Bible and the French Revolution
237
Centuries of apostasy and crime had been treasuring up wrath against
the day of retribution; and when their iniquity was full, the despisers
of God learned too late that it is a fearful thing to have worn out the
divine patience. The restraining Spirit of God, which imposes a check
upon the cruel power of Satan, was in a great measure removed, and
he whose only delight is the wretchedness of men, was permitted to
work his will. Those who had chosen the service of rebellion, were
left to reap its fruits, until the land was filled with crimes too horrible
for pen to trace. From devastated provinces and ruined cities a terrible
cry was heard,—a cry of bitterest anguish. France was shaken as if
by an earthquake. Religion, law, social order, the family, the State,
and the Church,—all were smitten down by the impious hand that had
been lifted against the law of God. Truly spake the wise man: “The
wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” “Though a sinner do evil
an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that
it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him; but
it shall not be well with the wicked.” [
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
.] “They
hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord;” “therefore
shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own
devices.” [
Proverbs 1:29, 31
.]
God’s faithful witnesses, slain by the blasphemous power that “as-
cendeth out of the bottomless pit,” were not long to remain silent.
“After three days and a half, the Spirit of life from God entered into
them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them
which saw them.” [
Revelation 11:11
.] It was in 1793 that the decree
which prohibited the Bible passed the French Assembly. Three years
[287]
and a half later a resolution rescinding the decree, and granting tolera-
tion to the Scriptures, was adopted by the same body. The world stood
aghast at the enormity of guilt which had resulted from a rejection of
the Sacred Oracles, and men recognized the necessity of faith in God
and his Word as the foundation of virtue and morality. Saith the Lord,
“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast
thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against
the Holy One of Israel.” [
Isaiah 37:23
.] “Therefore, behold, I will this
once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and
my might; and they shall know that my name is Jehovah.” [
Jeremiah
16:21
.]