A N E V A L U A T I O N O F C A L V I N ' S T H E O L O G I C A L P O S I T I O N A G A I N S T T H E L I B E R T I N E S b y
Chang
S u pS h i m
A T h e s i s S u b m i t t e d i n F u l f i l m e n t o f t h e R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e D e g r e e o fT h e o l o g i a e D o c t o r
i n t h e F a c u l t y o f T h e o l o g y a t t h e P o t c h e f s t r o o m U n i v e r s i t y f o r C h r i s t i a n H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n P r o m o t e r : P r o f . D r . V. E . d l A s s o n v i l l e D e c e m b e r , 1987Nous avons h considerer l a v o l u n d de Dieu, selon q u ' i l l a nous d e c l a i r e . (Calvin)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am indebted t o many people who have helped me i n t h e course
,;f
"5study towards the doctorate degree.
Ican mention only a few here.
&
sincere g r a t i t u d e t o
mypromoter, Professor
V . E.d'AssonviZZe,
r e c t o r of the Theological School, for h i s caring advice and valued
guidance.
Special thanks must go t o Professor
W . H .Simpson, who while busy
t r a n s l a t i n g Calvin ' s I n s t i t u t e s i n t o Afrikaans, gave generously of
h i s time and scholarly knowle&e.
He helped g r e a t l y i n explaining
o r i g i n a l manuscripts, making suggestions for t h e t h e s i s , and w i t h
reading and c o r r e c t i n g t h e t e x t .
Warm thanks a l s o t o
Dr. Rina Brink for t u t o r i n g me i n L a t i n , t r a n s -
l a t i n g various German t e x t s , and for helping me l o c a t e o r i g i n a l
sources.
& a p p r e c i a t i o n towards t h e Potchefstroom North church for u n f a i l i n g l y
providing financial help for
mystudy and l i v i n g expenses for
myfamily.
My deepest g r a t i t u d e t o a l l those i n South Africa for c o n t r i -
buting i n t h i s r e s p e c t .
M y
g r a t i t u d e t o the Potchefstroom U n i v e r s i t y for C h r i s t i a n Higher
Education for granting a f u l l scholarship and a bursary t o help cover
l i v i n g expenses.
I a l s o thank Professor
L . F .Schulze for k i n d l y lending me h i s s e t
of C a l v i n ' s Commentaries for the f u l l l e n g t h of
mystudy.
Word of appreciation t o Professor Annette Cornbrink of t h e English
Department for providing answers t o last-minute q u e s t i o n s .
Without my w i f e Peggy's h e l p , t h i s t h e s i s would not have been completed.
The necessary and painstaking proofreading, e d i t i n g , and typing were
a l l done by h e r .
F i n a l l y , I would l i k e t o thank my mother who has been praying for me
throughout
mylong leave of study abroad.
S o l i Deo Gloria.
T A B L E OF CONTENTS
1
.
INTRODUCTION. . .
1
2
.
D E F I N I T I O N OF T H E L I B E R T I N E SECT. . .
6
. . .
2.1
I n t r o d u c t i o n6
2.2
T h e Religious L i b e r t i n e s. . .
7
2.3
T h e Theological o r Philosophical L i b e r t i n e s. . .
20
2.4
T h e Political L i b e r t i n e s. . .
31
. . .
2.5
Conclusion35
3
.
T H E LIBERTINES AND T H E EARLY HERETICS. . .
37
. . .
3.1
I n t r o d u c t i o n37
3.2
T h e Heresies i n II Peter2
a n d J u d e10
. . .
39
3.3
T h e E a r l y Heresies: Marcionism. Gnosticism. Manichaeism. . .
51
. . .
3.3.1
Marcionism53
. . .
3.3.1.1
T h e Beginnings o f Marcionism 54. . .
3.3.1
.
2
Marcionism's G r o w t h a n d Doctrines 57. . .
3.3.1.3
Apelles a n d Marcion 62. . .
3.3.2
Gnosticism64
3.3.2.1
Gnostics a n d t h e i r Teachings. . .
653.3.2.2
Gnostic Fanaticism. . .
79. . .
3.3.3
Manichaeism81
. . .
3.3.3.1
Manichaeism a n d Medieval Heresies 87. . .
. . .
4.
VIEW OF SCRIPTURE 98. . .
4.1 l n t r o d u c t i o n 98. . .
4.2 T h e Duplicitous Nature o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s 101. . .
4.3 Word a n d S p i r i t 107. . .
4.5 Conclusion 122. . .
5
.
THE LIBERTINE DOCTRINE OF PANTHEISM5.1 l n t r o d u c t i o n
. . .
. . .
5.2 View o f God
. . .
5.3 View o f Creation
5 . 4 Pantheistic Determinism and i t s Results
. . .
5.4.1 T h e F i r s t Consequence: God's Providence. . .
5.4.1.1 T h e T h r e e Modes of God's Providence. . .
5.4.1.
1.
1 The F i r s t Mode: Universal Providence. . .
. . .
5.4.1.1.2 T h e Second Mode: Special Ordinance
5.4.1
.
1.
3
T h e T h i r d Mode of Providence. . .
. . .
5.4.1
.
2 Providence versus Determinism. . .
5.4.2 T h e Second Consequence. . .
5.4.3 T h e T h i r d Consequence. . .
5.5 Conclusion. . .
6.
CHRISTOLOGY. . .
6.1 l n t r o d u c t i o n. . .
6.2 T h e Humanity o f C h r i s t. . .
6.2.1 C h r i s t ' s Humanity i n t h e I n s t i t u t e s. . .
6.2.2 The Libertines and C h r i s t ' s Humanity
. . .
. . .
6.4 Christ and Resurrection 198
. . .
6.5 Conclusion 211. . .
7.
ETHICS 213. . .
7.1 Introduction 213. . .
7.2 On Christian Liberty: Law and Freedom 217
. . .
7 . 3 Concept of Vocation 229
. . .
7.4 Views Concerning Ownership of Goods 242
. . .
7.5 Conclusion 254. . .
8.
CONCLUSION 258. . .
.
9 BIBLIOGRAPHY 261ABBREVIATIONS
ANF :
The Ante-Nicene Fathers.
CCSL:
Corpus Christianorurn s e r i e s Latinorurn.
CO:
Joannis Ca l v i n i Opera quae supersun
t
omnia
.
Corn.: Calvin's
Commentaries.
CSEL:
Corpus Scriptorurn Ecclesiasticorurn Latinorum.
D
:Enchiridion Symbolorurn; definitionurn e t declarationurn de
rebus f i d e i e t rnorurn.
EP
: Calvin's treatiseConcerning t h e Eternal P r e d e s t i n a t i o n of God.
Inst.: Calvin'sI n s t i t u t e s o f t h e C h r i s t i a n R e l i g i o n
( 1 5 5 9 ) . Battle's translation. Other editions will be followed by their dates inMPG :
MPL
: NCE : NHL : NPNF : 0s : SP : TAL : TCT : WA : parentheses.Migne
,
Patro l o g i a graeca.
Migne
,
Patrologia l a t i n a .
New C a t h o l i c Encyclopedia.
The Nag Hammadi L i b r a r y .
The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers.
Joannis C a l v i n i opera s e l e c t a .
Calvin's treatise
The S e c r e t Providence of God.
Calvin's treatiseAgainst t h e L i b e r t i n e s .
The Church Teaches.
English translation ofEnchiridion
Symbolorurn.
1.
