Calvin was not however equally pleased with everything in Paris. He willingly recognised the beauty of the city, but was terrified at seeing fearful abysses and (as he called them) 'the depths of hell' side by side with its magnificent palaces. He felt 'extreme sadness' at the sight. An immense movement was then being accomplished all over the world. As the sun of spring brings up the seed sown in the earth—the tares as well as the good seed—the sun of liberty that was beginning to shine quickened not only the germs of truth, but sometimes also those of error. Calvin's soul was deeply grieved at this; but he did not stand still. He had received from God the call to oppose all false doctrines, and was preparing to do so. This is one of the main features of his character. To the very last he combated the pride of those who wish to know everything; the rage for subtleties, mystical pretensions, immorality, unitarian doctrines, the deism which denies the supernatural, and the pantheistic and atheistic theories. In Paris he met with all these aberrations. His principal means of combating error was to put forward the truth; yet he thought it useful sometimes to have conversations and even conferences with his adversaries, of which we shall see some examples. [140] 'Melioris theologiæ professor eximius.'—Strasburg MS. (June 20, 1534). [141] 'Etiam rex ipse, cujus animus erga meliores litteras in dies magis ac magis augetur.'—Ibid. [142] 'Pulchre inclinabat regnum Papæ in Gallia. Ad Christum multi adspirabant.'—Ibid. [143] 'S'y était fait place déjà fort large, jusqu'à presque se dire maitresse, mêmement de Paris.'—Fontaine, _Hist. cath. de notre Temps_, (Paris) p. 188. [144] 'Magnum vitæ periculum.'—Beza, _Vita Calvini_. [145] See Vol. II. of this History, bk. ii. chap. xxxii. [146] Crespin, _Martyrol._ fol. 107 verso. [147] Crespin, _Martyrol._ fol. 112 verso. [148] Crespin, _Martyrol._ fol. 113. [149] Crespin, _Martyrol._ fol. 113 verso. [150] Ibid. p. 113. [151] Tiraboschi, _Lettere italiane_, vii. p. 315. [152] Palearii _Op._ lib. i. ep. xvii. [153] 'Per ejuscemodi homines, sæpe Deus aliquid facit, qui quum quantum possunt tantum velint, magno solent esse exemplo.'—Strasburg MS. Schmidt, _G. Roussel_, p. 220. [154] 'Utinam animus esset nunc in manibus atque in calamo.'—Ibid. [155] Calvin, _in_ _I. Epist. ad Thessal._ [156] See below, chap. xi. [157] Th. de Bèze, _Dict. Eccles._ p. 11. _France protestante_, art. _Amyot_. [158] Crespin, _Martyrol._ fol. 113. CHAPTER VIII. CALVIN'S FIRST RELATIONS WITH THE LIBERTINES AND SERVETUS. (SUMMER 1534.)