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Garry Williams, the new director of the John Owen Centre, was the second speaker of the first morning. He began by describing Calvin as the colossus that we think of him as but then pointed out that the main characteristic of Calvin's life was suffering. Taking us to the Book of Job and the references to a protecting hedge and then a restricting hedge he said that this was Calvin's life too.

Using many well chosen quotations Garry spoke of Calvin and
1. His troubles

1. Death Death pressed in on every side. 2. Being a refugee Twice over at least. 3. The work of preaching and the pastorate He was phenomenally busy. Even when he had assistants they proved unsatisfactory. 4. The political situation and the conflicts it brought

He was opposed by old Geneva libertines and refugees and asylum seekers. Geneva had a reputation for being a magnet to all sorts of evil people. There were many to contend with, who brought in all sorts of heresies. Meanwhile the old guard strongly opposed him. He tried his best to resign but was not able to. He often wished he were elsewhere. Things came to a head over the issue of who could be excommunicated. It was many years before such things were resolved.

5. Personal sufferings
There was the adultery of his brother and the death of his wife as well as 3 or 4 children. At Idelette's death in 1549, Calvin wrote, “Truly mine is no common grief. I have been bereaved of the best friend of my life.” He was often ill too and went through much suffering.
2. How he coped
Garry went on to consider how a man facing such constant afflictions was able to survive. In short, Calvin was a Calvinist! There is a common view that suffering leads to unbelief. Calvin is a great example of that not happening. His key beliefs include the following.
1. Calvin expected suffering
This is an implication of union with Christ.
2. Calvin is encouraged by God's providence
In a letter he wrote “Seeing that a Pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.”
Garry took opportunity here to oppose the arguments of open theism. Calvin very often conjoins Lord and Father, emphasising that God is both sovereign and loving.
Eg "Yet, when that light of divine providence has once shone upon a godly man, he is then relieved and set free not only from the extreme anxiety and fear that were pressing him before, but from every care. For as he justly dreads fortune, so he fearlessly dares commit himself to God. His solace, I say, is to know that his Heavenly Father so holds all things in his power, so rules by his authority and will, so governs by his wisdom, that nothing can befall except he determine it. Moreover, it comforts him to know that he has been received into God's safekeeping and entrusted to the care of his angels, and that neither water, nor fire, nor iron can harm him, except in so far as it pleases God as governor to give them occasion."
Again, it was a blessing to be reminded of such things.