t it met with such
success that by January, 1534, he held a disputation which decided the
city to become evangelical. The council examined the shrines
[Sidenote: 1535] and found machinery for the production of bogus
miracles; provisionally abolished the mass; [Sidenote: May 21, 1536]
and soon after formally renounced the papal religion.

At this point Calvin arrived, and began preaching and organizing at
once. He soon aroused opposition from the citizens, galled at his
strictness and perhaps jealous of a foreigner. [Sidenote: Calvin
expelled, February 1538] The elections to the council went against
him, and the opposition came to a head shortly afterwards. The town
council decided to adopt the method of celebrating the eucharist used
at Rome. For some petty reason Calvin and Farel refused to obey, and
when a riot broke out at the Lord's table, the council expelled them
from the city.

Calvin went to Strassburg, where he learned to know Bucer and
republished his _Institutes_. Here he married Idelette de Bure, the
widow of an Anabaptist, [Sidenote: August, 1540] who was never in
strong health and died, probably of consumption, on March 29, 1549.
Calvin's married life lacked tenderness and joy. The story that he
selected his wife because he thought that by reason of her want of
beauty she would not distract his thoughts from God, is not well
founded, but it does illustrate his attitude towards her. The one or
more children born of the union died in infancy.

Calvin attended the Colloquy at Ratisbon, [Sidenote: 1541] in the
result of which he was deeply disappointed. In the meantime he had not
lost all interest in Geneva. When Cardinal Sadoleto wrote, in the most
polished Latin, an appeal to the city to return to the Roman communion,
Calvin answered it. [Sidenote: September 1, 1539] The party opposed
to him discredited itself by giving up the city's rights to Berne, and,
was therefore overthrown. The perplexities presenting themselves to
the council were {170} beyond their powers to solve, and they felt
obliged to recall Calvin, [Sidenote: Calvin returns, 1541] who returned
to remain for the rest of his life.

[Sidenote: Theocracy]

His position was so strong that he was able to make of Geneva a city
after his own heart. The form of government he caused to prevail was a
strict theocracy. The clergy of the city met in a body known as the
Congregation, a "venerable company" that discussed and prepared
l