the great controversy-第52节

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schoolroom　was　filled　with　attentive　listeners。　New　Testaments　and　tracts
were　freely　distributed；　and　they　reached　many　who　dared　not　come　openly　to
listen　to　the　new　doctrines。　After　a　time　this　laborer　also　was　forced　to
flee；　but　the　truths　he　taught　had　taken　hold　upon　the　minds　of　the　people。
The　Reformation　had　been　planted；　and　it　continued　to　strengthen　and　extend。
The　preachers　returned；　and　through　their　labors　the　Protestant　worship　was
finally　established　in　Geneva。

The　city　had　already　declared　for　the　Reformation　when　Calvin；　after　various
wanderings　and　vicissitudes；　entered　its　gates。　Returning　from　a　last　visit
to　his　birthplace；　he　was　on　his　way　to　Basel；　when；　finding　the　direct　road
occupied　by　the　armies　of　Charles　V；　he　was　forced　to　take　the　circuitous
route　by　Geneva。

In　this　visit　Farel　recognized　the　hand　of　God。　Though　Geneva　had　accepted
the　reformed　faith；　yet　a　great　work　remained　to　be　accomplished　here。　It　is
not　as　communities　but　as　individuals　that　men　are　converted　to　God；　the
work　of　regeneration　must　be　wrought　in　the　heart　and　conscience　by　the
power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　not　by　the　decrees　of　councils。　While　the　people
of　Geneva　had　cast　off　the　authority　of　Rome；　they　were　not　so　ready　to
renounce　the　vices　that　had　flourished　under　her　rule。　To　establish　here　the
pure　principles　of　the　gospel　and　to　prepare　this　people　to　fill　worthily
the　position　to　which　Providence　seemed　calling　them　were　not　light　tasks。

Farel　was　confident　that　he　had　found　in　Calvin　one　whom　he　could　unite　with
himself　in　this　work。　In　the　name　of　God　he　solemnly　adjured　the　young
evangelist　to　remain　and　labor　here。　Calvin　drew　back　in　alarm。　Timid　and
peace…loving；　he　shrank　from　contact　with　the　bold；　independent；　and　even
violent　spirit　of　the　Genevese。　The　feebleness　of　his　health；　together　with
his　studious　habits；　led　him　to　seek　retirement。　Believing　that　by　his　pen
he　could　best　serve　the　cause　of　reform；　he　desired　to　find　a　quiet

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retreat　for　study；　and　there；　through　the　press；　instruct　and　build　up　the
churches。　But　Farel's　solemn　admonition　came　to　him　as　a　call　from　Heaven；
and　he　dared　not　refuse。　It　seemed　to　him；　he　said；　〃that　the　hand　of　God
was　stretched　down　from　heaven；　that　it　lay　hold　of　him；　and　fixed　him
irrevocably　to　the　place　he　was　so　impatient　to　leave。〃　D'Aubigne；　History
of　the　Reformation　in　Europe　in　the　Time　of　Calvin；　b。　9；　ch。　17。

At　this　time　great　perils　surrounded　the　Protestant　cause。　The　anathemas　of
the　pope　thundered　against　Geneva；　and　mighty　nations　threatened　it　with
destruction。　How　was　this　little　city　to　resist　the　powerful　hierarchy　that
had　so　often　forced　kings　and　emperors　to　submission？　How　could　it　stand
against　the　armies　of　the　world's　great　conquerors？

Throughout　Christendom；　Protestantism　was　menaced　by　formidable　foes。　The
first　triumphs　of　the　Reformation　past；　Rome　summoned　new　forces；　hoping　to
accomplish　its　destruction。　At　this　time　the　order　of　the　Jesuits　was
created；　the　most　cruel；　unscrupulous；　and　powerful　of　all　the　champions　of
popery。　Cut　off　from　earthly　ties　and　human　interests；　dead　to　the　claims　of
natural　affection；　reason　and　conscience　wholly　silenced；　they　knew　no　rule；
no　tie；　but　that　of　their　order；　and　no　duty　but　to　extend　its　power。　（See
Appendix。）　The　gospel　of　Christ　had　enabled　its　adherents　to　meet　danger　and
endure　suffering；　undismayed　by　cold；　hunger；　toil；　and　poverty；　to　uphold
the　banner　of　truth　in　face　of　the　rack；　the　dungeon；　and　the　stake。　To
combat　these　forces；　Jesuitism　inspired　its　followers　with　a　fanaticism　that
enabled　them　to　endure　like　dangers；　and　to　oppose　to　the　power　of　truth　all
the　weapons　of　deception。　There　was　no　crime　too　great　for　them　to　commit；
no　deception　too　base　for　them　to　practice；　no　disguise　too　difficult　for
them　to　assume。　Vowed　to　perpetual　poverty　and　humility；　it　was　their
studied　aim　to　secure　wealth　and　power；　to　be　devoted　to　the　overthrow　of
Protestantism；　and　the　re…establishment　of　the　papal　supremacy。

