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look for salvation solely from the free grace of God。〃
〃I will have none of your new doctrines；〃 exclaimed Calvin； 〃think you that
I have lived in error all my days？〃 Wylie； b。 13； ch。 7。
But thoughts had been awakened in his mind which he could not banish at
will。 Alone in his chamber he pondered upon his cousin's words。 Conviction
of sin fastened upon him； he saw himself； without an intercessor； in the
presence of a holy and just Judge。 The mediation of saints； good works； the
ceremonies of the church； all were powerless to atone for sin。 He could see
before him nothing but the blackness of eternal despair。 In vain the doctors
of the church endeavored to relieve his woe。 Confession； penance； were
resorted to in vain； they could not reconcile the soul with God。
While still engaged in these fruitless struggles； Calvin； chancing one day
to visit one of the public squares； witnessed there the burning of a
heretic。 He was filled with wonder at the expression of peace which rested
upon the martyr's countenance。 Amid the tortures of that dreadful death； and
under the more terrible condemnation of the church； he
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manifested a faith and courage which the young student painfully contrasted
with his own despair and darkness； while living in strictest obedience to
the church。 Upon the Bible； he knew； the heretics rested their faith。 He
determined to study it； and discover； if he could； the secret of their joy。
In the Bible he found Christ。 〃O Father；〃 he cried； 〃His sacrifice has
appeased Thy wrath； His blood has washed away my impurities； His cross has
borne my curse； His death has atoned for me。 We had devised for ourselves
many useless follies； but Thou hast placed Thy word before me like a torch；
and Thou hast touched my heart； in order that I may hold in abomination all
other merits save those of Jesus。〃 Martyn； vol。 3； ch。 13。
Calvin had been educated for the priesthood。 When only twelve years of age
he had been appointed to the chaplaincy of a small church； and his head had
been shorn by the bishop in accordance with the canon of the church。 He did
not receive consecration； nor did he fulfill the duties of a priest； but he
became a member of the clergy； holding the title of his office； and
receiving an allowance in consideration thereof。
Now； feeling that he could never become a priest； he turned for a time to
the study of law； but finally abandoned this purpose and determined to
devote his life to the gospel。 But he hesitated to become a public teacher。
He was naturally timid； and was burdened with a sense of the weighty
responsibility of the position； and he desired still to devote himself to
study。 The earnest entreaties of his friends； however； at last won his
consent。 〃Wonderful it is；〃 he said； 〃that one of so lowly an origin should
be exalted to so great a dignity。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 9。
Quietly did Calvin enter upon his work； and his words were as the dew
falling to refresh the earth。 He had left Paris； and was now in a provincial
town under the protection of the princess Margaret； who； loving the gospel；
extended her protection to its disciples。 Calvin was still a youth； of
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gentle； unpretentious bearing。 His work began with the people at their
homes。 Surrounded by the members of the household； he read the Bible and
opened the truths of salvation。 Those who heard the message carried the good
news to others； and soon the teacher passed beyond the city to the outlying
towns and hamlets。 To both the castle and the cabin he found entrance； and
he went forward； laying the foundation of churches that were to yield
fearless witnesses for the truth。
A few months and he was again in Paris。 There was unwonted agitation in the
circle of learned men and scholars。 The study of the ancient languages had
led men to the Bible； and many whose hearts were untouched by its truths
were eagerly discussing them and even giving battle to the champions of
Romanism。 Calvin； though an able combatant in the fields of theological
controversy； had a higher mission to accomplish than that of these noisy
schoolmen。 The minds of men were stirred； and now was the time to open to
them the truth。 While the halls of the universities were filled with the
clamor of theological disputation； Calvin was making his way from house to
house； opening the Bible to the people； and speaking to them of Christ and
Him crucified。
In God's providence； Paris was to receive another invitation to accept the
gospel。 The call of Lefevre and Farel had been rejected； but again the
message was to be heard by all classes in that great capital。 The king；
influenced by political considerations； had not yet fully sided with Rome
against the Reformation。 Margaret still clung to the hope that Protestantism
was to triumph in France。 She resolved that the reformed faith should be
preached in Paris。 During the absence of the king； she ordered a Protestant
minister to preach in the churches of the city。 This being forbidden by the
papal dignitaries； the princess threw open the palace。 An apartment was
fitted up as a chapel； and it was announced that every day； at a specified
hour； a sermon would be preached； and the people of every rank and station
were invited to attend。
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Crowds flocked to the service。 Not only the chapel； but the antechambers and
halls were thronged。 Thousands every day assemblednobles； statesmen；
lawyers； merchants； and artisans。 The king； instead of forbidding the
assemblies； ordered that two of the churches of Paris should be opened。
Never before had the city been so moved by the word of God。 The spirit of
life from heaven seemed to be breathed upon the people。 Temperance； purity；
order； and industry were taking the place of drunkenness； licentiousness；
strife； and idleness。
But the hierarchy were not idle。 The king still refused to interfere to stop
the preaching； and they turned to the populace。 No means were spared to
excite the fears； the prejudices； and the fanaticism of the ignorant and
superstitious multitude。 Yielding blindly to her false teachers； Paris； like
Jerusalem of old； knew not the time of her visitation nor the things which
belonged unto her peace。 For two years the word of God was preached in the
capital； but； while there were many who accepted the gospel； the majority of
the people rejected it。 Francis had made a show of toleration； merely to
serve his own purposes； and the papists succeeded in regaining the
ascendancy。 Again the churches were closed； and the stake was set up。
Calvin was still in Paris； preparing himself by study； meditation； and
prayer for his future labors； and continuing to spread the light。 At last；
however； suspicion fastened upon him。 The authorities determined to bring
him to the flames。 Regarding himself as secure in his seclusion； he had no
thought of danger； when friends came hurrying to his room with the news that
officers were on their way to arrest him。 At that instant a loud knocking
was heard at the outer entrance。 There was not a moment to be lost。 Some of
his friends detained the officers at the door； while others assisted the
Reformer to let himself down from a window； and he rapidly made his way to
the outskirts of the city。 Finding shelter in the cottage of a laborer who
was a friend to the reform； he disguised himself in the garments of his
host； and；
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shouldering a hoe； started on his journey。 Traveling southward； he again
found refuge in the dominions of Margaret。 （See D'Aubigne； History of the
Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin； b。 2； ch。 30。）
Here for a few months he remained； safe under the protection of powerful
friends； and engaged as before in study。 But his heart was set upon the
evangelization of France； and he could not long remain inactive。 As soon as
the storm had somewhat abated； he sought a new field of labor in Poitiers；
where was a university； and where already the new opinions had found favor。
Persons of all classes gladly listened to the gospel。 There was no public
preaching； but in the hom