Tracts & Letters (Vol 4) - Calvin - XI - Letters CVIII to CXXI

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 4) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Letters CVIII to CXXI.

My summary
Today we read letters from 1543 and 1544 addressed to the Ambassadors of Geneva, the Seigneury of Geneva, Monsieur and Madame de Falais, Viret, Bullinger, the Ministers of Neuchatel, Farel and Oswald Myconius.

The content of today's letters included:
(i) the failure of reform in Metz;
(ii) the Castalio controversy;
(iii) conclusion of a property dispute between Geneva and Berne;
(iv) debate with a minister about the divinity of Christ;
(v) Reformation in France and Germany;
(vi) recommendation of a minister to Monsieur de Falais;
(vii) strife between German and Swiss churches over the Lord's Supper.

What grabbed me
It wasn't pleasant to read of trouble at Geneva between pastors: 'For the second time, I now begin to learn what it is to dwell at Geneva. I am, indeed, beset with thousand briers. These two months bypast we have had serious wranglings among my colleagues, and they have even gone so far, that out of four it is quite evident that two have perjured themselves. Of which crime, if they who were accused had been given up to justice, a crying scandal would have arisen. The cases, indeed, were diverse, also happened at different times, so that the one party threw back the accusation upon the other. When the truth could not be got at, either by oral testimony or by home arguments, I was obliged to commend the cases to the special judgment of God, and having done so, have settled the dispute on both sides. For what else could I have done? Had both of them been cast out, the innocent party must have suffered wrongfully, and the example instead of doing good would be of evil consequence, I was besides afraid lest, should the affair come to be generally talked about, it might be said they were cast out upon an uncertainty.'

Pastors quarreling with pastors is a horrible triumph for Satan.

Next week's reading
Read Letters CXXII to CXXX.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.