omnipotent power。 God had said； 〃Let there be light；〃 but the emperor had
sought to keep the darkness unbroken。 His purposes had failed； and in
premature old age； worn out with the long struggle； he abdicated the throne
and buried himself in a cloister。
In Switzerland； as in Germany； there came dark days for the Reformation。
While many cantons accepted the reformed
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faith； others clung with blind persistence to the creed of Rome。 Their
persecution of those who desired to receive the truth finally gave rise to
civil war。 Zwingli and many who had united with him in reform fell on the
bloody field of Cappel。 Oecolampadius； overcome by these terrible disasters；
soon after died。 Rome was triumphant； and in many places seemed about to
recover all that she had lost。 But He whose counsels are from everlasting
had not forsaken His cause or His people。 His hand would bring deliverance
for them。 In other lands He had raised up laborers to carry forward the
reform。
In France； before the name of Luther had been heard as a Reformer； the day
had already begun to break。 One of the first to catch the light was the aged
Lefevre； a man of extensive learning； a professor in the University of
Paris； and a sincere and zealous papist。 In his researches into ancient
literature his attention was directed to the Bible； and he introduced its
study among his students。
Lefevre was an enthusiastic adorer of the saints； and he had undertaken to
prepare a history of the saints and martyrs as given in the legends of the
church。 This was a work which involved great labor； but he had already made
considerable progress in it； when； thinking that he might obtain useful
assistance from the Bible； he began its study with this object。 Here indeed
he found saints brought to view； but not such as figured in the Roman
calendar。 A flood of divine light broke in upon his mind。 In amazement and
disgust he turned away from his self…appointed task and devoted himself to
the word of God。 The precious truths which he there discovered he soon began
to teach。
In 1512； before either Luther or Zwingli had begun the work of reform；
Lefevre wrote： 〃It is God who gives us； by faith； that righteousness which
by grace alone justifies to eternal life。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 1。 Dwelling
upon the mysteries of redemption； he exclaimed： 〃Oh； the unspeakable
greatness of that exchange；the Sinless One is condemned；
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and he who is guilty goes free； the Blessing bears the curse； and the cursed
is brought into blessing； the Life dies； and the dead live； the Glory is
whelmed in darkness； and he who knew nothing but confusion of face is
clothed with glory。〃 D'Aubigne； London ed。； b。 12； ch。 2。
And while teaching that the glory of salvation belongs solely to God； he
also declared that the duty of obedience belongs to man。 〃If thou art a
member of Christ's church；〃 he said； 〃thou art a member of His body； if thou
art of His body； then thou art full of the divine nature。 。 。 。 Oh； if men
could but enter into the understanding of this privilege； how purely；
chastely； and holily would they live； and how contemptible； when compared
with the glory within them； that glory which the eye of flesh cannot
see；would they deem all the glory of this world。〃Ibid。； b。 12； ch。 2。
There were some among Lefevre's students who listened eagerly to his words；
and who； long after the teacher's voice should be silenced； were to continue
to declare the truth。 Such was William Farel。 The son of pious parents； and
educated to accept with implicit faith the teachings of the church； he
might； with the apostle Paul； have declared concerning himself： 〃After the
most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee。〃 Acts 26：5。 A
devoted Romanist； he burned with zeal to destroy all who should dare to
oppose the church。 〃I would gnash my teeth like a furious wolf；〃 he
afterward said； referring to this period of his life； 〃when I heard anyone
speaking against the pope。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。
2。 He had been untiring in his adoration of the saints； in
company with Lefevre making the round of the churches of Paris； worshipping
at the altars； and adorning with gifts the holy shrines。 But these
observances could not bring peace of soul。 Conviction of sin fastened upon
him； which all the acts of penance that he practiced failed to banish。 As to
a voice from heaven he listened to the Reformer's words： 〃Salvation is of
grace。〃 〃The Innocent One is condemned； and the criminal is acquitted。〃 〃It
is the cross of Christ alone that
