entire devotion to the cause of the gospel。
〃The most learned of the nobles of France；〃 his genius and eloquence； his
indomitable courage and heroic zeal； and his influence at court；for he was
a favorite with the king； caused him to be regarded by many as one
destined to be the Reformer of his country。 Said Beza： 〃Berquin would have
been a second Luther； had he found in Francis I a second elector。〃 〃He is
worse than Luther；〃 cried the papists。Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 9。 More dreaded he
was indeed by the Romanists of France。 They thrust him into prison as a
heretic； but he was set at liberty by the king。 For years the struggle
continued。 Francis； wavering between Rome and the Reformation； alternately
tolerated and restrained the fierce zeal of the monks。 Berquin was three
times imprisoned by the papal authorities； only to be released by the
monarch； who； in admiration of his genius and his nobility of character；
refused to sacrifice him to the malice of the hierarchy。
Berquin was repeatedly warned of the danger that threatened him in France；
and urged to follow the steps of those who had found safety in voluntary
exile。 The timid and time…serving Erasmus； who with all the splendor of his
scholarship failed of that moral greatness which holds life and honor
subservient to truth； wrote to Berquin： 〃Ask to be sent as ambassador to
some foreign country； go and travel in Germany。 You know Beda and such as
hehe is a thousand…headed monster； darting venom on every side。 Your
enemies are named legion。 Were your cause better than that of Jesus Christ；
they will not let you go till they have miserably destroyed you。 Do not
trust too much to the king's protection。 At all events； do not compromise me
with the faculty of theology。〃Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 9。
But as dangers thickened； Berquin's zeal only waxed the stronger。 So far
from adopting the politic and self…serving
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counsel of Erasmus； he determined upon still bolder measures。 He would not
only stand in defense of the truth； but he would attack error。 The charge of
heresy which the Romanists were seeking to fasten upon him； he would rivet
upon them。 The most active and bitter of his opponents were the learned
doctors and monks of the theological department in the great University of
Paris； one of the highest ecclesiastical authorities both in the city and
the nation。 From the writings of these doctors； Berquin drew twelve
propositions which he publicly declared to be 〃opposed to the Bible； and
heretical；〃 and he appealed to the king to act as judge in the controversy。
The monarch； not loath to bring into contrast the power and acuteness of the
opposing champions； and glad of an opportunity of humbling the pride of
these haughty monks； bade the Romanists defend their cause by the Bible。
This weapon； they well knew； would avail them little； imprisonment； torture；
and the stake were arms which they better understood how to wield。 Now the
tables were turned； and they saw themselves about to fall into the pit into
which they had hoped to plunge Berquin。 In amazement they looked about them
for some way of escape。
〃Just at that time an image of the Virgin at the corner of one of the
streets； was mutilated。〃 There was great excitement in the city。 Crowds of
people flocked to the place； with expressions of mourning and indignation。
The king also was deeply moved。 Here was an advantage which the monks could
turn to good account； and they were quick to improve it。 〃These are the
fruits of the doctrines of Berquin；〃 they cried。 〃All is about to be
overthrownreligion； the laws； the throne itselfby this Lutheran
conspiracy。〃Ibid。； b。
13； ch。 9。
Again Berquin was apprehended。 The king withdrew from Paris； and the monks
were thus left free to work their will。 The Reformer was tried and condemned
to die； and lest Francis should even yet interpose to save him； the sentence
was executed on the very day it was pronounced。 At noon
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Berquin was conducted to the place of death。 An immense throng gathered to
witness the event； and there were many who saw with astonishment and
misgiving that the victim had been chosen from the best and bravest of the
noble families of France。 Amazement； indignation； scorn； and bitter hatred
darkened the faces of that surging crowd； but upon one face no shadow
rested。 The martyr's thoughts were far from that scene of tumult； he was
conscious only of the presence of his Lord。
The wretched tumbrel upon which he rode； the frowning faces of his
