The Reformers vs. the Catholic Church

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The Fathers "of the Reformation were not "unified" in their rejection of the Catholic Church. "The Reformers" exerted theological pressure and personal recriminations, one towards the other, and against the followers of each, in ways that would shock most of the Protestant world in our day.

How many people know that "some Fathers" of the Reformation put to death those who proclaimed what "other Fathers" of the Reformation taught and believed? Zwingly, Calvin, Luther, and other major reformers would have put each other to death for their beliefs had the circumstances and timing been right. Is that a bold statement? It's too bad those hanging at the end of a rope were not here to answer that question, for that is in fact what the Reformers did to each other.

As an example of the division that existed among them we can read the "History of the Life, Works, and Doctrines of John Calvin" by J. M. V. Audin, translated by Rev. John McGill (Louisville: B. J. Webb & Brother, 1850) which is as follows:

"On Jan. 12, 1538, Calvin wrote in a confidential letter to his friend, Bucer:

"If Luther can, in the same embrace, bind us and our confusion, my heart will be overwhelmed with joy; but there is no one but himself in the church of God...What are we to think of Luther? In truth, I know not: I believe that he is a pious man; I would wish only that they are mistaken in representing him as they do (and the testimony is that of his friends,) as foolishly obstinate; and his conduct is well calculated to accredit these suspicions. They inform me that he boasts of having compelled all the churches of Wittenberg to recognize his lying doctrine; strange vanity! If he be tormented by so great a desire of glory, all serious hope of peace in the truth of the Lord must be renounced; with him there are not only pride and wickedness, but ignorance and hallucination the most gross. How absurd was he at first with his bread, which is the true body!" ...

"If now he believes that the body of Christ is enveloped in the material substance, it is a monstrous error. Ah! If they wish to inculcate such absurd doctrines to our Swiss, what a beautiful path to concord do they prepare! If, therefore, thou hast over Martin any influence, labor to chain to Christ, rather than to the doctor, all those souls with whom he has so unfortunately contended: let Martin at length give a hand to the truth which he has manifestly betrayed. As to myself, I can well render testimony, that, from the day on which I first tasted the word of truth, I have not been abandoned by God, to the point of not comprehending the nature of the sacraments and the sense of the Eucharistic institution." ...

"If King Francis I embraces the symbol of Calvin, Luther threatens the King with reprobation. If the King listens to Luther, Calvin damns him irremediably, for allowing himself to be seduced by “the detestable error of the Real Presence.” Apostles of the Lord agree then among yourselves. You both tell me, take and read, here is the book of life, the bread of truth, the manna of the desert. I listen to you, and your word throws my soul into an abyss of doubts" ...

"Who then will cause to shine “that first star of day,” as Calvin calls his gospel?

"I will” says Osiander, “but accept my essential justice."

"I will,” says Calvin, “but reject the justice of the heretic Osiander,and accept my gratuitous justice."

"I will,” says Melanchthon, “but remain in the papacy, for the church must have a visible head."

"I will,” says Calvin, “but reject the pope, the prince of darkness, the anti-Christ of flesh and bone."

"I will,” says Luther, “but believe that with your lips you receive the body and blood of Christ."

"I will,” says Calvin, “but believe that your mouth only touches the symbols of the flesh and blood, and that faith alone has the power to transform them into reality."

Where then did the first star of day stop in its course?

"At Zurich,” says Zwingli.

"“At Bale," says Oecolampadius.

"At Strasbourg," says Bucer.

"At Wittenberg," says Luther.

"At Neuchatel," says Farel.

But in what Bible shall I read the word of God?

"In Luther’s Bible," says Hans Lufft, his printer.

"In the Geneva Bible," say Calvin and Beza.

"In the Bible of Zurich," exclaims Leo Judae.

"In the Bible of Bale," answers Oecolampadius.

"In truth," says Beza, "the translation of Bale is pitiful, and in many passages offensive to the Holy Spirit."

"“Cursed be the Geneva translation," says the colloquy of Hamptoncourt, "it is the worst that exists."

"Be on your guard," says Calvin, "against the Bible of Zwingli, it is poison; for Zwingli has written “that Paul did not recognize his epistles as holy, infallible scripture, and that immediately after they had been written, they had no authority among the Apostles."

These are but a few examples of the division that existed in the Protestant world from its very beginnings. This trial will reveal why division in Christianity exists and has been compounded since that time from the very words of the Fathers of the Reformation.


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