France with ruin。 〃As true； messieurs； as I am your king；〃 he said； 〃if I
knew one of my
229
own limbs spotted or infected with this detestable rottenness； I would give
it you to cut off。 。 。 。 And further； if I saw one of my children defiled by
it； I would not spare him。 。 。 。 I would deliver him up myself； and would
sacrifice him to God。〃 Tears choked his utterance； and the whole assembly
wept； with one accord exclaiming： 〃We will live and die for the Catholic
religion！〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of
Calvin； b。 4； ch。 12。
Terrible had become the darkness of the nation that had rejected the light
of truth。 The grace 〃that bringeth salvation〃 had appeared； but France；
after beholding its power and holiness； after thousands had been drawn by
its divine beauty； after cities and hamlets had been illuminated by its
radiance； had turned away； choosing darkness rather than light。 They had put
from them the heavenly gift when it was offered them。 They had called evil
good； and good evil； till they had fallen victims to their willful
self…deception。 Now； though they might actually believe that they were doing
God service in persecuting His people； yet their sincerity did not render
them guiltless。 The light that would have saved them from deception； from
staining their souls with bloodguiltiness； they had willfully rejected。
A solemn oath to extirpate heresy was taken in the great cathedral where；
nearly three centuries later； the Goddess of Reason was to be enthroned by a
nation that had forgotten the living God。 Again the procession formed； and
the representatives of France set out to begin the work which they had sworn
to do。 〃At short distances scaffolds had been erected； on which certain
Protestant Christians were to be burned alive； and it was arranged that the
fagots should be lighted at the moment the king approached； and that the
procession should halt to witness the execution。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 21。 The
details of the tortures endured by these witnesses for Christ are too
harrowing for recital； but there was no wavering on the part of the victims。
On being urged to recant； one answered： 〃I only believe in what the prophets
and the apostles formerly preached； and what all the company of
230
saints believed。 My faith has a confidence in God which will resist all the
powers of hell。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation in Europe in the
Time of Calvin； b。 4； ch。 12。
Again and again the procession halted at the places of torture。 Upon
reaching their starting point at the royal palace； the crowd dispersed； and
the king and the prelates withdrew； well satisfied with the day's
proceedings and congratulating themselves that the work now begun would be
continued to the complete destruction of heresy。
The gospel of peace which France had rejected was to be only too surely
rooted out； and terrible would be the results。 On the 21st of January； 1793；
two hundred and fifty…eight years from the very day that fully committed
France to the persecution of the Reformers； another procession； with a far
different purpose； passed through the streets of Paris。 〃Again the king was
the chief figure； again there were tumult and shouting； again there was
heard the cry for more victims； again there were black scaffolds； and again
the scenes of the day were closed by horrid executions； Louis XVI；
struggling hand to hand with his jailers and executioners； was dragged
forward to the block； and there held down by main force till the ax had
fallen； and his dissevered head rolled on the scaffold。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。
21。 Nor was the king the only victim； near the same spot two thousand and
eight hundred human beings perished by the guillotine during the bloody days
of the Reign of Terror。
The Reformation had presented to the world an open Bible； unsealing the
precepts of the law of God and urging its claims upon the consciences of the
people。 Infinite Love had unfolded to men the statutes and principles of
heaven。 God had said： 〃Keep therefore and do them； for this is your wisdom
and your understanding in the sight of the nations； which shall hear all
these statutes； and say； Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people。〃 Deuteronomy 4：6。 When France rejected the gift of
heaven； she sowed the seeds of anarchy and ruin； and the inevitable
outworking of cause and effect resulted in the Revolution and the Reign of
Terror。
231
Long before the persecution excited by the placards； the bold and ardent
Farel had been forced to flee from the land of his birth。 He repaired to
Switzerland； and by his labors； seconding the work of Zwingli； he helped to
turn the scale in favor of the Reformation。 His later years were to be spent
here； yet he continued to exert a decided influence upon the reform in
France。 During the first years of his exile； his efforts were especially
directed to spreading the gospel in his native country。 He spent
considerable time in preaching among his countrymen near the frontier； where
with tireless vigilance he watched the conflict and aided by his words of
encouragement and counsel。 With the assistance of other exiles； the writings
of the German Reformers were translated into the French language and；
together with the French Bible； were printed in large quantities。 By
colporteurs these works were sold extensively in France。 They were furnished
to the colporteurs at a low price； and thus the profits of the work enabled
them to continue it。
Farel entered upon his work in Switzerland in the humble guise of a
schoolmaster。 Repairing to a secluded parish； he devoted himself to the
instruction of children。 Besides the usual branches of learning； he
cautiously introduced the truths of the Bible； hoping through the children
to reach the parents。 There were some who believed； but the priests came
forward to stop the work； and the superstitious country people were roused
to oppose it。 〃That cannot be the gospel of Christ；〃 urged the priest；
〃seeing the preaching of it does not bring peace； but war。〃Wylie； b。 14；
ch。 3。 Like the first disciples； when persecuted in one city he fled to
another。 From village to village； from city to city； he went； traveling on
foot； enduring hunger； cold； and weariness； and everywhere in peril of his
life。 He preached in the market places； in the churches； sometimes in the
pulpits of the cathedrals。 Sometimes he found the church empty of hearers；
at times his preaching was interrupted by shouts and jeers； again he was
pulled violently out of the pulpit。 More than once he was set upon by the
rabble and beaten almost to death。 Yet he
232
pressed forward。 Though often repulsed； with unwearying persistence he
returned to the attack； and； one after another； he saw towns and cities
which had been strongholds of popery； opening their gates to the gospel。 The
little parish where he had first labored soon accepted the reformed faith。
The cities of Morat and Neuchatel also renounced the Romish rites and
removed the idolatrous images from their churches。
Farel had long desired to plant the Protestant standard in Geneva。 If this
city could be won； it would be a center for the Reformation in France； in
Switzerland； and in Italy。 With this object before him； he had continued his
labors until many of the surrounding towns and hamlets had been gained。 Then
with a single companion he entered Geneva。 But only two sermons was he
permitted to preach。 The priests； having vainly endeavored to secure his
condemnation by the civil authorities； summoned him before an ecclesiastical
council； to which they came with arms concealed under their robes；
determined to take his life。 Outside the hall； a furious mob； with clubs and
swords； was gathered to make sure of his death if he should succeed in
escaping the council。 The presence of magistrates and an armed force；
however； saved him。 Early next morning he was conducted； with his companion；
across the lake to a place of safety。 Thus ended his first effort to
evangelize Geneva。
For the next trial a lowlier instrument was chosena young man； so humble
in appearance that he was coldly treated even by the professed friends of
reform。 But what could such a one do where Farel had been rejected？ How
could one of little courage and experience withstand the tempest before
which the strongest and bravest had been forced to flee？ 〃Not by might； nor
by power； but by My Spirit； saith the Lord。〃 Zechariah 4：6。 〃God hath chosen
the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty。〃
〃Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men； and the weakness of God
is stronger than men。〃 1 Corinthians 1：27； 25。
Froment began his work as a schoolmaster。 The truths which he taught the
children at school they repeated at
233
their homes。 Soon the parents came to hear the Bible explained； until the
schoolroom was filled with attentive listeners。 New Testaments and tracts
were freely distributed； and they reached