As the most direct road to Strasburg, to which I then intended to retire, was as shut up by the

wars, I had resolved to pass quickly by Geneva, without staying longer

than a single night in that city. A little before this, Popery had been driven

from it by the exertions of the excellent person whom I have named, and

Peter Viret; but matters were not yet brought to a settled state, and the

city was divided into unholy and dangerous factions. Then an individual

who now basely apostatised and returned to the Papists, discovered me

and made me known to others. Upon this, Farel, who burned with an

extraordinary zeal to advance the gospel, immediately strained every nerve

to detain me. And after having learned that my heart was set upon

devoting myself to private studies for which I wished to keep myself free

from other pursuits, and finding that he gained nothing by entreaties, he

proceeded to utter an imprecation that God would curse my retirement,

and the tranquillity of the studies which I sought, if I should withdraw and

refuse to give assistance, when the necessity seas so urgent. By this

imprecation I was so stricken with terror, that I desisted from the journey

which I had undertaken. —Calvin writing of his conversion at the start of his commentary on the book of Psalms.