The Necessity of Reforming the Church (English Edition)

The year before, Charles V ... in view of turning all his strength against the French, promised the Germans that, for a short period, until a general council was held, which he engaged to see done, neither party should suffer prejudice on account of religious differences, but both enjoy equal laws. The Roman pontiff, Paul III, was exceedingly offended, and addressed a very severe expostulation to the emperor because, forsooth, he had put heretics on a footing with Catholics and, as it were, put his sickle into another man's corn. Caesar gave what answer seemed proper; but Calvin, because the truth of the gospel and the innocence of the godly were deeply injured by that letter, repressed the audacity of the pontiff. A diet of the empire was as this time held at Spires, and Calvin, availing himself of the occasion, published a short treatise on The Necessity of Reforming the Church. I know not if any writing on the subject, more nervous or solid, has been published in our age.