JOHN, the celebrated reformer of the Christian church from Romish superstitions and doctrinal nal errors, and founder of the sect since called Calvinists, was born in 1509. He was the son of a cooper of Noyon in Picardy; and his real name was Chauvin, which he chose to latinize into Calvinus, styling himself in the title page to his first work (a Commentary on Seneca de Clementia), "Lucius Calvinus, Civis Romanus;" an early proof of his pride, at about 24 years of age. In 1529, he was rector of Puy l'Eveque; and in 1534 he threw up this benefice, separating himself entirely from the Roman church. The persecution against the Protestants in France (with whom he was now associated) obliged him to retire to Basle in Switzerland; here he published his famous Institutes of the Christian religion in 1536. The following year he was chosen professor of divinity, and one of the ministers of the church at Geneva. The next year, viz. 1537, he made all the people solemnly swear to a body of doctrines; but finding that religion had not yet had any great influence on the morals of the people, he, afflicting by other ministers, declared, that since all their admonitions and warnings had proved unsuccessful, they could not celebrate the holy sacrament as long as these disorders reign; he also declared, that he could not submit to some regulations made by the synod of Berne. Upon which the syndics having summoned the people, it was ordered that Calvin and two other ministers should leave the city within two days. Upon this Calvin retired to Straßburg, where he established a French church, of which he was the first minister, and was also chosen professor of divinity there. Two years after he was chosen to assist at the diet appointed by the emperor to meet at Worms and at Ratibon in order to appease the troubles occasioned by the difference of religion. He went with Beucer, and entered into a conference with Melanchthon. The people of Geneva now entreated him to return; to which he consented, and arrived at Geneva, September 13, 1541. He began with establishing a form of ecclesiastical discipline, and a consistorial jurisdiction, with the power of inflicting all kinds of canonical punishments. This was greatly disliked by many persons, who imagined that the papal tyranny would soon be revived. Calvin, however, asserted on all occasions the rights of his consistory with inflexible strictness; and he caused Michael Servetus to be burnt at the stake for writing against the doctrine of the Trinity. But though the rigour of his proceedings sometimes occasioned great tumults in the city, yet nothing could shake his tenacity and inflexibility. Amongst all the disturbances of the commonwealth, he took care of the foreign churches in England, France, Germany, and in Poland; and did more by his pen than his presence, sending his advice and instructions by letter, and writing a greater number of books. This great reformer died on the 27th of May 1564, aged 55. His works were printed together at Amsterdam in 1671, in nine volumes folio; the principal of which are his Institutions, in Latin, the best edition of which is that of Robert Stephens in 1553, in folio; and his Commentaries on the Holy Scriptures.—Calvin is universally allowed to have had great talents, an excellent genius, and profound learning. His style is grave and polite. Independent of his spiritual pride, his morals were exemplary; for he was pious, sober, chaste, laborious, and disinterested. But his memory can never be purified from the stain of burning Servetus; it ill became a reformer, to adopt the most odious practice of the corrupt church of Rome.