Letters of John Calvin, Volume I

Jean Calvin · c. 1540s–1564 (letters collected here; selection dating over Calvin’s lifetime; compiled in the 16th c. by Beza/Jonvillers) primary

passage 146 of 354 · LETTER PAGE > part, that you do charge and persuade him what he ought to do. I (6/14)

↪ you wandered here via “reconciliation through Christ” — the connecting lines are tinted below

in brief

Calvin closes by admitting he sought Caroli’s acknowledgment of sin for his good, not revenge, and he prays that Christ guide Caroli away from danger so that brotherly agreement can resume.

although I have in nowise had regard to that, but only that I might be of service to you, which I did not see how to accomplish unless I could bring you to the acknowledgment of your sin. Adieu, my very dear brother in the Lord, if you will only suffer me to love you and to esteem you as a brother. May Christ the Lord guide you by the Spirit of counsel and prudence, so that you may quickly extricate yourself from among those dangerous rocks upon which you have been driven, and steer you from among the breakers safely into port. Farel desires to salute you, and wishes that you may seriously turn to the Lord, and then you will be prepared to return to that friendship and brotherly agreement with us with which he himself is ready to embrace you.--Cordially your friend,

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topics: equity, mercy, and pardon · religious persecution and toleration

Letters of John Calvin, Volume I · Jean Calvin · 1540–1564