Now, as they did us injustice in that, it appears to me that you ought to have been too reasonable and humane to suffer us to be mixed up and implicated in their follies. One of them, of whom I had heard complaint made, will bear me witness that I have not encouraged him in his fault since his return, but have rather endeavoured to make him feel and understand it, although Monsieur a Lasco had written to me confidentially that all had been forgiven. I mention this, because I have heard that they have been reproached with wishing to make an idol of me and a Jerusalem of Geneva. I have not deserved that your Church should treat me thus, and even were there twice the amount of ingratitude, I should not cease to seek your welfare. But I am constrained to warn you of it, for such proceedings are calculated rather to ruin than to edify. And however I may seek to bury such matters in oblivion, I cannot hinder many from being offended by them.
Jules Bonnet | ed., Letters of John Calvin, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 345–46. HT: Reformed Dogmatica
RESOURCES
- Subscribe To The Heidelblog!
- Download the HeidelApp on Apple App Store or Google Play
- Browse the Heidelshop!
- The Heidelblog Resource Page
- Heidelmedia Resources
- The Ecumenical Creeds
- The Reformed Confessions
- The Heidelberg Catechism
- The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2025)
- Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008)
- Why I Am A Christian
- What Must A Christian Believe?
- Heidelblog Contributors
- Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to
Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Heidelblog
The Heidelblog has been in publication since 2007. It is devoted to recovering the Reformed confession and to helping others discover Reformed theology, piety, and practice.
More by Heidelblog ›
Do you think Calvin would condemn “reformation tours” of Europe as being pilgrimages?
Assuming the story is true, I always found it compelling that Calvin had himself buried in an unmarked grave
Hi Dan,
I don’t think Calvin would condemn Reformation tours. Those have been going on since the 1550s. Zacharias Ursinus traveled around to meet various Reformation figures. As he did so, he collected their signatures. lots of people with funding or means did that sort of thing. Beza published a volume of many biographies with sketches of various Reformation related figures.
Yes, it is true that Calvin was buried, at his request, in an unmarked grave. Anyone reporting to show tourists where Calvin was buried is stealing people’s money.