Another happiness awaited Calvin at Strasburg. His greatest sufferings at Geneva had their source in that state-church, that people-church, that shapeless community which comprised the whole nation, believers and unbelievers, righteous men and profligates. In its place at Strasburg he found some Christians exiled on account of their faith, purified by their trial like gold, who had given up all for Christ, their righteousness and their life. The mass of professing Christians at Geneva had as it were suffocated him. Now at Strasburg he was in the midst of brethren and sisters, and almost all of them belonged to his own country, France. He breathed freely. The evangelical order intended by the apostles prevailed in his Church.[750] He preached four times a week. He met his elders and deacons once a week for the study of the Holy Scriptures and for prayer; and some of those lay friends well endowed by God were soon qualified to take the place of their pastor in case of his absence, and to edify their brethren. The first supper was celebrated in September, and it was repeated every month. How wide the difference for Calvin between that repast at Geneva, to which men came who drank, gamed, quarrelled, and sang indecent songs, and whom, for all that, he had to admit to the communion of the body and the blood of the Redeemer, and this brotherly supper at Strasburg, celebrated in company with pious Christians, persecuted for righteousness’ sake, whose names were written in heaven, and who drew nigh to the Lord with devotion, as members of his family! Calvin gave all his attention to the cure of souls. If there were any Christians who had not an adequate acquaintance with the doctrine of salvation, he instructed them; if any were reproached by their own conscience, cast down and in distress, he consoled and lifted them up; if any had gone astray from the path of righteousness, he rebuked them. He certainly met with some opposition, especially on the part of the younger folk; but he held his ground. While he required a pure faith and life, he protested against the tyranny exercised by the priests in auricular confession, and declared that no man had the right to bind the conscience of his brethren. Thus he saw his flock thriving from day to day under his direction.[751] ‘It was at Strasburg that the first Church was organized to serve as a model to others,’ says Raemond. A remarkable conversion distinguished its early days. Herman of Liége, who had engaged in discussion with Calvin at Geneva, was converted by him and joined his Church. He embraced the doctrines which Calvin found in the Holy Scriptures, on free will, the divinity and humanity of Christ, regeneration, and baptism. He was in doubt only as to predestination. Calvin gained other victories besides. [Sidenote: VIEW OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.]