The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 221

one of the ablest and most honored defenders of the church. But a
ray of divine light penetrated even within the walls of scholasticism
and superstition by which Calvin was enclosed. He heard of the new
doctrines with a shudder, nothing doubting that the heretics deserved the
fire to which they were given. Yet all unwittingly he was brought face to
face with the heresy and forced to test the power of Romish theology to
combat the Protestant teaching.
A cousin of Calvin’s, who had joined the Reformers, was in Paris.
The two kinsmen often met and discussed together the matters that were
disturbing Christendom. “There are but two religions in the world,” said
Olivetan, the Protestant. “The one class of religions are those which
men have invented, in all of which man saves himself by ceremonies
and good works; the other is that one religion which is revealed in the
Bible, and which teaches man to look for salvation solely from the free
grace of God.”
“I will have none of your new doctrines,” exclaimed Calvin; “think
you that I have lived in error all my days?”—Wylie, b. 13, ch. 7.
But thoughts had been awakened in his mind which he could not
banish at will. Alone in his chamber he pondered upon his cousin’s
words. Conviction of sin fastened upon him; he saw himself, without
an intercessor, in the presence of a holy and just Judge. The mediation
of saints, good works, the ceremonies of the church, all were powerless
to atone for sin. He could see before him nothing but the blackness of
eternal despair. In vain the doctors of the church endeavored to relieve
his woe. Confession, penance, were resorted to in vain; they could not
reconcile the soul with God.
While still engaged in these fruitless struggles, Calvin, chancing one
day to visit one of the public squares, witnessed there the burning of
a heretic. He was filled with wonder at the expression of peace which
rested upon the martyr’s countenance. Amid the tortures of that dreadful
death, and under the more terrible condemnation of the church, he

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