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Confession was translated into many languages and circulated through all
Europe； and it has been accepted by millions in succeeding generations as
the expression of their faith。
God's faithful servants were not toiling alone。 While principalities and
powers and wicked spirits in high places were leagued against them； the Lord
did not forsake His people。 Could their eyes have been opened； they would
have seen as marked evidence of divine presence and aid as was granted to a
prophet of old。 When Elisha's servant pointed his master to the hostile army
surrounding them and cutting off all opportunity for escape； the prophet
prayed： 〃Lord； I pray Thee； open his eyes； that he may see。〃 2 Kings 6：17。
And； lo； the mountain was filled with chariots and horses of fire； the army
of heaven stationed to protect the man of God。 Thus did angels guard the
workers in the cause of the Reformation。
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One of the principles most firmly maintained by Luther was that there should
be no resort to secular power in support of the Reformation； and no appeal
to arms for its defense。 He rejoiced that the gospel was confessed by
princes of the empire； but when they proposed to unite in a defensive
league； he declared that 〃the doctrine of the gospel should be defended by
God alone。 。 。 。 The less man meddled in the work； the more striking would
be God's intervention in its behalf。 All the politic precautions suggested
were； in his view； attributable to unworthy fear and sinful mistrust。〃
D'Aubigne； London ed。； b。 10； ch。 14。
When powerful foes were uniting to overthrow the reformed faith； and
thousands of swords seemed about to be unsheathed against it； Luther wrote：
〃Satan is putting forth his fury； ungodly pontiffs are conspiring； and we
are threatened with war。 Exhort the people to contend valiantly before the
throne of the Lord； by faith and prayer； so that our enemies； vanquished by
the Spirit of God； may be constrained to peace。 Our chief want； our chief
labor； is prayer； let the people know that they are now exposed to the edge
of the sword and to the rage of Satan； and let them pray。〃 D'Aubigne； b。
10； ch。 14。
Again； at a later date； referring to the league contemplated by the reformed
princes； Luther declared that the only weapon employed in this warfare
should be 〃the sword of the Spirit。〃 He wrote to the elector of Saxony： 〃We
cannot on our conscience approve the proposed alliance。 We would rather die
ten times than see our gospel cause one drop of blood to be shed。 Our part
is to be like lambs of the slaughter。 The cross of Christ must be borne。 Let
your highness be without fear。 We shall do more by our prayers than all our
enemies by their boastings。 Only let not your hands be stained with the
blood of your brethren。 If the emperor requires us to be given up to his
tribunals； we are ready to appear。 You cannot defend our faith： each one
should believe at his own risk and peril。〃Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 1。
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From the secret place of prayer came the power that shook the world in the
Great Reformation。 There； with holy calmness； the servants of the Lord set
their feet upon the rock of His promises。 During the struggle at Augsburg；
Luther 〃did not pass a day without devoting three hours at least to prayer；
and they were hours selected from those the most favorable to study。〃 In the
privacy of his chamber he was heard to pour out his soul before God in words
〃full of adoration； fear； and hope； as when one speaks to a friend。〃 〃I know
that Thou art our Father and our God；〃 he said； 〃and that Thou wilt scatter
the persecutors of Thy children； for Thou art Thyself endangered with us。
All this matter is Thine； and it is only by Thy constraint that we have put
our hands to it。 Defend us； then； O Father！〃Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 6。
To Melanchthon； who was crushed under the burden of anxiety and fear； he
wrote： 〃Grace and peace in Christin Christ； I say； and not in the world。
Amen。 I hate with exceeding hatred those extreme cares which consume you。 If
the cause is unjust； abandon it； if the cause is just； why should we belie
the promises of Him who commands us to sleep without fear？ 。 。 。 Christ will
not be wanting to the work of justice and truth。 He lives； He reigns； what
fear； then； can we have？〃Ibid。； b。 14； ch。 6。
God did listen to the cries of His servants。 He gave to princes and
ministers grace and courage to maintain the truth against the rulers of the
darkness of this world。 Saith the Lord： 〃Behold； I lay in Zion a chief
cornerstone； elect； precious： and he that believeth on Him shall not be
confounded。〃 1 Peter 2：6。 The Protestant Reformers had built on Christ； and
the gates of hell could not prevail against them。
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Chapter 12
The French Reformation
The Protest of Spires and the Confession at Augsburg； which marked the
triumph of the Reformation in Germany； were followed by years of conflict
and darkness。 Weakened by divisions among its supporters； and assailed by
powerful foes； Protestantism seemed destined to be utterly destroyed。
Thousands sealed their testimony with their blood。 Civil war broke out； the
Protestant cause was betrayed by one of its leading adherents； the noblest
of the reformed princes fell into the hands of the emperor and were dragged
as captives from town to town。 But in the moment of his apparent triumph；
the emperor was smitten with defeat。 He saw the prey wrested from his grasp；
and he was forced at last to grant toleration to the doctrines which it had
been the ambition of his life to destroy。 He had staked his kingdom； his
treasures； and life itself upon the crushing out of the heresy。 Now he saw
his armies wasted by battle； his treasuries drained； his many kingdoms
threatened by revolt； while everywhere the faith which he had vainly
endeavored to suppress； was extending。 Charles V had been battling against
omnipotent power。 God had said； 〃Let there be light；〃 but the emperor had
sought to keep the darkness unbroken。 His purposes had failed； and in
premature old age； worn out with the long struggle； he abdicated the throne
and buried himself in a cloister。
In Switzerland； as in Germany； there came dark days for the Reformation。
While many cantons accepted the reformed
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faith； others clung with blind persistence to the creed of Rome。 Their
persecution of those who desired to receive the truth finally gave rise to
civil war。 Zwingli and many who had united with him in reform fell on the
bloody field of Cappel。 Oecolampadius； overcome by these terrible disasters；
soon after died。 Rome was triumphant； and in many places seemed about to
recover all that she had lost。 But He whose counsels are from everlasting
had not forsaken His cause or His people。 His hand would bring deliverance
for them。 In other lands He had raised up laborers to carry forward the
reform。
In France； before the name of Luther had been heard as a Reformer； the day
had already begun to break。 One of the first to catch the light was the aged
Lefevre； a man of extensive learning； a professor in the University of
Paris； and a sincere and zealous papist。 In his researches into ancient
literature his attention was directed to the Bible； and he introduced its
study among his students。
Lefevre was an enthusiastic adorer of the saints； and he had undertaken to
prepare a history of the saints and martyrs as given in the legends of the
church。 This was a work which involved great labor； but he had already made
considerable progress in it； when； thinking that he might obtain useful
assistance from the Bible； he began its study with this object。 Here indeed
he found saints brought to view； but not such as figured in the Roman
calendar。 A flood of divine light broke in upon his mind。 In amazement and
disgust he turned away from his self…appointed task and devoted himself to
the word of God。 The precious truths which he there discovered he soon began
to teach。
In 1512； before either Luther or Zwingli had begun the wor