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openeth the gates of heaven； and shutteth the gates of hell。〃 Ibid。； b。
13； ch。 2。
Farel joyfully accepted the truth。 By a conversion like that of Paul he
turned from the bondage of tradition to the liberty of the sons of God。
〃Instead of the murderous heart of a ravening wolf；〃 he came back； he says；
〃quietly like a meek and harmless lamb； having his heart entirely withdrawn
from the pope； and given to Jesus Christ。〃D'Aubigne； b。 12； ch。 3。
While Lefevre continued to spread the light among his students； Farel； as
zealous in the cause of Christ as he had been in that of the pope； went
forth to declare the truth in public。 A dignitary of the church； the bishop
of Meaux； soon after united with them。 Other teachers who ranked high for
their ability and learning joined in proclaiming the gospel； and it won
adherents among all classes； from the homes of artisans and peasants to the
palace of the king。 The sister of Francis I； then the reigning monarch；
accepted the reformed faith。 The king himself； and the queen mother；
appeared for a time to regard it with favor； and with high hopes the
Reformers looked forward to the time when France should be won to the
gospel。
But their hopes were not to be realized。 Trial and persecution awaited the
disciples of Christ。 This； however； was mercifully veiled from their eyes。 A
time of peace intervened； that they might gain strength to meet the tempest；
and the Reformation made rapid progress。 The bishop of Meaux labored
zealously in his own diocese to instruct both the clergy and the people。
Ignorant and immoral priests were removed； and； so far as possible； replaced
by men of learning and piety。 The bishop greatly desired that his people
might have access to the word of God for themselves； and this was soon
accomplished。 Lefevre undertook the translation of the New Testament； and at
the very time when Luther's German Bible was issuing from the press in
Wittenberg； the French New Testament was published at Meaux。 The bishop
spared no labor or expense to circulate it in his parishes； and soon the
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peasants of Meaux were in possession of the Holy Scriptures。
As travelers perishing from thirst welcome with joy a living water spring；
so did these souls receive the message of heaven。 The laborers in the field；
the artisans in the workshop； cheered their daily toil by talking of the
precious truths of the Bible。 At evening； instead of resorting to the
wine…shops； they assembled in one another's homes to read God's word and
join in prayer and praise。 A great change was soon manifest in these
communities。 Though belonging to the humblest class； an unlearned and
hard…working peasantry； the reforming； uplifting power of divine grace was
seen in their lives。 Humble； loving； and holy； they stood as witnesses to
what the gospel will accomplish for those who receive it in sincerity。
The light kindled at Meaux shed its beams afar。 Every day the number of
converts was increasing。 The rage of the hierarchy was for a time held in
check by the king； who despised the narrow bigotry of the monks； but the
papal leaders finally prevailed。 Now the stake was set up。 The bishop of
Meaux； forced to choose between the fire and recantation； accepted the
easier path； but notwithstanding the leader's fall； his flock remained
steadfast。 Many witnessed for the truth amid the flames。 By their courage
and fidelity at the stake； these humble Christians spoke to thousands who in
days of peace had never heard their testimony。
It was not alone the humble and the poor that amid suffering and scorn dared
to bear witness for Christ。 In the lordly halls of the castle and the palace
there were kingly souls by whom truth was valued above wealth or rank or
even life。 Kingly armor concealed a loftier and more steadfast spirit than
did the bishop's robe and miter。 Louis de Berquin was of noble birth。 A
brave and courtly knight； he was devoted to study； polished in manners； and
of blameless morals。 〃He was；〃 says a writer； 〃a great follower of the
papistical constitutions； and a great hearer of masses and sermons； 。 。 。
and he crowned all his other virtues by holding Lutheranism in
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special abhorrence。〃 But； like so many others； providentially guided to the
Bible； he was amazed to find there； 〃not the doctrines of Rome； but the
doctrines of Luther。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 9。 Henceforth he gave himself with
entire devotion to the cause of the gospel。
〃The most learned of the nobles of France；〃 his genius and eloquence； his
indomi