INTRODUCTIONI n t h e epoch o f t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y Reformation, t h e sects of t h e L i b e r t i n e s a n d t h e Anabaptists spread l i k e a contagion i n western Europe. T h e i r influence upon and conversion o f t h e f a i t h f u l w e r e a g r e a t t h r e a t t o t h e reformation b e i n g conducted b y C a l v i n . A l t h o u g h according t o Calvin, t h e L i b e r t i n e s were t h e more dangerous a n d pernicious o f t h e t w o sects, few theological studies o f them have been u n d e r t a k e n . On t h e o t h e r hand, e x h a u s t i v e studies have been done o n t h e A n a b a p t i s t sect. T h e reason f o r t h e lack of a n y comprehensive studies on t h e L i b e r t i n e
Studies o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect t h a t have been made also do n o t d e l v e deeply int?, t h e d o c t r i n e s and practices o f t h e sect. C f . W. K a r l Schmidt, " U b e r den mystischem Quietismus z u r Z e i t Konigs Franz
I",
Z e i t s c h r i f t f u r h i s t o r i s c h e Theologie 20, s. 1850; G. A u g u s t e J u n d t , H i s t o i r e d u Pantheisme Populaire au Moyen A g e e t au Seizieme Siecle, 1875, pp. 119-204; G. Jaujard, "Essai s u r les L i b e r t i n s s p i r i t u e l s d e Genkve d ' a p r e s de nouveaux documents", These zum theologischen Bakkalaureat, 1890; K a r l Miiller, " C a l v i n u n d d i e
L i b e r t i n e r " , Z e i t c h r i f t f u r Kirchengeschichte, 40 ( l 9 2 2 ) , pp. 83-129; Wilhelm Niesel, " C a l v i n u n d d i e L i b e r t i n e r " , Z e i t c h r i f t f u r
Kirchengeschichte, 48 (1929), pp. 58-74; George H u n t s t o n Williams, T h e Radical Reformation, 1962, pp. 351-355, 598-605; R. W. Collins, C a l v i n a n d t h e L i b e r t i n e s o f Geneva, 1968; G e r h a r d Schneider, D e r L i b e r t i n e r : Z u r Geistes- u n d Sozialgeschichte des Burgerturns im 16. u n d
17.
J a h r h u n d e r t , 1970; J . C . Margolis, "Reflexions s u r I'emploi d u terme L i b e r t i n au X V l e Sikcle", Aspects d u L i b e r t i n i s m z u X V l e Siecle, Actes d u Colloque I n t e r n a t i o n a l d e Sommiers, 1974; Carlos N. Eire, " C a l v i n a n d Nicodemism: A Reappraisal", T h e S i x - t e e n t h C e n t u r y Journal, 10 (1979), pp. 45-69; Allen V e r h e y , " C a l v i n ' s T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e Libertines", C a l v i n Theological Journal, 15 (1980), p p . 190-219; Benjamin W i r t Farley, E d i t o r ' s I n - t r o d u c t i o n , J o h n C a l v i n : Treatises A g a i n s t t h e A n a b a p t i s t s a n d A g a i n s t t h e Libertines, 1982, pp. 161 -186. None o f t h e above w o r k s f u l l y examines theologically Calvin's T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s . Some o f them a r g u e f o r o r against t h e v a l i d i t y o f C a l v i n ' s knowledge of t h e L i b e r t i n e s (Schmidt, Jaujard, Muller, a n d Niesel) w h i l e o t h e r s deal w i t h t h e socio-political aspect (Collins a n d S c h n e i d e r ) . Williams gives a general s u r v e y o f t h e L i b e r t i n e movement and E i r e explains t h e relation between t h e L i b e r t i n e s and o t h e r sectarians.sect may b e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e movement disappeared i n t o " h i s t o r i c a l o b s c u r i t y a n d t h e t r e a t i s e i t s e l f seems now, t h e r e f o r e , merely an h i s t o r i c a l o b s c u r i t y " .
T h e L i b e r t i n e movement w h i c h f i r s t appeared a r o u n d 1525 h a d q u i c k l y s p r e a d t o t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e Reformation, i . e . , t h e Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, a n d S w i t z e r l a n d . B y t h e late 1 5 5 0 ' ~ ~ however, t h e L i b e r t i n e sect seems t o have been b u r i e d i n o b - s c u r i t y . I n addition, a p a r t fom C a l v i n ' s T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s , ' no o t h e r l e n g t h y r e c o r d o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s e x i s t s . A l l o f t h e documents a n d w r i t i n g s of t h e L i b e r t i n e s , moreover, have been d e s t r o y e d a n d none a r e e ~ t a n t . ~ I t is a s t r o k e o f l u c k i n t h e m i d s t of m i s f o r t u n e t h a t C a l v i n has i n s e r t e d s i g n i f i c a n t e x t r a c t s o f t h e w r i t i n g s o f Pocquet
i n C h a p t e r 23 of h i s T r e a t i s e ("Demonstration o f What Has Been Said") . 5 A p a r t f r o m t h i s , however, sources on t h e L i b e r t i n e s remain limited.
I f t h e a c t i v i t i e s a n d d o c t r i n e s o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s have been overlooked i n theological studies, it has been w i t h a c o s t . T h e T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e
V e r h e y , p . 190.
C a l v i n ' s T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s ( o r T r e a t i s e i n subsequent references) was p u b l i s h e d i n 1545 w i t h t h e t i t l e C o n t r e la secte p h a n t a s t i q u e e t f u r i e u s e des L i b e r t i n e s q u e nomment S p i r i t u e l z .
L i b e r t i n e s i s a s i g n i f i c a n t r e c o r d n o t o n l y o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect as a whole b u t o f C a l v i n ' s d o c t r i n e s o f God, C h r i s t , eschatology, a n d o f h i s e t h i c s as w e l l . While m a n y o f C a l v i n ' s d o c t r i n e s a r e c l e a r l y e x p o u n d e d i n t h e T r e a t i s e , t h e aim o f t h i s p r e s e n t w o r k i s n o t t o r e s t a t e t h e m as t h i s has been amply d o n e i n o t h e r w o r k s o n C a l v i n . R a t h e r , t h e p r e s e n t t h e s i s w i l l f o c u s o n t h e d o c t r i n e s o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s w h i c h a r e r e f u t e d b y C a l v i n a n d reexamine a n d e v a l u a t e i m p o r t a n t p o i n t s o f C a l v i n ' s t h e o l o g y as r e l - e v a n t t o t h e T r e a t i s e .
F o r m a t a n d Method. C a l v i n ' s T r e a t i s e c o n s i s t s o f t h r e e major sections. T h e f i r s t is a p r e l i m i n a r y section w h i c h c o n t a i n s a b r i e f p r e f a c e ( C h . I ) , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e L i b e r t i n e s a n d t h e e a r l y c h u r c h heresies ( C h s . 2-3), a n d t h e o r i g i n s of t h e L i b e r t i n e s ( C h s . 4 - 6 ) . : T h e second s e c t i o n i n c l u d e s t h e p r i n c i p a l d o c t r i n e s a n d e t h i c s o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s . C h a p t e r s 7 t h r o u g h 10 e x p l o r e s t h e L i b e r t i n e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f S c r i p t u r e a n d C a l v i n ' s r e f u t a t i o n o f it. I n t h e major c h a p t e r s o f 11 t h r o u g h 16, t h e L i b e r t i n e p a n t h e i s t i c idea of God, t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between God a n d h i s c r e a t i o n , a n d t h e consequences o f p a n t h e i s t i c d e t e r m i n i s m a r e t r e a t e d . C h r i s t o l o g y i s d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r s 17-18 f o l l o w e d b y s o t e r i o l o g y i n C h a p t e r
22.
T h e s i g n i f i c a n t aspects o f t h e e t h i c s o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s a r e e l a b o r a t e d i n C h a p t e r s 19 t o 21. T h e t h i r d section c o n t a i n s e x c e r p t s f r o m Pocquet's b o o k l e t s ( C h . 23) w h i c h C a l v i n i n c l u d e s as t e s t i m o n y t o h i s a s s e r t i o n s . I n C h a p t e r 24, C a l v i n discusses w r i t i n g s b y a n u n k n o w n s e c t a r i a n whose ideas a r e s i m i l a r t o t h e L i b e r t i n e s a n d which, C a l v i n a r g u e s , h e l p t h e L i b e r t i n e s i n t h e i rdiabolic schemes t o seduce t h e helpless. Calvin includes these i n o r d e r t o b e t t e r reveal t h e e r r o r s of t h e Libertines.
