French Reformation
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the Word.” [
Acts 8:4
.] And thus the light found its way into many of
the remote provinces of France.
God was still preparing workers to extend his cause. In one of the
schools of Paris was a thoughtful, quiet youth, already giving evidence
of a powerful and penetrating mind, and no less marked for the blame-
lessness of his life than for intellectual ardor and religious devotion.
His genius and application soon made him the pride of the college,
and it was confidently anticipated that John Calvin would become
one of the ablest and most honored defenders of the church. But a
ray of divine light penetrated even within the walls of scholasticism
and superstition by which Calvin was inclosed. He heard of the new
doctrines with a shudder, nothing doubting that the heretics deserved
the fire to which they were given. Yet all unwittingly he was brought
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face to face with the heresy, and forced to test the power of Romish
theology to combat the Protestant teaching.
A cousin of Calvin’s, who had joined the reformers, was in Paris.
The two kinsmen often met, and discussed together the matters that
were disturbing Christendom. “There are but two religions in the
world,” said Olivetan, the Protestant. “The one class of religions are
those which men have invented, in all of which man saves himself by
ceremonies and good works; the other is that one religion which is re-
vealed in the Bible, and which teaches men to look for salvation solely
to the free grace of God. “I will have none of your new doctrines,”
exclaimed Calvin; “think you that I have lived in error all my days?”
But thoughts had been awakened in his mind which he could not
banish at will. Alone in his chamber he pondered upon his cousin’s
words. Conviction of sin fastened upon him; he saw himself, without
an intercessor, in the presence of a holy and just Judge. The mediation
of saints, good works, the ceremonies of the church, all were powerless
to atone for sin. He could see before him nothing but the blackness of
eternal despair. In vain the doctors of the church endeavored to relieve
his woe. Confession, penance, were resorted to in vain; they could not
reconcile the soul with God.
While still engaged in these fruitless struggles, Calvin, chancing
one day to visit one of the public squares, witnessed there the burning
of a heretic. He was filled with wonder at the expression of peace
which rested upon the martyr’s countenance. Amid the tortures of
that dreadful death, and under the more terrible condemnation of the