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When　appearing　as　members　of　their　order；　they　wore　a　garb　of　sanctity；
visiting　prisons　and　hospitals；　ministering　to　the　sick　and　the　poor；
professing　to　have　renounced　the　world；　and　bearing　the　sacred　name　of
Jesus；　who　went　about　doing　good。　But　under　this　blameless　exterior　the　most
criminal　and　deadly　purposes　were　often　concealed。　It　was　a　fundamental
principle　of　the　order　that　the　end　justifies　the　means。　By　this　code；
lying；　theft；　perjury；　assassination；　were　not　only　pardonable　but
commendable；　when　they　served　the　interests　of　the　church。　Under　various
disguises　the　Jesuits　worked　their　way　into　offices　of　state；　climbing　up　to
be　the　counselors　of　kings；　and　shaping　the　policy　of　nations。　They　became
servants　to　act　as　spies　upon　their　masters。　They　established　colleges　for
the　sons　of　princes　and　nobles；　and　schools　for　the　common　people；　and　the
children　of　Protestant　parents　were　drawn　into　an　observance　of　popish
rites。　All　the　outward　pomp　and　display　of　the　Romish　worship　was　brought　to
bear　to　confuse　the　mind　and　dazzle　and　captivate　the　imagination；　and　thus
the　liberty　for　which　the　fathers　had　toiled　and　bled　was　betrayed　by　the
sons。　The　Jesuits　rapidly　spread　themselves　over　Europe；　and　wherever　they
went；　there　followed　a　revival　of　popery。

To　give　them　greater　power；　a　bull　was　issued　re…establishing　the
inquisition。　（See　Appendix。）　Notwithstanding　the　general　abhorrence　with
which　it　was　regarded；　even　in　Catholic　countries；　this　terrible　tribunal
was　again　set　up　by　popish　rulers；　and　atrocities　too　terrible　to　bear　the
light　of　day　were　repeated　in　its　secret　dungeons。　In　many　countries；
thousands　upon　thousands　of　the　very　flower　of　the　nation；　the　purest　and
noblest；　the　most　intellectual　and　highly　educated；　pious　and　devoted
pastors；　industrious　and　patriotic　citizens；　brilliant　scholars；　talented
artists；　skillful　artisans；　were　slain　or　forced　to　flee　to　other　lands。

Such　were　the　means　which　Rome　had　invoked　to　quench　the　light　of　the
Reformation；　to　withdraw　from　men　the　Bible；　and　to　restore　the　ignorance
and　superstition　of　the　Dark

236

Ages。　But　under　God's　blessing　and　the　labors　of　those　noble　men　whom　He　had
raised　up　to　succeed　Luther；　Protestantism　was　not　overthrown。　Not　to　the
favor　or　arms　of　princes　was　it　to　owe　its　strength。　The　smallest　countries；
the　humblest　and　least　powerful　nations；　became　its　strongholds。　It　was
little　Geneva　in　the　midst　of　mighty　foes　plotting　her　destruction；　it　was
Holland　on　her　sandbanks　by　the　northern　sea；　wrestling　against　the　tyranny
of　Spain；　then　the　greatest　and　most　opulent　of　kingdoms；　it　was　bleak；
sterile　Sweden；　that　gained　victories　for　the　Reformation。

For　nearly　thirty　years　Calvin　labored　at　Geneva；　first　to　establish　there　a
church　adhering　to　the　morality　of　the　Bible；　and　then　for　the　advancement
of　the　Reformation　throughout　Europe。　His　course　as　a　public　leader　was　not
faultless；　nor　were　his　doctrines　free　from　error。　But　he　was　instrumental
in　promulgating　truths　that　were　of　special　importance　in　his　time；　in
maintaining　the　principles　of　Protestantism　against　the　fast…returning　tide
of　popery；　and　in　promoting　in　the　reformed　churches　simplicity　and　purity
of　life；　in　place　of　the　pride　and　corruption　fostered　under　the　Romish
teaching。

From　Geneva；　publications　and　teachers　went　out　to　spread　the　reformed
doctrines。　To　this　point　the　persecuted　of　all　lands　looked　for　instruction；
counsel；　and　encouragement。　The　city　of　Calvin　became　a　refuge　for　the
hunted　Reformers　of　all　Western　Europe。　Fleeing　from　the　awful　tempests　that
continued　for　centuries；　the　fugitives　came　to　the　gates　of　Geneva。
Starving；　wounded；　bereft　of　home　and　kindred；　they　were　warmly　welcomed　and
tenderly　cared　for；　and　finding　a　home　here；　they　blessed　the　city　of　their
adoption　by　their　skill；　their　learning；　and　their　piety。　Many　who　sought
here　a　refuge　returned　to　their　own　countries　to　resist　the　tyranny　of　Rome。
John　Knox；　the　brave　Scotch　Reformer；　not　a　few　of　the　English　Puritans；　the
Protestants　of　Holland　and　of　Spain；　and　the　Huguenots　of　France　carried
from　Geneva　the　torch　of　truth　to　lighten　the　darkness　of　their　native
lands。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（237）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　13

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Netherlands　and　Scandinavia


In　The　Netherlands　the　papal　tyranny　very　early　called　forth　resolute
protest。　Seven　hundred　years　before　Luther's　time　the　Roman　pontiff　was　thus
fearlessly　impeached　by　two　bishops；　who；　having　been　sent　on　an　embassy　to
Rome；　had　learned　the　true　character　of　the　〃holy　see〃：　God　〃has　made　His
queen　and　spouse；　the　church；　a　noble　and　everlasting　provision　for　her
family；　with　a　dowry　that　is　neither　fading　nor　corruptible；　and　given　her
an　eternal　crown　and　scepter；　。　。　。　all　which　benefits　you　like　a　thief
intercept。　You　set　up　yourself　in　the　temple　of　God；　instead　of　a　pastor；
you　are　become　a　wolf　to　the　sheep；　。　。　。　you　would　ma