I n t h e b r i e f conclusion, Calvin e x h o r t s t h e f a i t h f u l not t o become victims of t h e Libertines. Here, Calvin proclaims t h a t what has been w r i t t e n i n t h e Treatise is absolutely necessary i n p r e v e n t i n g f u r t h e r contamination b y t h e L i b e r t i n e sect:
I do not ask f o r people t o a g r e e w i t h me, o r w i t h my o p i n i o n , o r my words, u n l e s s t h e y have f i r s t of a l l r e a l i z e d t h a t what I am t e a c h i n g i s u s e f u l . I do n o t ask f o r them t o reprove t h i s
loathsome t e a c h i n g , a g a i n s t which I have w r i t t e n , u n l e s s t h e y s e e t h a t it i s n o t o n l y repugnant t o God, but s o f u l l of d e t e s t a b l e e r r o r s a s t o make o n e ' s h a i r s t a n d on e n d . 6
T h e present thesis systematically follows Calvin's line of argument t h r o u g h t h e main chapters i n t h e Treatise. A f t e r t h e i n t r o d u c t o r y chapters on t h e definition and o r i g i n of t h e L i b e r t i n e sect, t h e present s t u d y concentrates on t h e doctrines of t h e Libertines which Calvin refutes at l e n g t h . T h i s s t u d y depends largely on t h e Treatise itself and o t h e r works b y Calvin, namely t h e I n s t i t u t e s and t h e Commentaries. T h i s a u t h o r is indebted t o Farley's excellent i n t r o d u c t i o n of Calvin's Treatise which facilitated t h e arrangement of t h i s s t u d y .
*-
TAL, p . 326 (CO V11.248).
T h e t h i r d section o f t h e Treatise is not dealt w i t h i n t h e present work since t h e y only repeat and validate t h e main body of Calvin's w o r k .
For t h e sake of r e f e r e n c e and c l a r i t y in some cases, t h e original t e x t of most of t h e passages quoted from Calvin's works and from t h e e a r l y c h u r c h f a t h e r s ' w r i t i n g s will b e included i n t h e footnotes.
2.
DEFINITION OF THE LIBERTINE SECT2.1
INTRODUCTIONT h e Greek word h ~ f k p ~ i v o c ( f r e e man) is a t r a n s l i t e r a t e d form of t h e L a t i n libertinus as used b y L u k e ( A c t s 6 : 9 ) . T h e meaning o f t h i s
w o r d as f r e e ma. owes i t s o r i g i n t o Jews who had been taken t o Rome i n t h e time of Pompey and l a t e r liberated. "Free man" t h u s o r i g i n a l l y meant one who, b e i n g a descendant of former slaves, was manumitted from s l a v e r y . When t h i s w o r d is applied t o certain antinomian sects of t h e e a r l y sixteenth c e n t u r y , it takes on a w i d e r significance and r e f e r s generally t o people who follow t h e i r own inclinations w i t h o u t b e i n g r e - s t r i c t e d o r restrained b y e x i s t i n g constitution, habit, conduct o r even
language. Consequently, t h e t e r m libertinus denotes a person who
t h i n k s and acts f r e e l y .
A l t h o u g h i n general t h e t e r m libertinus o r l i b e r t i n e is applied i n a r e l i -
gious context, it is also used t o classify those l i b e r t i n e s i n t h e political a n d social arena. I n i t s broadest usage, t h e t e r m l i b e r t i n e is used t o designate anyone who maintains a freedom of opinion o r non-recognition o f a u t h o r i t y i n all spheres of l i f e .
I n s p e a k i n g o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s o f C a l v i n ' s t i m e it c a n b e g e n e r a l l y c o n - s i d e r e d t h a t t h e r e a r e t h r e e k i n d s o f L i b e r t i n e s : t h e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l , a n d r e l i g i o u s L i b e r t i n e s . O n e m u s t k e e p i n m i n d t h a t t h e f i r s t t w o L i b e r t i n e s a r e l i m i t e d t o o n l y t h o s e w h o t h e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y o p - p o s e d C a l v i n ' s r e f o r m a t i o n of t h e Genevan C h u r c h . T h e r e l i g i o u s L i b e r t i n e s d e n o t e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s w i t h whom C a l v i n s p e c i f i c a l l y deals i n h i s T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s . T h u s t h e m e a n i n g o f libertine
c a n b e a p p l i e d b r o a d l y b u t does n o t embrace a l l p e o p l e w h o a r e opposed t o C a l v i n . E v e n among t h e L i b e r t i n e s , d i f f e r e n c e s c a n b e s h o w n . T h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s e s p e c i a l l y c a n b e said t o d i f f e r f r o m t h e t h e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l L i b e r t i n e s i n t h a t t h e y a r e p a r t o f a s p e c i f i c g r o u p o f s e c t a r i a n s w h o h o l d t h e i r o w n p a r t i c u l a r b e l i e f s w h i l e t h e l a t t e r s i m p l y r o s e f r o m t h e i r o p p o s i t i o n t o C a l v i n . A l t h o u g h t r a c i n g t h e movement o f t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s i s t h e main f o c u s o f t h e p r e s e n t c h a p t e r , a b r i e f look a t t h e so-called t h e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l L i b e r t i n e s may h e l p t o f u r - t h e r d e f i n e C a l v i n ' s L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s .
2.2
T H E R E L I G I O U S L I B E R T I N E S I n d e f i n i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s whom C a l v i n a t t a c k s i n h i s T r e a t i s e , t h e i n e v i t a b l e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s as t o t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s a n d o t h e r s p i r i t u a l s e c t a r i a n s o f t h e e a r l y s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y , namely, t h e sect of t h e F r e e S p i r i t , t h e L o i s t s , a n d t h e A n a b a p t i s t s ast h e s e a r e g e n e r a l l y considered as closely related. l o T h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p
is, however, o n l y c o n j e c t u r a l based on some of t h e i r d o c t r i n a l a n d ge- o g r a p h i c a l a f f i n i t i e s . Contacts of t h e L i b e r t i n e s w i t h t h e s e sects remain o b s c u r e a n d unanswered.
T h e h e r e s y o f t h e Free S p i r i t , a c c o r d i n g t o Cohn, came i n t o existence i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h mysticism f r o m t h e eleventh c e n t u r y a n d b y 1200, "began t o emerge as an i d e n t i f i a b l e h e r e s y i n w e s t e r n C h r i s t e n d o m " . " T h i s h e r e s y r e g a r d e d t h e C h u r c h as an o u t w o r n i n s t i t u t i o n w h i c h could n o l o n g e r f u n c t i o n as a vessel f o r t h e Holy S p i r i t . T h e y rejected all e x t e r n a l sacraments of t h e C h u r c h , claiming t h a t t h e i r community was t h e o n l y vessel o f t h e Holy S p i r i t . T h e y also claimed t o have achieved i n w a r d p e r f e c t i o n and a c c o r d i n g l y f e l l i n t o antinomianism. A g r o u p i n Spain t o w a r d s t h e close of t h e t w e l f t h c e n t u r y called t h e " h o l y b e g g a r s " claimed o f h a v i n g d i r e c t knowledge o f God a n d o f b e i n g u n i t e d w i t h " t h e d i v i n e essence i n a most intimate u n i o n " w h i c h l i b e r a t e d them f r o m all r e s t r a i n t . A n d " t h e y c o u l d l i e o r steal o r f o r n i c a t e w i t h o u t qualms o f conscience. F o r since i n w a r d l y t h e soul was w h o l l y absorbed i n t o God, e x t e r n a l acts were of n o account"
.
'
l o Cohn, 1970, p p . 163-171; J u n d t , p . 119f; Balke, 1981, p . 21.
" Cohn, p . 54.
