CALVIN, or CAUVIN,(Jonx,) the celebrated reform er, was born at Noyon, in Picardy, on the 10th of July 1'509. His father's name was Gerard Calvin, and his mother's Joanna Franca ; persons of respectable charac ter, but by no means in affluent circumstances. From his earliest years he lived in the family of Montmor, which was of some distinction in the country, and re ceived there, though at his father's expence, a very li beral education. He then accompanied the children of that family to the college of La Marche, in Paris, and studied under i\larturin Cordery, a man of equal probity and learning, and celebrated throughout France as a teacher of youth. heaving the college of La Marche, he went to that of Montaign, where, under the tuition of a learned Spaniard, he made the most rapid progress in the elements of literature. Outstripping all his com panions, he advanced quickly from the study of the lan guages to dialectics and philosophy. His father having always observed in him an uncommon degree of piety and moral virtue, concluded that he should be consulting the young man's inclinations, by devoting him to the sa cred office; and accordingly he procured for him (in 1521,) from the bishop+ of Noyon, the Chapel de la Gesirie, in that city. In 1527 he obtained the curacy of 31arteville ; and two years after he exchanged it for that of Pont L'Eveque. There he preached several times, though he had not received any regular ordination, nor was any farther an ecclesiastic than by simple tonsure. But it was not long till Calvin's views, as well as those of the father, completely changed with respect to the profession which he had adopted. I hiving acquired some correct notions of Christianity, from the instruc tions of his relation, Robert Olivetan, and from a care ful perusal of the scriptures, he became disgusted with the superstitious of Popery, and had actually begun to withdraw himself from the 11 omish communion. Ge rard, too, finding that to remain in the church was not the most likely way of advancing the worldly interests of his son, was perfectly willing that he should abandon the church, and betake himself to a more profitable line of life. The study of the law was lived on as a depart ment in which Calvin himself expected at least to enjoy greater liberty of conscience ; and which his father re garded as one that would be productive to his favourite child both of opulence and fame. In pursuance of this
design, he went to Orleans, where the civil law was taught by Pierre de l'Etoile, the gi'eatest of the French civilians, and afterwards president of the parliament of Paris. There he made such great and rapid proficiency, that he very often supplied the place of the professors in their absence ; and they unanimously and gratuitously offered him, when he was leaving the university, a doc tor's degree, as a just tribute to his superior talents, his great diligence, and his high attainments in legal science. Although, however, he applied chiefly to law, he did not neglect the study of theology. And so much was he respected on account of his acquaintance with that subject, that all those in Orleans who were desirous to know any thing of the pure doctrines of religion, had fre quent recourse to him for information ; and on these oc casions they had equal reason to admire his erudition and his zeal. At this period of his life he was a re markably severe student. So incessant and laborious was his application, that while it greatly improved his intellectual powers, and provided him with a rich fund of knowledge, it also induced that weakness in his sto mach which was afterwards the source of much dis tress to him, and at length shortened his days. From Orleans he went to Bourges, and there prosecuted his professional studies, under Andre Alciati, one of the most noted civilians of his age. At Bourges, he con tracted an intimate friendship with Melchior Wolmar, professor of Greek, a man distinguished for his personal worth, and his skill in teaching. With his assistance Calvin acquired the Greek language, a benefit which he always recollected with pleasure, and for which he after wards testified his gratitude, by dedicating to Wolmar his Commentary on the 2d Epist. to the Corinthians. Amidst all his other pursuits, Calvin still persevered in sacred study, and sometimes preached in Ligneres, a small town in Berri, with the permission and in the pre sence of the governor of that district.