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Persons of all classes gladly listened to the gospel。 There was no public
preaching； but in the home of the chief magistrate； in his own lodgings； and
sometimes in a public garden； Calvin opened the words of eternal life to
those who desired to listen。 After a time； as the number of hearers
increased； it was thought safer to assemble outside the city。 A cave in the
side of a deep and narrow gorge； where trees and overhanging rocks made the
seclusion still more complete； was chosen as the place of meeting。 Little
companies； leaving the city by different routes； found their way hither。 In
this retired spot the Bible was read aloud and explained。 Here the Lord's
Supper was celebrated for the first time by the Protestants of France。 From
this little church several faithful evangelists were sent out。
Once more Calvin returned to Paris。 He could not even yet relinquish the
hope that France as a nation would accept the Reformation。 But he found
almost every door of labor closed。 To teach the gospel was to take the
direct road to the stake； and he at last determined to depart to Germany。
Scarcely had he left France when a storm burst over the Protestants； that；
had he remained； must surely have involved him in the general ruin。
The French Reformers； eager to see their country keeping pace with Germany
and Switzerland； determined to strike a bold blow against the superstitions
of Rome； that should arouse the whole nation。 Accordingly placards attacking
the
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mass were in one night posted all over France。 Instead of advancing the
reform； this zealous but ill…judged movement brought ruin； not only upon its
propagators； but upon the friends of the reformed faith throughout France。
It gave the Romanists what they had long desireda pretext for demanding
the utter destruction of the heretics as agitators dangerous to the
stability of the throne and the peace of the nation。
By some secret handwhether of indiscreet friend or wily foe was never
knownone of the placards was attached to the door of the king's private
chamber。 The monarch was filled with horror。 In this paper； superstitions
that had received the veneration of ages were attacked with an unsparing
hand。 And the unexampled boldness of obtruding these plain and startling
utterances into the royal presence aroused the wrath of the king。 In his
amazement he stood for a little time trembling and speechless。 Then his rage
found utterance in the terrible words： 〃Let all be seized without
distinction who are suspected of Lutheresy。 I will exterminate them
all。Ibid。； b。 4； ch。 10。 The die was cast。 The king had determined to
throw himself fully on the side of Rome。
Measures were at once taken for the arrest of every Lutheran in Paris。 A
poor artisan； an adherent of the reformed faith； who had been accustomed to
summon the believers to their secret assemblies； was seized and； with the
threat of instant death at the stake； was commanded to conduct the papal
emissary to the home of every Protestant in the city。 He shrank in horror
from the base proposal； but at last fear of the flames prevailed； and he
consented to become the betrayer of his brethren。 Preceded by the host； and
surrounded by a train of priests； incense bearers； monks； and soldiers；
Morin； the royal detective； with the traitor； slowly and silently passed
through the streets of the city。 The demonstration was ostensibly in honor
of the 〃holy sacrament；〃 an act of expiation for the insult put upon the
mass by the protesters。 But beneath this pageant a deadly purpose was
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concealed。 On arriving opposite the house of a Lutheran； the betrayer made a
sign； but no word was uttered。 The procession halted； the house was entered；
the family were dragged forth and chained； and the terrible company went
forward in search of fresh victims。 They 〃spared no house； great or small；
not even the colleges of the University of Paris。 。 。 。 Morin made all the
city quake。 。 。 。 It was a reign of terror。〃 Ibid。； b。 4； ch。 10。
The victims were put to death with cruel torture； it being specially ordered
that the fire should be lowered in order to prolong their agony。 But they
died as conquerors。 Their constancy were unshaken； their peace unclouded。
Their persecutors； powerless to move their inflexible firmness； felt
themselves defeated。 〃The scaffolds were distributed over all the quarters
of Paris； and the burnings followed on successive days； the design being to
spread the terror of heresy by spreading the executions。 The advantage；
however； in the end； remained with the gospel。 All Paris was enabled to see
what kind of men the new opinions could produce。 There was no pulpit like
the martyr's pile。 The serene joy that lighted up the faces of these men as
they passed along 。 。 。 to the place of execution； their heroism as they
stood amid the bitter flames； their meek forgiveness of injuries；
transformed； in instances not a few； anger into pity； and hate into love；
and pleaded with resistless eloquence in behalf of the gospel。〃Wylie； b。
13； ch。 20。
The priests； bent upon keeping the popular fury at its height； circulated
the most terrible accusations against the Protestants。 They were charged
with plotting to massacre the Catholics； to overthrow the government； and to
murder the king。 Not a shadow of evidence could be produced in support of
the allegations。 Yet these prophecies of evil were to have a fulfillment；
under far different circumstances； however； and from causes of an opposite
character。 The cruelties that were inflicted upon the innocent Protestants
by the Catholics accumulated in a weight of retribution； and in after
centuries wrought the very doom they had predicted to be impending； upon the
king； his government； and his
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subjects； but it was brought about by infidels and by the papists
themselves。 It was not the establishment； but the suppression； of
Protestantism； that； three hundred years later； was to bring upon France
these dire calamities。
Suspicion； distrust； and terror now pervaded all classes of society。 Amid
the general alarm it was seen how deep a hold the Lutheran teaching had
gained upon the minds of men who stood highest for education； influence； and
excellence of character。 Positions of trust and honor were suddenly found
vacant。 Artisans； printers； scholars； professors in the universities；
authors； and even courtiers； disappeared。 Hundreds fled from Paris；
self…constituted exiles from their native land； in many cases thus giving
the first intimation that they favored the reformed faith。 The papists
looked about them in amazement at thought of the unsuspected heretics that
had been tolerated among them。 Their rage spent itself upon the multitudes
of humbler victims who were within their power。 The prisons were crowded；
and the very air seemed darkened with the smoke of burning piles； kindled
for the confessors of the gospel。
Francis I had gloried in being a leader in the great movement for the
revival of learning which marked the opening of the sixteenth century。 He
had delighted to gather at his court men of letters from every country。 To
his love of learning and his contempt for the ignorance and superstition of
the monks was due； in part at least； the degree of toleration that had been
granted to the reform。 But； inspired with zeal to stamp out heresy； this
patron of learning issued an edict declaring printing abolished all over
France！ Francis I presents one among the many examples on record showing
that intellectual culture is not a safeguard against religious intolerance
and persecution。
France by a solemn and public ceremony was to commit herself fully to the
destruction of Protestantism。 The priests demanded that the affront offered
to High Heaven in the condemnation of the mass be expiated in blood； and
that the king； in behalf of his people； publicly give his sanction to the
dreadful work。
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The 21st of January； 1535； was fixed upon for the awful ceremonial。 The
superstitious fears and bigoted hatred of the whole nation had be