D e s p i t e p e r s e c u t i o n , t h e s e c t o f t h e F r e e S p i r i t p e r s i s t e d t h r o u g h t h e c e n t u r i e s a n d t h e N e t h e r l a n d s was c o n s i d e r e d , a l o n g w i t h B r a b a n t , as a p l a c e w h e r e t h i s h e r e s y was d e e p l y r o o t e d . T h e i r n u m b e r also remained n u m e r o u s i n Low Germany a n d F r a n c e . T h i s c o r r e s p o n d s t o C a l v i n ' s g e o g r a p h i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e s p r e a d o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s :
I t i s t r u e t h a t i f i n g e n e r a l I s h o u l d hope t o i n c l u d e and review everyone who goes under t h e t i t l e of L i b e r t i n e , a s w e l l a s t h o s e whose i d e a s a r e s i m i l a r t o t h e i r misguided f a n t a s i e s , of which I p l a n t o t r e a t i n t h i s book, I c o u l d n o t do i t . For t h e s e c t has comprised d i f f e r e n t groups, some i n Holland, some i n Brabant
[Belgium], and some i n o t h e r r e g i o n s of Lower Germany.13
I n v i e w o f t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l i d e n t i t y a n d d o c t r i n a l similarities, C o h n c o n c l u d e s t h a t it may b e t r u e t h a t t h e s p i r i t u a l movement o f t h e s e c t o f t h e F r e e S p i r i t g a v e r i s e t o t h a t o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s : " . . . i n t h e m i d s t o f t h e t u r m o i l o f t h e Reformation, t h e Low C o u n t r i e s a n d n o r t h e r n F r a n c e w i t n e s s e d t h e s p r e a d o f a d o c t r i n e w h i c h was c a l l e d S p i r i t u a l L i b e r t y b u t w h i c h i n a l l essentials was s t i l l t h e o l d d o c t r i n e o f t h e F r e e S p i r i t " . 1 4 T h e o t h e r s p i r i t u a l sect w h i c h possesses s i m i l a r d o c t r i n e s w i t h t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s is t h e L o i s t s . L o y P r u y s t i n c k , a s l a t e r i n A n t w e r p , b e l i e v e d t h a t e v e r y man possessed t h e H o l y S p i r i t . He s o u g h t t o w i n L u t h e r o v e r t o h i s cause a n d i n 1524, s e n t a g r o u p o f emissaries t o L u t h e r . He was r e b u k e d b y L u t h e r w h o w r o t e t o t h e L u t h e r a n p a r t y i n l 3 T A L , p . 200
(CO
V11.159). l 4 C o h n , p . 169. J u n d t ( p . 120) also c o n c u r s r e g a r d i n g t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e sect o f t h e F r e e S p i r i t o n t h e r i s e o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect:. . .
a p p a r u r e n t l e s descendans d e s F r e r e s du l i b r e e s p r i t e t d e s Hommes de l ' i n t e l l i g e n c e , s e donnantk
eux-memes l e nom de L i b e r t i n s s p i r i t u e l s e t renouvelant dans l e s Pays-Bas, en S u i s s e e t en F r a n c e d e s h e r e s i e s c e n t f o i s condamniies).A n t w e r p t o w a r n t h e m a g a i n s t L o y . l S T h e Loists, l i k e t h e L i b e r t i n e s , m a i n t a i n e d a p a n t h e i s t i c c o n c e p t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e human soul. T h e L o i s t d o c t r i n e was s p r e a d w i d e l y i n B r a b a n t a n d F l a n d e r s as w e l l . From t h e a b o v e f a c t s , it is o f t e n d e d u c e d t h a t t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s s p r a n g f r o m o r w e r e g r e a t l y i n f l u e n c e d by t h e L o i s t s .
'
I n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e A n a b a p t i s t s , C a l v i n places t h e L i b e r t i n e s w i t h i n t h e all-encompassing s e c t o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t s , naming t h e m t h e more p e r n i c i o u s h a l f . A l l A n a b a p t i s t s , C a l v i n maintains, b e l o n g t o t w o p r i n c i p a l sects:The f i r s t , although i t i s f u l l of many p e r v e r s e and p e r n i c i o u s e r - r o r s , f a l l s w i t h i n t h e bounds of a g r e a t e r s i m p l i c i t y
. . . .
The second i s a l a b y r i n t h , w i t h o u t p a r a l l e l , of s o many absurd views t h a t iti s a marvel how c r e a t u r e s who b e a r t h e human f i g u r e can be s o v o i d of s e n s e and reason a s t o be so duped and f a l l v i c t i m to such b r u t i s h f a n t a s i e s . This s e c t i s c a l l e d t h e L i b e r t i n e s . l 7 C a l v i n seems t o t h i n k o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s as o n l y a b r a n c h o f t h e s e c t o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t s . J u n d t t a k e s t h i s as h i s p o i n t o f a r g u m e n t a n d c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e L i b e r t i n e s h a v e a n i n d e p e n d e n t o r i g i n . While p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n t d o c t r i n e s o f t h e t w o sects o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s a n d t h e A n a b a p t i s t s c o u l d n o t h a v e f a i l e d t o i n f l u e n c e t h e o t h e r , h e o b s e r v e s t h a t c e r t a i n aspects of t h e L i b e r t i n e sect d i s t i n g u i s h it f r o m t h a t o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t s . F i r s t , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l idea o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t s of t h e need f o r a d u l t b a p t i s m i s m i s s i n g i n t h e L i b e r t i n e sect. F u r t h e r m o r e , J u n d t l 5 Williams, p . 352; Cohn, p p . 169-170. C f . WA XV111.541-550. l 6 See F a r l e y ' s s y n o p s i s of t h i s t o p i c i n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n t o T A L , pp. 167-168.
'
T A L , pp. 39-40 ( CO V11.53).isolates F l a n d e r s as t h e home o f t h e sect o f t h e F r e e S p i r i t , a s s o c i a t i n g t h e o r i g i n o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s r a t h e r w i t h t h i s sect. J u n d t f i n d s t h a t t h e sect o f t h e F r e e S p i r i t a n d t h e L i b e r t i n e s b o t h possess t h e p a n t h e i s t i c t e n d e n c y o f c o n f u s i n g t h e human a n d d i v i n e s p i r i t a n d o f i g n o r i n g t h e d i s t i n c t i o n between g o o d a n d e v i l . C o u l d C a l v i n b e mistaken i n c l a s s i f y i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e s i n t h e A n a b a p t i s t sect? J u n d t seems t o u n d e r s t a n d C a l v i n ' s u s e o f t h e t e r m L i b e r t i n e lit- e r a l l y . A t times, C a l v i n uses t h e w o r d s A n a b a p t i s t a n d L i b e r t i n e i n t e r - c h a n g e a b l y b u t n o t because o f h i s b e i n g i g n o r a n t o f t h e i r d i s t i n c t i o n s o r because he is i g n o r a n t , as J u n d t a r g u e s , o f " t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l c o n n e c t i o n t h a t b i n d s t h e h e r e t i c s o f h i s t i m e t o t h o s e o f t h e p a s t c e n t u r i e s " w i t h t h e r e s u l t o f b e i n g " l e d b y a f e w a c c i d e n t a l resemblances t o t h e l i n k i n g o r t h e c o n n e c t i n g o f t h e s e c t o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s t o t h a t o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t s " . 1 8 . C a l v i n i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y uses t h e s e t e r m s o n l y w h e n h e
d e s c r i b e s t h e t w o sects i n a loose sense i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e i r closeness o f b e l i e f s . F o r example, i n t h e 1539 e d i t i o n o f t h e I n s t i t u t e s , C a l v i n calls t h e L i b e r t i n e s A n a b a p t i s t s o n t h e basis t h a t a b e l i e f i n p e r f e c t i o n i s m is c l e a r l y common i n b o t h s e c t s . l g I n t h i s g e n e r a l use, o t h e r s j o i n C a l v i n i n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e s as a b r a n c h o f t h e A n a b a p t i s t s . I n h i s l e t t e r t o Rodolphe G u a l t e r , P i e r r e V i r e t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e L i b e r t i n e s a r e
'
J u n d t , p. 121. l 9 I n s t . 111.3.14 ( C O 11.443-444). 11"a new b r e e d of A n a b a p t i s t s , whom t h e y c a l l L i b e r t i n e s " .
'
T h u s w h e n C a l v i n uses t h e t e r m s i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y , it i s w h e n h e i s t a k i n g i n t o ac- c o u n t t h e i r l i k e n e s s r a t h e r t h a n i d e n t i f y i n g one s e c t w i t h t h e o t h e r .'
