CALVIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 31

CALVIN.

To nnderstand what Calvin did, we have but to compare Protestantism as it was in 1536, when his work begins, with what it was in 1564, the year of his death. In the former it seemed everywhere confronted with dangers insurmountable ; in Germany threatened by the jealousies, hesitancies, petty passions, ulterior and meaner ambitions of the princes, threatened by the astute policy and unbroken strength of Charlea V, who was but waiting his opportunity to strike; divided in Switzerland by cantonal factions and racial aversions ; without any foothold in France or the Netherlands; lying under the heavy hand of Henry VIII in England, whose action grew the more mischievous the more anti-papal it became; with so few adherents in Scotland that they could be counted on the fingers. In the latter year the influence of Geneva had penetrated Germany, and, even where provoking resistance, had quickened the whole body Protestant; had converted almost the half of France, and enlisted her noblest sons in the army of reform, with the royal Conde and the gallant Coligny at their head; had gone like irondrops into the blood of the Netherland Churches, and made the heroes and broke the mighty power of Spain ; it had reached England, created the Puritan spirit, the faith that was to determine her political constitution, condition her religious development, and create her most fruitful and characteristic colony; had sent Knox into Scotland with a theology that was to nurse a brawny race, civilise a people, and with a polity that was to effect the completest and happiest revolution any nation ever experienced. Without Calvin and Geneva, these things would not have been; and without these things Europe and America would not have been as they are to-day—not so good, so well ordered, or so free.—" Contemporary Review."