the great controversy-第43部分

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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
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；