We bring a footnote from Philip Schaff’s Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, 431. We have been over this before, but this time we draw attention Calvin's letter to Farel on 1 December 1539. Bad blood existed between the Lutherans and the Swiss. It was ten years old and went back to the Marbury Colloquy of 1529. Bullinger was unamused with Luther. Calvin played the mediator with Bullinger and Farel. (Zwingli had been dead for over eight years at this point.)
Here’s Schaff’s footnote.
"2 Luther wrote to Bucer: `Greet Calvin, whose little works I have read with remarkable pleasure;' and Melancthon on Calvin wrote: `Calvin is in high favor here (magnam gratiam iniit).' See Calvin to Farel 1 Dec . 1539; Stahelin, Vol. I. p. 226; and De Wette's edition of Luther's letters, Vol. V. p. Calvin wrote to Bullinger, when the latter was provoked by the last rude assault of Luther upon the Zwinglians (1544): 'I implore you never to forget how great a man Luther is, and by what extraordinary gifts he excels. Think with what courage, what constancy, what power and success he has devoted himself to this day to the overthrow of the reign of Antichrist and the spreading of the doctrine of salvation far and near. As for me, I have often said, and I say it again, though he should call me a devil, I would still give him due honor, and recognize him, in spite of the great faults which obscure his extraordinary virtues, as a mighty servant of the Lord.' See Henry, Vol. II. "
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