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to teach。
In 1512； before either Luther or Zwingli had begun the work of reform；
Lefevre wrote： 〃It is God who gives us； by faith； that righteousness which
by grace alone justifies to eternal life。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 1。 Dwelling
upon the mysteries of redemption； he exclaimed： 〃Oh； the unspeakable
greatness of that exchange；the Sinless One is condemned；
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and he who is guilty goes free； the Blessing bears the curse； and the cursed
is brought into blessing； the Life dies； and the dead live； the Glory is
whelmed in darkness； and he who knew nothing but confusion of face is
clothed with glory。〃 D'Aubigne； London ed。； b。 12； ch。 2。
And while teaching that the glory of salvation belongs solely to God； he
also declared that the duty of obedience belongs to man。 〃If thou art a
member of Christ's church；〃 he said； 〃thou art a member of His body； if thou
art of His body； then thou art full of the divine nature。 。 。 。 Oh； if men
could but enter into the understanding of this privilege； how purely；
chastely； and holily would they live； and how contemptible； when compared
with the glory within them； that glory which the eye of flesh cannot
see；would they deem all the glory of this world。〃Ibid。； b。 12； ch。 2。
There were some among Lefevre's students who listened eagerly to his words；
and who； long after the teacher's voice should be silenced； were to continue
to declare the truth。 Such was William Farel。 The son of pious parents； and
educated to accept with implicit faith the teachings of the church； he
might； with the apostle Paul； have declared concerning himself： 〃After the
most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee。〃 Acts 26：5。 A
devoted Romanist； he burned with zeal to destroy all who should dare to
oppose the church。 〃I would gnash my teeth like a furious wolf；〃 he
afterward said； referring to this period of his life； 〃when I heard anyone
speaking against the pope。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。
2。 He had been untiring in his adoration of the saints； in
company with Lefevre making the round of the churches of Paris； worshipping
at the altars； and adorning with gifts the holy shrines。 But these
observances could not bring peace of soul。 Conviction of sin fastened upon
him； which all the acts of penance that he practiced failed to banish。 As to
a voice from heaven he listened to the Reformer's words： 〃Salvation is of
grace。〃 〃The Innocent One is condemned； and the criminal is acquitted。〃 〃It
is the cross of Christ alone that
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openeth the gates of heaven； and shutteth the gates of hell。〃 Ibid。； b。
13； ch。 2。
Farel joyfully accepted the truth。 By a conversion like that of Paul he
turned from the bondage of tradition to the liberty of the sons of God。
〃Instead of the murderous heart of a ravening wolf；〃 he came back； he says；
〃quietly like a meek and harmless lamb； having his heart entirely withdrawn
from the pope； and given to Jesus Christ。〃D'Aubigne； b。 12； ch。 3。
While Lefevre continued to spread the light among his students； Farel； as
zealous in the cause of Christ as he had been in that of the pope； went
forth to declare the truth in public。 A dignitary of the church； the bishop
of Meaux； soon after united with them。 Other teachers who ranked high for
their ability and learning joined in proclaiming the gospel； and it won
adherents among all classes； from the homes of artisans and peasants to the
palace of the king。 The sister of Francis I； then the reigning monarch；
accepted the reformed faith。 The king himself； and the queen mother；
appeared for a time to regard it with favor； and with high hopes the
Reformers looked forward to the time when France should be won to the
gospel。
But their hopes were not to be realized。 Trial and persecution awaited the
disciples of Christ。 This； however； was mercifully veiled from their eyes。 A
time of peace intervened； that they might gain strength to meet the tempest；
and the Reformation made rapid progress。 The bishop of Meaux labored
zealously in his own diocese to instruct both the clergy and the people。
Ignorant and immoral priests were removed； and； so far as possible； replaced
by men of learning and piety。 The bishop greatly desired that his people
might have access to the word of God for themselves； and this was soon
accomplished。 Lefevre undertook the translation of the New Testament； and at
the very time when Luther's German Bible was issuing from the press in
Wittenberg； the French New Testament was published at Meaux。 The bishop
spared no labor or expense to circulate it in his parishes； and soon the
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peasants of Meaux were in possession of the Holy Scriptures。
As travelers perishing from thirst welcome with joy a living water spring；
so did these souls receive the message of heaven。 The laborers in the field；
the artisans in the workshop； cheered their daily toil by talking of the
precious truths of the Bible。 At evening； instead of resorting to the
wine…shops； they assembled in one another's homes to read God's word and
join in prayer and praise。 A great change was soon manifest in these
communities。 Though belonging to the humblest class； an unlearned and
hard…working peasantry； the reforming； uplifting power of divine grace was
seen in their lives。 Humble； loving； and holy； they stood as witnesses to
what the gospel will accomplish for those who receive it in sincerity。
The light kindled at Meaux shed its beams afar。 Every day the number of
converts was increasing。 The rage of the hierarchy was for a time held in
check by the king； who despised the narrow bigotry of the monks； but the
papal leaders finally prevailed。 Now the stake was set up。 The bishop of
Meaux； forced to choose between the fire and recantation； accepted the
easier path； but notwithstanding the leader's fall； his flock remained
steadfast。 Many witnessed for the truth amid the flames。 By their courage
and fidelity at the stake； these humble Christians spoke to thousands who in
days of peace had never heard their testimony。
It was not alone the humble and the poor that amid suffering and scorn dared
to bear witness for Christ。 In the lordly halls of the castle and the palace
there were kingly souls by whom truth was valued above wealth or rank or
even life。 Kingly armor concealed a loftier and more steadfast spirit than
did the bishop's robe and miter。 Louis de Berquin was of noble birth。 A
brave and courtly knight； he was devoted to study； polished in manners； and
of blameless morals。 〃He was；〃 says a writer； 〃a great follower of the
papistical constitutions； and a great hearer of masses and sermons； 。 。 。
and he crowned all his other virtues by holding Lutheranism in
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special abhorrence。〃 But； like so many others； providentially guided to the
Bible； he was amazed to find there； 〃not the doctrines of Rome； but the
doctrines of Luther。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 9。 Henceforth he gave himself with
entire devotion to the cause of the gospel。
〃The most learned of the nobles of France；〃 his genius and eloquence； his
indomitable courage and heroic zeal； and his influence at court；for he was
a favorite with the king； caused him to be regarded by many as one
destined to be the Reformer of his country。 Said Beza： 〃Berquin would have
been a second Luther； had he found in Francis I a second elector。〃 〃He is
worse than Luther；〃 cried the papists。Ibid。； b。 13； ch。 9。 More dreaded he
was indeed by the Romanists of France。 They thrust him into prison as a
heretic； but he was set at liberty by the king。 For years the struggle
continued。 Francis； wavering between Rome and the Reformation； alternately
tolerated and restrained the fierce zeal of the monks。 Berquin was three
times imprisoned by the papal authorities； only to be released by the
monarch； who； in admiration of his genius and his nobility of character；
refused to sacrifice him to the malice of the hierarchy。
Berquin was repeatedly warned of the danger that threatened him in France；
and urged to follow the steps of those who had found safety in voluntary
exile。 The timid and time…serving Erasm