Note 30 — Chapter V · THE REFORMERS OF STRASBURG—PUBLICATION OF THE WORK ON TRINITARIAN ERROR.

To Calvin God was no other than the Immanent Pantheistic principle of Modern Philosophy: ‘Ubique diffusus, omnia sustinet, vegetat et vivificat in cœlo et in terra—everywhere diffused, he gives life and growth and continuance to all things in heaven and earth.’ These are his words. He then goes on to say: ‘Fateor quidem pie hoc posse dici, modo a pio animo proficiscatur, Naturam esse Deum—I own, indeed, that provided we speak reverently it may be said that Nature is God.’ As this would be a ‘hard and inappropriate expression,’ however, and as in using it ‘God is confounded with his works,’ he thinks it is objectionable. Institut. Religionis Christianæ, I. iv. 14, and I. v. 5 of an early edition.