O n e m u s t also a c k n o w l e d g e t h a t b o t h sects w e r e g r e a t l y d i s t u r b i n g t o t h e r e f o r m e d b e l i e v e r s i n F r a n c e a n d w e r e a c t i v e a t t h e same p e r i o d i n h i s - t o r y . Moreover, t h e y h e l d c e r t a i n common e r r o n e o u s b e l i e f s a n d i n t h i s sense C a l v i n may g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r t h e m as b e l o n g i n g t o t h e same g r o u p .Whatever a r g u m e n t s may b e p u t f o r t h r e g a r d i n g t h e v a l i d i t y o f c o n n e c t i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s w i t h t h e o t h e r sectarians, it is impossible t o d e - t e r m i n e t h e i r a b s o l u t e r e l a t i o n s h i p as t h e r e is no h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e i d e n t i f y i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e s w i t h t h e s e sects." R a t h e r , t h e d i f f e r e n c e s between t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s a n d t h e o t h e r g r o u p s is much g r e a t e r t h a n assumed by t h o s e w h o a t t e m p t t o associate t h e L i b e r t i n e s w i t h t h e o t h e r sects based o n t h e d o c t r i n a l a n d g e o g r a p h i c a l g r o u n d s . T h e d i s - t i n c t i o n between t h e m w i l l b e m o r e c l e a r l y r e v e a l e d i n e x a m i n i n g C a l v i n ' s own v i e w o f t h e o r i g i n o f t h e L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s i n t h e T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s a n d o t h e r s o u r c e s w h i c h r e v e a l C a l v i n ' s k n o w l e d g e of t h e s e c t . H e r m i n j a r d , C o r r e s p o n d a n c e s , 1X.329.
'
A g e n e r a l t e n d e n c y o f t h e R e f o r m e r s was t o sometimes c a l l d i f f e r e n t s e c t a r i a n s by t h e same name. F o r example, B u c e r c a l l s t h e L i b e r t i n e s Nicodemites ( H e r m i n j a r d , C o r r e s p o n d a n c e s , I X . 1392).2 2 Doumergue, 1969, V o l . V I , p p . 63-67. C f . Balke, p. 21, especially
K a r l M u l l e r and Wilhelm Niesel h a d d i f f e r e n t opinions r e g a r d i n g C a l v i n ' s knowledge of t h e L i b e r t i n e sect. T h e issue was w h e t h e r C a l v i n ' s k n o w - ledge o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect commands a p r e c i s e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s as t r e a t e d i n h i s T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s . K a r l M u l l e r addressed t h i s t o p i c i n an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d " C a l v i n u n d d i e L i b e r t i n e r " i n 1 9 2 2 . 2 3 M u l l e r cites K a r l Schmidt who was t h e f i r s t t o o b j e c t t o C a l v i n ' s c h a r a c - t e r i z a t i o n o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect i n 1850 a n d also J a u j a r d who even d o u b t e d t h e existence of t h e sect i t ~ e l f . ~ M u l l e r r e g a r d e d t h e pantheism o f t h e
L i b e r t i n e s as a mistaken u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e L i b e r t i n e sect a c t u a l l y r e p r e s e n t e d a mysticism r a t h e r t h a n a p a n t h e i s t i c antinomianism. M u l l e r i n s i s t e d t h a t C a l v i n ' s o p i n i o n of t h e L i b e r t i n e s was w r o n g l y i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e r e n d e r i n g of t h e L i b e r t i n e s b y t w o D u t c h v i s i t o r s t o S t r a s s b u r g i n 1544. T h e y t o l d t e r r i b l e stories a b o u t t h e sect i n t h e i r congregation a n d s o u g h t help f r o m C a l v i n . ' = T h e documents t h e y b r o u g h t along w e r e t o h a v e i n f l u e n c e d C a l v i n t o f o r m a p r e j u d i c e d o p i n i o n of t h e s e c t . 2
I n Z e i t s c h r i f t f u r K i r c h e n g e s c h i c h t e 40 (1922), pp. 83-129.
2 4 Muller, pp. 84-85.
2 5 Muller, pp. 85, 106, 128.
Herminjard, Correspondances, I X . 1358. C f . Muller, pp. 122-129.
2 7 C f . V e r h e y , p p . 196-197.
Wilhelm Niesel c o n t e s t s M u l l e r ' s conclusions i n an a r t i c l e w i t h t h e same t i t l e as M ~ l l e r ' s . ~ ' - I n Niesel's o p i n i o n , C a l v i n ' s k n o w l e d g e o f t h e
L i b e r t i n e s did n o t d e p e n d solely u p o n t h e r e n d e r i n g o f t h e t w o Dutchmen. R a t h e r , Niesel contends, C a l v i n ' s f a m i l i a r i t y o f t h e sect is m a n i f e s t al- r e a d y i n t h e
1539
e d i t i o n o f t h e I n s t i t u t e s . C a l v i n ' s o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e L i b e r t i n e d o c t r i n e s o f S c r i p t u r e , r e b i r t h a n d God's a c t i v i t y a r e r e f u t e d i n t h i s e d i t i ~ n . ~ C a l v i n ' s d i f f e r i n g v i e w s o n angels a n d t h e d e v i l a r e also t r e a t e d i n t h e1543
e d i t i o n o f t h e I n s t i t u t e s . Niesel maintains t h a t C a l v i n ' s v i e w o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s was n o t f o r m e d by o t h e r witnesses b u t by p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e . C a l v i n h a d met Q u i n t i n p e r s o n a l l y i n Paris b e - f o r e1534
a n d by1538
h a d d e f i n i t i v e views r e g a r d i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e s . 3 0 T u r n i n g o u r a t t e n t i o n t o C a l v i n ' s own w o r d s r e g a r d i n g t h i s m a t t e r , Niesel's a s s e r t i o n s a r e c o n f i r m e d . I n C h a p t e r4
of t h e T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s , C a l v i n t r a c e s t h e o r i g i n o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect a n d i t s p r i n c i p a l l e a d e r s . C a l v i n names C o p p i n , a Fleming a n d a n a t i v e o f Lille, as t h e f o u n d e r o f t h e sect as e a r l y as1525
a n d mentions Q u i n t i n a n d Claude Perceval t o b e p a r t o f t h i s g r o u p . C o p p i n was succeeded by Q u i n t i n o f H a i n a u t w h o made himself o u t t o b e t h e f o u n d e r o f t h e sect o r as C a l v i n d e s c r i b e s i n c i s i v e l y , t h e*
'. I n Z e i t s c h r i f t f u r K i r c h e r l g e s c h i c h t e48 ( l 9 2 9 ) ,
pp.58-74.
*
Niesel, p .60.
See especially notes2 , 3 ,
a n d4 .
movement's " f i r s t a n d p r i n c i p a l ~ o n t r i v e r " . ~ C a l v i n confesses t h a t h e does n o t k n o w w h e n Q u i n t i n f i r s t came t o F r a n c e b u t s t a t e s t h a t a t a b o u t 1534 h e saw Q u i n t i n p e r s o n a l l y i n P a r i s , b e i n g accompanied b y B e r t r a n d d e M o u l i n ~ . ~ ~ M u c h o f w h a t C a l v i n f i r s t h e a r d o f Q u i n t i n seems t o h a v e been r e l a t e d b y f t i e n n e d e la F o r g e w h o r e s i d e d w i t h C a l v i n w h i l e w o r k i n g o n t h e C o m m e n t a r y o n Seneca i n P a r i s a n d w h o was l a t e r m a r - t y r e d i n 1535." A c c o r d i n g t o i t i e n n e d e la F o r g e , Q u i n t i n a n d B e r t r a n d l e f t t h e i r c o u n t r y b e c a u s e o f c e r t a i n crimes r a t h e r t h a n because o f t h e i r message. T h e third p e r s o n i n t h e g r o u p o f L i b e r t i n e l e a d e r s whom C a l v i n m e n t i o n s i s C l a u d e P e r c e v a l w h o was e s p e c i a l l y a c t i v e i n S t r a s s b u r g . C a l v i n r e p o r t s t h a t t h e s e t h r e e men t o g e t h e r i n f e c t e d so m a n y p e o p l e i n P a r i s t h a t " t h e r e i s h a r d l y a p l a c e w h e r e t h e y h a v e l i v e d t h a t o u g h t n o t b e c o m p l e t e l y a f r a i d s p r e a d t h e i r d o c t r i n e s s u c c e s s f u l l y o f t h e i r c o r r u p t i o n " . T h e y also i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r i e s , namely 3 1 T A L , p. 201. 3 2 T A L , p. 201. 3 3 Williams, p 599, n . 48. C f . T A L , p. 201, n . 13. 3 4 T A L , p. 201 (CO V11 . 1 6 0 ) . 3 5 Williams, pp. 354; 599. 3 6 T A L , p. 201 ( C O V11.160).