persecutors； the dreadful death to which he was goingthese he heeded not；
He who liveth and was dead； and is alive for evermore； and hath the keys of
death and of hell； was beside him。 Berquin's countenance was radiant with
the light and peace of heaven。 He had attired himself in goodly raiment；
wearing 〃a cloak of velvet； a doublet of satin and damask； and golden
hose。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of
Calvin； b。 2； ch。 16。 He was about to testify to his faith in the presence
of the King of kings and the witnessing universe； and no token of mourning
should belie his joy。
As the procession moved slowly through the crowded streets； the people
marked with wonder the unclouded peace； and joyous triumph； of his look and
bearing。 〃He is；〃 they said； 〃like one who sits in a temple； and meditates
on holy things。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 9。
At the stake； Berquin endeavored to address a few words to the people； but
the monks； fearing the result； began to shout； and the soldiers to clash
their arms； and their clamor drowned the martyr's voice。 Thus in 1529 the
highest literary and ecclesiastical authority of cultured Paris 〃set the
populace of 1793 the base example of stifling on the scaffold the sacred
words of the dying。〃Ibid。； b； 13； ch。 9。
Berquin was strangled； and his body was consumed in the flames。 The tidings
of his death caused sorrow to the friends of the Reformation throughout
France。 But his example was
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not lost。 〃We； too； are ready；〃 said the witnesses for the truth； 〃to meet
death cheerfully； setting our eyes on the life that is to come。〃D'Aubigne；
History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin； b。 2； ch。 16。
During the persecution of Meaux； the teachers of the reformed faith were
deprived of their license to preach； and they departed to other fields。
Lefevre after a time made his way to Germany。 Farel returned to his native
town in eastern France； to spread the light in the home of his childhood。
Already tidings had been received of what was going on at Meaux； and the
truth； which he taught with fearless zeal； found listeners。 Soon the
authorities were roused to silence him； and he was banished from the city。
Though he could no longer labor publicly； he traversed the plains and
villages； teaching in private dwellings and in secluded meadows； and finding
shelter in the forests and among the rocky caverns which had been his haunts
in boyhood。 God was preparing him for greater trials。 〃The crosses；
persecutions； and machinations of Satan； of which I was forewarned； have not
been wanting；〃 he said； 〃they are even much severer than I could have borne
of myself； but God is my Father； He has provided and always will provide me
the strength which I require。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation of the
Sixteenth Century； b。 12； ch。 9。
As in apostolic days； persecution had 〃fallen out rather unto the
furtherance of the gospel。〃 Philippians 1：12。 Driven from Paris and Meaux；
〃they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word。〃 Acts
8：4。 And thus the light found its way into many of the remote provinces of
France。
God was still preparing workers to extend His cause。 In one of the schools
of Paris was a thoughtful； quiet youth； already giving evidence of a
powerful and penetrating mind； and no less marked for the blamelessness of
his life than for intellectual ardor and religious devotion。 His genius and
application soon made him the pride of the college； and it was confidently
anticipated that John Calvin would become
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one of the ablest and most honored defenders of the church。 But a ray of
divine light penetrated even within the walls of scholasticism and
superstition by which Calvin was enclosed。 He heard of the new doctrines
with a shudder； nothing doubting that the heretics deserved the fire to
which they were given。 Yet all unwittingly he was brought face to face with
the heresy and forced to test the power of Romish theology to combat the
Protestant teaching。
A cousin of Calvin's； who had joined the Reformers； was in Paris。 The two
kinsmen often met and discussed together the matters that were disturbing
Christendom。 〃There are but two religions in the world；〃 said Olivetan； the
Protestant。 〃The one class of religions are those which men have invented；
in all of which man saves himself by ceremonies and good works； the other is
that one religion which is revealed in the Bible； and which teaches man to
look for salvation solely from the free grace of God。〃
〃I will have none of your new do