Tracts & Letters (Vol 6) - Calvin - III - Letters CCCLXX to CCCLXXXII

Required reading
Tracts and Letters (Volume 6) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Letters CCCLXX to CCCLXXXII.

My summary
Today we read letters from 1554 and 1555 addressed to the Pastors of Zurich, Lord John Grey, Bullinger, Peter Martyr, the King of Poland, Wolf, Madame Agnes De Microw, the ministers of Strasbourg, the English at Frankfort and Charles Dumoulin.

The content of today's letters included:
(i) the Consensus with Zurich;
(ii) the Reformation in Poland;
(iii) Calvin's tract against Westphal;
(iv) the Sacraments;
(v) the Reformation in England.

What grabbed me
It was interesting to read Calvin's regret about the manner in which he published his tract against Westphal: 'The refutation of Westphal is now printed, and will speedily make its appearance. Our friend Lismannini will shew you the preface to it. Because I saw that his great object was to gain over to his side a vast number of persons, and engage them in his controversy with us, I thought it right to anticipate and defeat this malice. It is for that reason that I have been careful to offend as few persons as possible. From a perusal of my book it will clearly appear, how much pains I have bestowed in turning away the ill will, and even in softening the indignation of those that are not yet to be despaired of. I find now that I had handled the fellow a little more roughly than I imagined, but as certain of my brethren declare, that they do not think my treatment of him unduly severe, I have had no great difficulty in letting them persuade me. If time had permitted, I could have wished you had read over the little book before it came out, for by your suggestions I should perhaps have made some changes ; but so great was the haste, that I merely dictated what another read over and then hurried it off to the press. I hope, nevertheless, it will contain nothing that will greatly displease you.'

Two mistakes that we can learn from Calvin here. 

Don't rush something off to the press unless
(i) you have proof read it yourself;
(ii) someone you trust has proof read it too.

Next week's reading
Read Letters CCCLXXXIII to CCCXCIV.

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