Valenciennes, Liege, a n d T o u r n a i . These t h r e e leaders w e r e joined b y A n t h o n y Pocquet whom C a l v i n says h e met i n 1542 b u t whom h e f i r s t came t o k n o w when Pocquet attempted u n s u c c e s s f u l l y i n 1533 t o o b t a i n C a l v i n ' s endorsement f o r t h e advancement o f h i s c a r e e r .
It i s t r u e , as Niesel observes, t h a t when C a l v i n f i r s t w r o t e against t h e L i b e r t i n e s i n t h e 1539 e d i t i o n of t h e I n s t i t u t e s , it was a g a i n s t Q u i n t i n a n d B e r t r a n d d e Moulins since h e knew n o t h i n g a b o u t C o p p i n a n d
Perceval was o n l y a name t o him a n d Pocquet he met much later.". C a l v i n ' s knowledge o f t h e t e a c h i n g s of t h e sect, however, is c l e a r l y e v - i d e n t i n t h e 1539 e d i t i o n o f t h e I n s t i t u t e s i n w h i c h he denounces t h e L i b e r t i n e view o f t h e r e l a t i o n o f Word a n d S p i r i t ( I n s t . I 9 1 o f p r o v i d e n c e ( I n s t . 1.17.3), o f t h e s i n f u l n a t u r e o f man ( I n s t . 11.1.10). o f antinomianism ( I n s t . 11.7.13), a n d o f r e g e n e r a t i o n a n d p e r f e c t i o n i s m ( I n s t . 1 1 1.3.14). A p e r u s a l o f t h e 1539 e d i t i o n makes it clear t h a t C a l v i n a l r e a d y h a d d e f i n i t i v e views of t h e L i b e r t i n e s w h i c h h e l a t e r e x t e n d e d i n t h e T r e a t i s e . O t h e r sources w h i c h mention t h e L i b e r t i n e s v a l i d a t e C a l v i n ' s i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e L i b e r t i n e movement. A l e t t e r w r i t t e n b y B u c e r d a t e d 5 J u l y , 1538, a n d addressed t o Queen M a r g u e r i t e discusses t h e L i b e r t i n e s i n N a v a r r e and France. B u c e r characterizes them as t i m i d Nicodemites a n d w a r n s t h a t t h e y a r e miserable a n d p e r n i c i o u s , o b s c u r i n g t h e sim-
"
H e r m i n j a r d , Correspondances, I X . 1358; 1392. C f . CO V11.16O.p l i c i t y o f t h e gospel. T h e y h a v e s p r e a d i n F r a n c e a n d c o n v e r t e d many i n t e l l e c t u a l people. B u c e r explains t h a t i n t h e i r belief, man no l o n g e r sins because C h r i s t washed o u t t h e s i n of t h e w o r l d . B u c e r f u r t h e r informs t h a t t h e y a r e contaminating people d a y b y d a y a n d s e d u c i n g t h e m t o leave t h e C h u r c h .
F o u r l e t t e r s w r i t t e n i n t h e y e a r 1544, one y e a r b e f o r e C a l v i n w r o t e t h e Treatise, also mention t h e L i b e r t i n e s . O n 26 May, 1544, V a l e r a n d Poullain of S t r a s s b u r g sent a l e t t e r t o C a l v i n i n w h i c h h e said t h a t t h e b r e t h r e n o f Vallenciennes had requested t h a t C a l v i n w r i t e a l e t t e r of consolation t o them as t h e y w e r e b e i n g annoyed b y t h e Q u i n t i n i s t s . Poullain s u g - g e s t e d t h a t C a l v i n needed t o w r i t e r e g a r d i n g t h e e r r o r s of t h e
libertine^.^'
On 5 September, 1544, P i e r r e V i r e t c o r r e s p o n d e d w i t h Rudolphe G u a l t h e r , a p a s t o r o f Z u r i c h , i n f o r m i n g him of t h e p l a g u e of t h e L i b e r t i n e s called Catabaptists i n Lower Germany, Valenciennes, Liege, a n d T o u r n a i . T h e y h a d t e r r i b l e d o c t r i n e s a n d h a d contaminated many people i n Gaul. T h e L i b e r t i n e movement i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d as t h e most d a n g e r o u s .'
William Fare1 w r o t e t o C a l v i n o n 2 October, 1544 s t a t i n g t h a t C a l v i n i s t h e o n l y man who knows t h e e x t e n t o f t h e i n j u r y t h e L i b e r t i n e sect has caused i n Germany a n d elsewhere. Farel u r g e s C a l v i n t o speakH e r m i n j a r d , Correspondatlces, V . 721.
H e r m i n j a r d , Correspondances, I X . 1358.
4 1 H e r m i n j a r d , Correspondances, 1X.1392.
o u t a g a i n s t t h e s e c t . 4 2 C a l v i n also received a l e t t e r f r o m Poullain, d a t e d
13 O c t o b e r , 1544, e x p r e s s i n g h i s j o y t h a t C a l v i n i s w i l l i n g t o f i g h t t h e L i b e r t i n e s . He r e p o r t s t h a t h i s b r o t h e r has i n f o r m e d him o f t h e sect's successes i n Lower Germany w h e r e t h e y j o i n e d u p w i t h t h e f o l l o w e r s o f D a v i d J o r i s a n d L o y P r ~ y s t i n c k . ~ From t h e a b o v e a c c o u n t s o n t h e o r i g i n a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e L i b e r t i n e sect, it c a n b e seen t h a t t h e L i b e r t i n e s w i t h whom C a l v i n s t r u g g l e d w e r e a n i n d e p e n d e n t g r o u p o f s e c t a r i a n s . A n d w h e n C a l v i n did w r i t e i n 1545 a g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s , h i s k n o w l e d g e o f t h e sect was i n f o r m e d a n d d e f - i n i t e . H i s p u r p o s e i n w r i t i n g was t o d e t e r a n y f u r t h e r g r o w t h o f t h e L i b e r t i n e movement w h i c h was g a i n i n g a d h e r e n t s , t h e n u m b e r a t h i s w r i t i n g a p p r o x i m a t i n g f o u r t h o u s a n d .
'
C a l v i n was also c o n c e r n e d espe- c i a l l y i n e x p o s i n g Q u i n t i n ' s t r u e i d e n t i t y t o Queen M a r g u e r i t e .A l t h o u g h C a l v i n ' s i n t r o d u c t i o n i n h i s T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e A n a b a p t i s t s seems t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e L i b e r t i n e s w e r e o n l y a sect w i t h i n t h e o v e r a l l A n a b a p t i s t movement, a close examination o f t h e T r e a t i s e A g a i n s t t h e L i b e r t i n e s shows t h a t C a l v i n ' s L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s w e r e a d i s t i n c t g r o u p o f r e l i g i o u s f a n a t i c s whose mask C a l v i n set o u t t o u n v e i l .
4 2 H e r m i n j a r d , C o r r e s p o n d a n c e s , 1X.1395.
4 3 H e r m i n j a r d , C o r r e s p o n d a n c e s , I X . 1398.
4 4 T A L , p. 203 ( C O V11.161). C f . Williams, p. 600.
I n t h e T r e a t i s e C a l v i n defines h i s L i b e r t i n e S p i r i t u a l s as t h o s e f o l l o w i n g t h e t e a c h i n g s of Q u i n t i n . C a l v i n says t h a t "many who have n o idea w h a t t h e w o r d ' L i b e r t i n e ' means recognize t h e name o f Q ~ i n t i n " . ' ~ Elsewhere C a l v i n r e f e r s t o t h e L i b e r t i n e s as " Q u i n t i n and h i s g a n g " whose goal i s " t o t u r n heaven a n d e a r t h u p s i d e down, t o a n n i h i l a t e a l l religion, t o efface all knowledge o f human u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t o deaden consciences, a n d t o leave n o d i s t i n c t i o n between men a n d beast". C a l v i n h e r e i s r e f e r - r i n g t o t h e consequences o f t h e i r p a n t h e i s t i c d o c t r i n e w h i c h makes man a n d God i n t o one s p i r i t . As Niesel notes, t h e d i f f e r e n c e between a member of t h e L i b e r t i n e sect a n d o t h e r people lies i n t h e belief t h a t t h e renewal o f m a n k i n d is t o t h e L i b e r t i n e s t o become l i k e Adam b e f o r e t h e C a l v i n ' s i n t e n t is t o expose t h e p a n t h e i s t i c f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s a n d e f f e c t i v e l y d i s p u t e t h e i r antinomian b e h a v i o u r based o n t h e i r d o c t r i n e s . T h a t C a l v i n i s i n d i c a t i n g a specific sect i s f u r t h e r r e - vealed when h e n a r r o w s t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e sect:
I n f a c t , a l m o s t a l l t h e d i s c i p l e s of t h i s s e c t a r e comprised by t h e s e two t y p e s , i . e .
