by REV. MELCHIOR KIRCHHOFER
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Formatting, modernization, and notes (in blue) by William H. Gross www.onthewing.org February 2013. British spellings retained; syntax occasionally revised.
Forerunner to the French Reformation
We who are familiar with the Calvin Reformation rightly honor John Calvin as the great Reformer of Geneva and the spiritual father of Calvinistic churches throughout the world. But it is not an exaggeration to say that Calvin's work would not have been possible without the intrepid labors of another Reformer, William Farel, who hacked away the undergrowth of Roman Catholic superstition and plowed the soil of Switzerland so that the seeds of Calvin could be sown and bear their fruit. Schaff writes of him:
Farel's work was destructive rather than constructive. He could pull down, but not build up. He was a conqueror, but not an organizer of his conquests; a man of action, not a man of letters; an intrepid preacher, not a theologian. He felt his defects, and handed his work over to the mighty genius of his young friend Calvin. In the spirit of genuine humility and self-denial, he was willing to decrease that Calvin might increase. This is the finest trait in his character. The character which God gave him, forceful and belligerent, admirably suited him for the work of the Reformation and the unique place in the Reformation which he occupied. The work was important, for without it other Reformers could not have accomplished what they did.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. FAREL’S BIRTH AND EDUCATION.
CHAPTER 2. FAREL AT PARIS AND MEAUX.
CHAPTER 3. FAREL AT BASLE.
CHAPTER 4. FAREL AND ERASMUS.
CHAPTER 5. FAREL’S RETURN TO MONTBELIARD.
CHAPTER 6. FAREL’S VISIT TO STRASBURG.
CHAPTER 7. FAREL’S JOURNEY TO BASLE, AND APPOINTMENT TO ÆLEN.
CHAPTER 8. THE DISPUTATION HELD AT BERNE, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN ÆLEN.
CHAPTER 9. FAREL’S EVANGELICAL MISSION.
CHAPTER 10. THE PROGRESS OF THE REFORMATION AT NEUFCHATEL.
CHAPTER 11. FAREL’S JOURNEYS AND SUFFERINGS IN BEHALF OF THE REFORMATION.
CHAPTER 12. FAREL’S PASTORAL LETTER JOURNEY TO THE WALDENSES – FIRST VISIT TO GENEVA.
CHAPTER 13. FAREL PROMOTES THE REFORMATION AT GENEVA.
CHAPTER 14. FAREL CONFIRMS THE REFORMATION AT GENEVA – CALVIN’S ARRIVAL – DISPUTATION AT LAUSANNE.
CHAPTER 15. CONFESSION OF GENEVA – THE ANABAPTISTS – CAROLI’S ACCUSATIONS.
CHAPTER 16. DISTURBANCES ON ACCOUNT OF THE CONFESSION – EXPULSION OF THE PREACHERS – ATTEMPTS FOR THEIR RECALL.
CHAPTER 17. FAREL’S CALL TO NEUFCHATEL – STATE OF THE CHURCH IN THAT CITY – CAROLI’S RETURN – CALVIN’S RECALL TO GENEVA.
CHAPTER 18. FAREL’S DISMISSION AND RE-ELECTION.
CHAPTER 19. FAREL IN METZ – CAROLI’S LAST INTRIGUES.
CHAPTER 20. CALUMNIES AGAINST FAREL – DISPUTED ELECTION – CALLED TO GENEVA AND LAUSANNE – ATTENTION TO THE SCHOOLS – CHURCH IN MONTBELIARD, AND PERSECUTIONS THERE – WRITINGS.
CHAPTER 21. THE INTERIM – FAREL’S WRITINGS – DEDICATION – SYNOD – BOLSEC – BUCER’S DEATH – FAREL’S SUFFERINGS, AND JOURNEY TO GENEVA.
CHAPTER 22. FAREL’S ILLNESS – ECCLESIASTICAL REGULATIONS AND OCCURRENCES – SERVETUS – THE LIBERTINES – PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PARISH PRIEST OF CRESSIER – CALVIN AND GENEVA – MONTBELIARD.
CHAPTER 23. FAREL’S ATTEMPTS TO PROMOTE A UNION WITH THE LUTHERANS – HIS JOURNEYS ON BEHALF OF THE PERSECUTED PROTESTANTS – EVENTS AT PRUNTRUT – VARIOUS CAUSES OF ANXIETY.
CHAPTER 24. FAREL’S MARRIAGE – DISPUTE RESPECTING EXCOMMUNICATION – JOURNEYS UNDERTAKEN FOR THE WALDENSES, AND INTO FRANCE – LANDERON – CALVIN’S DEATH – JOURNEY TO METZ – SICKNESS AND DEATH.