XLIV.` PREFACE. THE present Volume chiefly consists of Tracts, which, though unquestionably the production of CALVIN'S pen, and every way worthy of it, have hitherto been inaccessible to the English reader. They are somewhat miscellaneous in their nature, but, as bearing directly on the leading points at issue between Roman Catholics and Protestants, may be classed under the head of Tracts relating to the Reformation. The Tract first in order, viz., SADOLET'S LETTER TO THE GENEVESE, with CALVIN'S REPLY, derives great interest not only from the important points discussed in it, but also from the circumstances in which the discussion took place. Owing to the unchristian spirit which prevailed in Geneva, Calvin, with his colleagues, Corald and Farel, deemed themselves justified in resorting to the strong measure of declining to dispense the Communion. The popular resentment was roused, and bad men taking advantage of it, succeeded in obtaining a decree, by which those three Pastors were summarily banished from the city. It was hoped that the de cree, the effect apparently of momentary be rescinded, and other Churches with thi their mediation. But the decree, however resolutely enforced, and the Pastors were what must have been regarded as their fin The opportunity was too tempting for herself of it; and, accordingly, one of h taries, an accomplished scholar, and what times, a man of great public and private ward with an artful address, in which, un sions of attachment to his "very dear b nevese, and anxious desires to promote th secular and spiritual, he laboured to woo See of Rome. The person best able to answer the ignominiously exiled, and Sadolet naturall while the resentment of the people would able hearing to his representations, the res would not allow him to expose them. I which Beza gives, it would seem that the was correct. Not so the latter. The who vin's life shows that zeal for the interest o his ruling passion, and, therefore, when he which Sadolet's Letter threatened to pro forgot his own wrongs, and laboured as best interests of the Genevese as if he h charging the office of Pastor among them. The REPLY, besides containing a trium of the Reformed doctrine-a vindication s |