,
t h o s e who a r e f a n t a s t i c s , who o n l y want t o f i d g e t around w i t h e x t r a v a g a n t q u e s t i o n s and who d e r i v e a l l t h e i r p l e a s u r e by e n g a g i n g i n u s e l e s s t h i n g s , and t h o s e who a r e p r o f a n e people, who have grown t i r e d of c a r r y i n g J e s u s ~ h r i s t ' s y o k e , and i n s t e a d have s o u g h t t o p u t t h e i r c o n s c i e n c e s t o s l e e p i n o r d e r t o s e r v e S a t a n w i t h o u t any remorse o r s c r u p l e s . 4 5 T A L , p . 203. 4 6 T A L , p . 204. 4 7 Niesel, p . 67. "- T A L , p. 208 ( C O V l l . 1 6 5 : E t d e f a i c t , q u a s i t o u r l e s d i s c i p l e s d ec e s t e s e c t e , s o n t cornprins en c e s deux e s p e c e s : c ' e s t
>
d i r e que c e s o n t p h a n t a s t i q u e s,
q u i n e demandent qu'h
remuer q u e s t i o n sT h e t r a d e m a r k o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s , w h i c h w i l l become e v i d e n t i n a l a t e r d i s c u s s i o n , i s t h a t t h e y g i v e themselves u p t o d i s s o l u t e , conscienceless l i v i n g t h r o u g h t h e i r p a n t h e i s t i c v i e w s .
2.3
T H E T H E O L O G I C A L OR PHILOSOPHICAL L I B E R T I N E ST h e theological L i b e r t i n e s , m a i n l y Jerome Bolsec, Jean T r o l l i e t , Sabastian Castellio, a n d Michael S e r v e t u s , c h a l l e n g e d C a l v i n o n t h e d o c t r i n a l f r o n t . T h e f i r s t t h r e e commonly r e j e c t e d C a l v i n ' s d o c t r i n e o f p r e d e s t i n a t i o n a n d election, w i t h S e r v e t u s b e i n g a n a n t i t r i n i t a r i a n . It i s n o t a b l e t h a t w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f T r o l l i e t t h e y w e r e medical p h y s i c i a n s a n d all w e r e C h r i s t i a n h u m a n i s t s n o u r i s h e d b y Renaissance humanism as was Erasmus.
Bolsec s e r v e d as a p h y s i c i a n t o C a l v i n ' s f r i e n d , M o n s i e u r d e Falais. Bolsec's g r e a t i n t e r e s t , h o w e v e r , was i n t h e o l o g y . He was p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e d o c t r i n e o f p r e d e s t i n a t i o n . He v e n t u r e d t o o v e r - t h r o w t h e d o c t r i n e o f God's f r e e election a n d i n October, 1551, o p e n l y a t t a c k e d C a l v i n ' s d o c t r i n e o f p r e d e s t i n a t i o n , d e c l a r i n g t h a t " C a l v i n ' s t e a c h i n g w o u l d make God t h e a u t h o r of s i n a n d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o n -
e x t r a v a g a n t e s , e t p r e n e n t t o u t l e u r p l a i s i r
\a
s ' amuser en choses i n u t i l e s : ou que c e s o n t gens p r o f a n e s , q u i s e s o n t l a s s e z de p o r t e r l e ioug de I e s u s C h r i s t , e t s u r c e l a o n t cherchk d'endormir l e u r s c o n s c i e n c e s , a f i n d e s e r v i r a Sathan s a n s aucun remors ne s c r u p l e ) .demnation o f t h e w i ~ k e d " . ~ C a l v i n describes t h i s e r r o r o f Bolsec i n a l e t t e r t o t h e m i n i s t e r s o f S w i t z e r l a n d :
. . .
he charged God w i t h t h e blame o f a l l e v i l s , and f a l s e l y imputed t o h i m a t y r a n n i c a l c a p r i c e , such as t h e a n c i e n t poets f a n c i f u l l y a s c r i b e d t o t h e i r Jove. He t h e n took up t h e second head, and a f - f i r m e d t h a t men are n o t saved because t h e y have been e l e c t e d , b u t t h a t t h e y a r e e l e c t e d because they b e l i e v e ; t h a t no one i s condemned a t t h e mere p l e a s u r e o f God; t h a t those o n l y are condemned who de- p r i v e themselves o f t h e e l e c t i o n common t oA l t h o u g h Bolsec a t t r i b u t e d a l l t h i n g s t o God's grace, he contended t h a t t h e e f f i c a c y o f g r a c e " r e s t s w i t h t h e f r e e w i l l o f e ~ e r y o n e " . ~ T h i s is,
i n f a c t , compatible w i t h semi-pelagianism.
B o t h C a l v i n a n d Bolsec used passages o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s a n d A u g u s t i n e ' s sources i n t h e i r a r g u m e n t s . For t h i s reason, t h e C o u n c i l o f Geneva was c o n f u s e d i n t h e i r a t t e m p t t o a r r i v e a t a judgment a n d s o u g h t help from t h e c h u r c h e s o u t s i d e Geneva. Bolsec was f i n a l l y condemned b y t h e Council t o permanent e x i l e f r o m t h e c i t y . T h e c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h Bolsec u n d o u b t e d l y b r o u g h t much t r o u b l e as i s d e s c r i b e d b y C a l v i n i n h i s l e t t e r t o B u l l i n g e r i n J a n u a r y o f 1552: "[Bolsec] s e d i t i o u s l y d i s t u r b e d a peaceful C h u r c h , who s t r o v e t o d i v i d e u s b y d e a d l y d i s c o r d , who,
C o l l i n s , 1968, p . 166.
5 o Bonnet, 1972, V o l . 11, p . 323.
5 1 Bonnet, V o l . It, p . 333.
w i t h o u t e v e r h a v i n g r e c e i v e d t h e s l i g h t e s t provocation, loaded u s w i t h a l l s o r t s o f abuse".'
T r o l l i e t also declared t h a t C a l v i n made God t h e a u t h o r o f s i n w i t h h i s d o c t r i n e o f p r e d e s t i n a t i o n . T r o l l i e t , a n a t i v e o f Geneva, h a d become a h e r m i t i n B u r g u n d y . R e t u r n i n g t o Geneva, h e asked t o b e admitted t o t h e m i n i s t r y . His solicitation was f a v o r e d b y t h e C o u n c i l b u t rejected b y C a l v i n a g a i n s t whom T r o l l i e t came t o b e a r an i r r e c o n c i l a b l e h a t r e d .
I n h i s opposition t o C a l v i n , T r o l l i e t became a t o p f i g u r e i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e L i b e r t i n e s .
T r o l l i e t objected t o C a l v i n ' s d o c t r i n e o f e t e r n a l election w h i c h h e saw as s u b j e c t i n g m a n k i n d t o e t e r n a l condemnation. A c c o r d i n g t o C a l v i n , T r o l l i e t e x t r a c t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g passage f r o m t h e I n s t i t u t e s t o s u p p o r t h i s claim
. . .
a l l t h e c h i l d r e n of Adam, by h i s e t e r n a l p r o v i d e n c e , t h e y were d e v o t e d , b e f o r e t h e y were born t o p e r p e t u a l c a l a m i t y. . .
