[JOHN CALVIN, the great Reformer, was born at Noyon in 1509. He was sent to study at Paris and there he first became interested in the doctrines of the Reformation. After studying law at Orleans and Bourges he returned to Paris, and soon became known as one who was determined to uphold the reformed faith. He was compelled to flee from Paris in 1533 and, after many wanderings, he found a protector in Margaret, Queen of Navarre. The next year, at Basle, he finished and published the "The Institutes of the Christian Religion," which was translated into many languages, and produced a very great impression. Calvin also published commentaries on the Bible, and sermons and tracts. He worked without ceasing as pastor, lecturer, author, and leader of others until his death at Geneva in 1564. John Knox was a friend of Calvin's, and introduced many of the Reformation doctrines into Scotland.]
ONE day, while the young scholar of the Montaigue was passing through deep soul trouble, he chanced to visit the Place de Greve, Paris, where he found a great crowd of priests, soldiers, and citizens gathered round a stake, at which a disciple of the new doctrines was calmly yielding up his life. He stood till the fire had done its work, and a stake, an iron collar and chain, and a heap of ashes were the only memorials of the tragedy he had witnessed. What he had seen awakened a train of thought within him. "These men," said he to himself, "have a peace which I do not possess. They endure the fire with a rare courage. I, too, could brave the fire; but were death to come to me, as it comes to them, with the sting of the Church's anathema in it, could I face that as calmly as they do? Why is it that they are so courageous in the midst of terrors that are as real as they are dreadful, while I am oppressed and tremble before apprehensions and forebodings? Yes, I will take my cousin Olivetan's advice, and search the Bible, if haply I may find that" new way" of which he speaks, and which these men who go so bravely through the fire seem to have found.”
He opened the Book. He began to read, but the first effect was a sharp terror. His sins had never appeared so great, nor himself so vile, as now. He would have shut the Book, but to what other quarter could he turn? On every side of him abysses seemed to be opening. So he continued to read, and by-and-bye he thought he could discern what appeared a Cross, and One hanging upon it, and His form was like the Son of God. He looked again, and the vision was clearer, for now he thought he could read the inscription over the head of the Sufferer: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." A ray now shone through his darkness; he thought he could see a way of escape-a shelter-where the black tempest that lowered over him could no longer beat upon his head. Already the great burden that pressed upon him was less heavy; it seemed as if about to fall off, and now it rolled down as he kept gazing at the "Crucified.”
“O Father," he burst out—it was no longer the Judge, the Avenger—"O Father, 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." Thus in the midst of the great billows Calvin planted his feet upon the Rock of Ages.