Calvin- The Giant of Noyon

This book retells the story of John Calvin from his days in Noyon when he wanted to sail the oceans, through his training as a priest, studying law in Orleans and theology in Paris. Calvin came to realise that a reformation in the Church was necessary, and he became a travelling minister of the Word in France. God led his path to Geneva, where he faced many years of struggle for the Reformation.

Despite hardships and disappointments, the fruits of the work of this servant of God have lasted the centuries and spread to all the continents.

Theodorus of Beza, Calvin’s successor in Geneva, in his book Life and Death of John Calvin, wrote:

"John Calvin lived fifty-four years, ten months and seventeen days, of which he spent half in the service of the holy gospel.

He was a man of medium height, pale and brownish of colour; bright-eyed until the day of his death; neither meticulous nor uncaring about his body but in keeping with his particular morals; modest in his conduct, rejecting all indecency and excess; taking little food, for many years eating only one meal daily, which also caused the weakness in his stomach.

He slept only a few hours each night, and possessed a fabulous memory. Despising of long-winded speech, he was sparing of words. His writing however was particularly stylish.

In dealings with other people, no one was more amiable than he, despite his somewhat ill-tempered and excitable character. His only weapon in life was God’s Word."