I f t h e y have a l l been t a k e n o u t of a c o r r u p t mass, it i s no way marvellous t h a t t h e y a r e l i a b l e t o condemnation. Let them n o t t h e r e f o r e accuse God of i n i q u i t y , because by h i s e t e r n a l d e c r e e t h e y a r e o r d a i n e d t o condemnation, t o which t h e i r v e r y n a t u r e makes them a m e n a b l e . 5 4T r o l l i e t i n t e r p r e t e d t h e passage as folllows. I f man i s b y e t e r n a l o r d i - nance a n d w i l l o f God placed u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n o f s i n n i n g , it i s obvious t h a t C a l v i n ' s statement makes God t h e a u t h o r o f s i n a n d undermines man's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r s i n n i n g . C a l v i n explains t h a t " t h e opposing p a r t y t h i n k s t h a t I c o n t r a d i c t myself when I teach t h a t man o u g h t r a t h e r t o
5 3 Bonnet, V o l . I I , p . 333.
5 4 I n s t . (15541, p . 461 in Bonnet, V o l . II, p . 365, n .
1.
22
search f o r t h e cause o f h i s condemnation i n h i s c o r r u p t n a t u r e t h a n i n t h e p r e d e s t i n a t i o n of God". C a l v i n explains t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n by means of t h e t h e o r y of t w o causes w h i c h states t h a t " T h e r e a r e t w o causes, t h e one concealed i n t h e e t e r n a l counsel of God, a n d t h e o t h e r open a n d manifest i n t h e sin o f m a n " . 5 6 T h e f i r s t cause i s s e c r e t a n d closed t o man's comprehension while t h e second i s made k n o w n t o m a n k i n d . Man i s n o t able t o u n f o l d t h e secret o f God i n o r d e r t o search f o r t h e o r i g i n o f man's condemnation; r a t h e r we can see w i t h c l a r i t y t h a t a l l c o r r u p t i o n m a n i f e s t l y proceeds f r o m t h e d e p r a v i t y o f human n a t u r e . T h u s , while C a l v i n believes i n b o t h causes o f God's election a n d r e p r o b a t i o n , T r o l l i e t is n o t c o n v i n c e d t h a t such b e l i e f is based o n reasonable p r o o f . I n respect t o t h i s , C a l v i n i s c o n v i n c e d of i t s c e r t a i n t y : " T h e c o u n c i l o f God does n o t o v e r r u l e i n a s o v e r e i g n decree t h e disposal o f e v e r y t h i n g , a l t h o u g h p r o x i m a t e causes may s t r i k e o u r eyes. T h a t were as much as t o f i n d a c o n t r a d i c t i o n i n these propositions, w h i c h a r e all those o f h o l y w r i t " .
These accusations repeated b y T r o l l i e t created t u r m o i l i n C a l v i n ' s r e l a t i o n w i t h Melanchthon a n d even t h e whole Geneval c h u r c h . B u t i n t h e f i n a l stage o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y , Monseigneurs o f Geneva a p p r o v e d o f w h a t i s w r i t t e n w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e d o c t r i n e of p r e d e s t i n a t i o n i n C a l v i n ' s Bonnet, V o l .
I I ,
p.366.
t i Bonnet, V o l . I I, p .366.
5 7 Bonnet, V o l . I I , p.367.
C f . p.379.
C f . Doumergue, V o l . V I , p . 169.I n s t i t u t e s , a n d T r o l l i e t himself confessed t h a t h e m i s u n d e r s t o o d C a l v i n a n d h i s d o c t r i n e , a c c e p t i n g it as s o u n d a n d h o l y . '
T h e d i s p u t e between Sebastian C a s t e l l i o a n d C a l v i n was a b i t t e r one. T h e i r c o n f r o n t a t i o n i n v o l v e d b o t h dogmatics a n d c a n o n i c a l m a t t e r s . A s a p h y s i c i a n a n d h u m a n i s t , C a s t e l l i o e n j o y e d l i t e r a r y s o c i e t y a n d joined t h e P r o t e s t a n t R e f o r m a t i o n . C a s t e l l i o was a p p o i n t e d r e c t o r o f a college i n Geneva i n 1541. H i g h l y competent as i n s t r u c t o r a n d w r i t e r , C a s t e l l i o made a n a u s p i c i o u s s t a r t i n t h e academic a r e n a . S e v e r a l c o n f r o n t a t i o n s w i t h C a l v i n , h o w e v e r , w e r e soon t o p u t an e n d t o h i s c a r e e r . T h e f i r s t ( n o n - o f f i c i a l ) d i s p u t e b e t w e e n C a l v i n a n d C a s t e l l i o t o o k p l a c e i n November, 1542. C a s t e l l i o w a n t e d t o p u b l i s h h i s F r e n c h t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e New T e s t a m e n t a n d s u b m i t t e d a m a n u s c r i p t t o C a l v i n f o r h i s a p p r o v a l . C a l v i n , h o w e v e r , saw many p r o b l e m s a n d c r i t - i c i z e d t h a t " t h e r e w o u l d b e need o f m a n y c o r r e c t i o n s " .
'
T h e second a n d m o r e s e r i o u s c o n f l i c t w i t h C a l v i n o c c u r r e d i n N o v e m b e r o f 1543. C a s t e l l i o d e s i r e d t o r e t i r e as r e c t o r a n d was s e e k i n g t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f a m i n i s t r y . I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e examination, h i s d i s c o r d a n t t h e o l o g i c a l o p i n i o n s w e r e r e v e a l e d . I n p a r t i c u l a r , C a l v i n f o u n d t w o p o i n t s o f b e l i e f u n a c c e p t a b l e : C a s t e l l i o opposed t h e c r e e d a l c o n f e s s i o n o f C h r i s t ' s d e - s c e n t i n t o h e l l a n d d i s c r e d i t e d t h e S o n g o f Solomon as a n "obscene a n d'
C f . Doumergue, V o l .VI,
pp. 163, 165. 5 9 Bonnet, V o l . I, p. 351. 24lascivious poem". 6 0 C a l v i n w r o t e t o V i r e t i n March, 1544, r e g a r d i n g these t w o p o i n t s :
What S e b a s t i a n would be a t I know n o t , i n b o a s t i n g t h a t my f r i e n d s a r e s u r p r i s e d and laugh a t t h e thought of my adducing t h e f o r t y - f i f t h psalm f o r t h e d e f e n c e of t h e Song of Solomon, and s i n c e t h e d e s c e n t of C h r i s t t o h e l l i n t h e Creed i s s u b j o i n e d t o t h e b u r i a l , b r i n g i n g forward f o r t h e c o n f i r m a t i o n of my own i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , t h a t e x p r e s s i o n which he u t t e r e d w h i l e laughing on t h e c r o s s . ti
C a l v i n took Castellio's objection t o t h e c a n o n i c i t y o f t h e Song o f Solomon s e r i o u s l y . T o C a l v i n , t h i s jeopardized t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e whole of t h e S c r i p t u r e s .
Castellio i n t e r p r e t e d C h r i s t ' s descent i n t o h e l l l i t e r a l l y w h i l e C a l v i n r e - g a r d e d it as b e i n g only symbolic o f C h r i s t ' s s u f f e r i n g . C a l v i n states i n h i s I n s t i t u t e s :
T h i s s t o r y , a l t h o u g h it i s r e p e a t e d by g r e a t a u t h o r s , and even today
i s e a r n e s t l y defended a s t r u e by many p e r s o n s , s t i l l i s n o t h i n g b u t a s t o r y . I t i s c h i l d i s h t o e n c l o s e t h e s o u l s of t h e dead i n a p r i s o n . What need, t h e n , f o r C h r i s t ' s s o u l t o go down t h e r e t o r e l e a s e them?63
T h e antagonism increased between t h e t w o men as Castellio was r e f u s e d admittance i n t o t h e m i n i s t r y . Castellio exploded p u b l i c l y a g a i n s t t h e
6 0 Buisson, 1892, p p . 198-199 i n Ozment, 1973, p . 170.
6 1 Bonnet, V o l . I, p . 409.
Wendel, 1963, p . 83.
6 3 I n s t . 11.16.9 ( CO 11.376: Sed haec f a b u l a t m e t s i magnos a u t o r e s
h a b e t , e t h o d i e quoque a m u l t i s s e r i o p r o v e r i t a t e d e f e n d i t u r , n o h i l tarnen quarn f a b u l a e s t . Nam c o n c l u d e r e i n c a r c e r e mortuorum anirnas p u e r i l e e s t : C h r i s t i autem animam i l l u c d e s c e n d e r e u t e a s m a n u m i t t e r e t , q u i d opus f u i t ? ) .
