192
The Great Controversy
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 pressed forward. Though often repulsed,
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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