But of all these evangelical christians of Paris no one had more zeal than De la Forge. 'He never spared his goods for the poor,' says the chronicler.[158] He had the Bible printed at his own expense, and along with the alms which he distributed he would always add a kind word, and often a Gospel or some other pious book.
=A CHARACTERISTIC OF CALVIN.=
Calvin was not however equally pleased with everything in Paris. He willingly recognised the beauty of the city, but was terrified at seeing fearful abysses and (as he called them) 'the depths of hell' side by side with its magnificent palaces. He felt 'extreme sadness' at the sight. An immense movement was then being accomplished all over the world. As the sun of spring brings up the seed sown in the earth—the tares as well as the good seed—the sun of liberty that was beginning to shine quickened not only the germs of truth, but sometimes also those of error. Calvin's soul was deeply grieved at this; but he did not stand still. He had received from God the call to oppose all false doctrines, and was preparing to do so. This is one of the main features of his character. To the very last he combated the pride of those who wish to know everything; the rage for subtleties, mystical pretensions, immorality, unitarian doctrines, the deism which denies the supernatural, and the pantheistic and atheistic theories. In Paris he met with all these aberrations. His principal means of combating error was to put forward the truth; yet he thought it useful sometimes to have conversations and even conferences with his adversaries, of which we shall see some examples.
[140] 'Melioris theologiæ professor eximius.'—Strasburg MS. (June 20, 1534).
[141] 'Etiam rex ipse, cujus animus erga meliores litteras in dies magis ac magis augetur.'—Ibid.
[142] 'Pulchre inclinabat regnum Papæ in Gallia. Ad Christum multi adspirabant.'—Ibid.
[143] 'S'y était fait place déjà fort large, jusqu'à presque se dire maitresse, mêmement de Paris.'—Fontaine, Hist. cath. de notre Temps, (Paris) p. 188.
[144] 'Magnum vitæ periculum.'—Beza, Vita Calvini.
[145] See Vol. II. of this History, bk. ii. chap. xxxii.
[146] Crespin, Martyrol. fol. 107 verso.