Re: Calvin's stepson and daughter-in-law

On Friday, April 28, 2000 at 1:00:00 AM UTC-6, SJS wrote:
> "David Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote...
> > Greetings to all readers,
> > And praise, glory, and honor to Jesus Christ, King of all things -
> including
> > the internet!
> > According to Gene Edwards in "How to Meet Under the Headship of Jesus
> Christ"
> > (1993: Message Ministry) page 159, the two persons in the subject line
> above
> > were both drowned in Geneva as punishment for sexual sins. (Elsewhere in
> the
> > same book, I noticed great carelessness with certain historical data.)
> > So, could someone please direct me to a source where this matter can
> actually
> > be documented? Much thanks.
> Calvin was married to Idellette du Bure, who was a widow with two children.
> After she passed away (1549), he took care of her children. His
> step-daughter, Judith, confessed to and was convicted of committing adultery
> in 1557. Calvin did not come out of his home for three days after her
> confession because of his humiliation.
> I can't say for certain what her sentence was. However, it appears that at
> least some of Edwards' facts are in error, since it was his step daughter
> who was convicted, not stepson (I suppose it's possible that Idellette's
> other child was a son who was also convicted but I have never heard that).
> Also see Schaff's comments on discipline in Geneva:
> http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/history/8_ch13.htm
> ____Begin Quote____
> Excommunication should be exercised only against flagitious crimes which
> disgrace the Christian profession; such as adultery, fornication, theft,
> robbery, sedition, perjury, contempt of God and his authority. Nor should it
> be exercised by the bishop or pastor alone, but by the body of elders, and,
> as is pointed out by Paul, "with the knowledge and approbation of the
> congregation; in such a manner, however, that the multitude of the people
> may not direct the proceeding, but may watch over it as witnesses and
> guardians, that nothing be done by a few persons from any improper motive."
> Moreover, "the severity of the Church must be tempered by a spirit of
> gentleness. For there is constant need of the greatest caution, according to
> the injunction of Paul concerning a person who may have been censured, 'lest
> by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow' (2
> Cor. 2:7); for thus a remedy would become a poison."
> When the sinner gives reasonable evidence of repentance he is to be
> restored. Calvin objects to "the excessive austerity of the ancients," who
> refused to readmit the lapsed. He approves of the course of Cyprian, who
> says: "Our patience and kindness and tenderness is ready for all who come; I
> wish all to return into the Church; I wish all our fellow-soldiers to be
> assembled in the camp of Christ, and all our brethren to be received into
> the house of God our Father. I forgive everything; I conceal much. With
> ready and sincere affection I embrace those who return with penitence."
> Calvin adds: "Such as are expelled from the Church, it is not for us to
> expunge from the number of the elect, or to despair of them as already lost.
> It is proper to consider them as strangers to the Church, and consequently
> to Christ, but this only as long as they remain in a state of exclusion. And
> even then let us hope better things of them for the future, and not cease to
> pray to God on their behalf. Let us not condemn to eternal death the
> offender, nor prescribe laws to the mercy of God who can change the worst of
> men into the best." He makes a distinction between excommunication and
> anathema; the former censures and punishes with a view to reformation and
> restoration; the latter precludes all pardon, and devotes a person to
> eternal perdition. Anathema ought never to be resorted to, or at least very
> rarely. Church members ought to exert all means in their power to promote
> the reformation of an excommunicated person, and admonish him not as an
> enemy, but as a brother (2 Cor. 2:8). "Unless this tenderness be observed by
> the individual members as well as by the Church collectively, our discipline
> will be in danger of speedily degenerating into cruelty."
> ___End Quote___
> If the standard sentence for adultery was excommunication until repentance,
> I find it hard to believe that Calvin's own step-daughter would be executed.
> If she had committed adultery twice, however, in Geneva, I believe the
> second offence would result in execution. However, my guess is that if his
> stepdaughter was executed, she would receive nearly as much publicity as
> Servetus and somebody here would know about it, but I suppose that's an
> argument from silence.
> God bless,
> Scott

She was not executed. Her and her lover were whipped and  Her lover was exiled and
she was later readmitted to communion 3 months later upon her repentance.