Luther acknowledged that Calvin’s doctrine went beyond that of Zwingli, and expressed the delight which it gave him. As early as October, 1539, the Saxon reformer wrote to Bucer--‘Greet John Calvin respectfully, whose book I have read with singular enjoyment.’[756] As the treatise on the Supper appeared only in 1541, the _Institution_ must be the book spoken of, in which the doctrine of the Eucharist was already set forth. When the reformer of Germany read the little treatise to which we have just referred, he said, ‘Ah, if the Swiss did the same, we should now be at peace instead of quarrelling.’[757] In addition to his other labors, Calvin attended the theological debates in the universities, sometimes even presiding at them. He held conferences with the Roman Catholic doctors, at which he defended the evangelical theology; thereby acquiring so high a renown that a great number of students and even of learned men came from France to Strasburg to hear him.[758] This man, who already occupied so important a position, was at the same time in the most humble circumstances. Poverty was added to his other trials. He received from the publishers of his works only very low remuneration. He did not think that he had any right to ask remuneration from the state or even from the Church; but he would not have refused it if it had been spontaneously offered to him. He was living at this time on a small sum derived partly from his paternal inheritance and partly from the sale of his library and other property of various kinds. But this was far short of his need, and sometimes the payment for his lodging was a great embarrassment. He wrote to Farel--‘I am obliged to live at my own expense, unless I were willing to become a burden to my brethren; and my destitution is now so great that _I do not possess a farthing_.[759] It is not, you see, so easy for me to take care of my health as you with so much kind care counsel me to do.’ Calvin afterwards received a salary, but too small to suffice even for his modest wants. [Sidenote: DEATH OF OLIVÉTAN.]