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The Great Controversy
loving the gospel, extended her protection to its disciples. Calvin was
still a youth, of gentle, unpretentious bearing. His work began with the
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people at their homes. Surrounded by the members of the household,
he read the Bible and opened the truths of salvation. Those who heard
the message carried the good news to others, and soon the teacher
passed beyond the city to the outlying towns and hamlets. To both the
castle and the cabin he found entrance, and he went forward, laying
the foundation of churches that were to yield fearless witnesses for the
truth.
A few months and he was again in Paris. There was unwonted
agitation in the circle of learned men and scholars. The study of the
ancient languages had led men to the Bible, and many whose hearts
were untouched by its truths were eagerly discussing them and even
giving battle to the champions of Romanism. Calvin, though an able
combatant in the fields of theological controversy, had a higher mission
to accomplish than that of these noisy schoolmen. The minds of men
were stirred, and now was the time to open to them the truth. While
the halls of the universities were filled with the clamor of theological
disputation, Calvin was making his way from house to house, opening
the Bible to the people, and speaking to them of Christ and Him
crucified.
In God’s providence, Paris was to receive another invitation to
accept the gospel. The call of Lefevre and Farel had been rejected,
but again the message was to be heard by all classes in that great
capital. The king, influenced by political considerations, had not
yet fully sided with Rome against the Reformation. Margaret still
clung to the hope that Protestantism was to triumph in France. She
resolved that the reformed faith should be preached in Paris. During
the absence of the king, she ordered a Protestant minister to preach in
the churches of the city. This being forbidden by the papal dignitaries,
the princess threw open the palace. An apartment was fitted up as a
chapel, and it was announced that every day, at a specified hour, a
sermon would be preached, and the people of every rank and station
were invited to attend. Crowds flocked to the service. Not only the
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chapel, but the antechambers and halls were thronged. Thousands
every day assembled—nobles, statesmen, lawyers, merchants, and
artisans. The king, instead of forbidding the assemblies, ordered that
two of the churches of Paris should be opened. Never before had the