[Footnote 475: Du Bellay, _Mém._ p. 206.] [Footnote 476: _Wars of Italy_, ii. bk. xx. p. 901.] [Footnote 477: 'Legatum vehementer contendisse cum romano pontifice Massiliæ, ne violenter agat.'—_Corp. Ref._ ii. p. 721.] [Footnote 478: Guicciardini, _Hist. des Guerres d'Italie_, ii. liv. xx. p. 901.] [Footnote 479: _Guerres d'Italie_, ii. liv. xx. p. 901.] [Footnote 480: _Lettre close à l'évêque de Paris_, p. 21.] [Footnote 481: 'S. M. Christᵐᵃ dimando che da sua Santᵃ li fussino osservate le promesse.'—Soriano, Ranke, _Päpste_, i. p. 127.] [Footnote 482: Guicciardini, _Guerres d'Italie_, i. liv. xx. p. 902.] CHAPTER XXX. ADDRESS OF THE RECTOR TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS. (NOVEMBER 1533.) Calvin had not quitted Paris. He was at one moment on the boulevards with the merchant De la Forge, at another in the university quarter with Cop; in the dwellings of the poor, and the mansions of the nobles, 'increasing greatly the work of the Lord,' says Beza, 'not only by teaching truth, but also by opposing the heretics.'[483] He then retired to his chamber and meditated. He turned his piercing glance upon the future, and fancied he could see, in a time more or less remote and through certain clouds, the triumph of the Gospel. He knew that the cause of God in general advances painfully; that there are rocks in the way; that interest, ignorance, and servility check it at every moment; that it stumbles and falls, and men may think it ruined. But Calvin believed that He who is its Head would help it to overcome all its enemies. 'Only,' he said, 'those who bear its standard must mount to the assault with unflinching courage.' Calvin, thinking that the time for the assault had come, desired that in the university itself, from that pulpit which all Europe respected, the voice of truth should be heard after centuries of silence. A very natural opportunity occurred. [Sidenote: THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY.] During the month of October Cop was much occupied with a task that had fallen to him. It was the custom of the university for the rector to deliver an inaugural address in Latin on All Saints' Day in one of the churches of Paris. Calvin thought that it was his duty to take advantage of this opportunity to proclaim the Gospel boldly in the face of France. The rector replied that he was a physician, and that it was difficult for him to speak like a divine: 'If, however, you will write the address,' he said, 'I will promise to deliver it.' The two young men were soon agreed; they understood the risk they ran, but were ready to incur it, without presumption however, and with prudence. They agreed to explain the essence of the Gospel before the university, giving it the academic name of _Christian Philosophy_. 'Christ,' says Calvin, 'desires us to be like serpents, careful to avoid all that may hurt us; and yet like doves, who fly without fear and without care, and who offer themselves innocently to the fowlers who are laying snares for them.'[484]