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witness the event； and there were many who saw with astonishment and
misgiving that the victim had been chosen from the best and bravest of the
noble families of France。 Amazement； indignation； scorn； and bitter hatred
darkened the faces of that surging crowd； but upon one face no shadow
rested。 The martyr's thoughts were far from that scene of tumult； he was
conscious only of the presence of his Lord。
The wretched tumbrel upon which he rode； the frowning faces of his
persecutors； the dreadful death to which he was goingthese he heeded not；
He who liveth and was dead； and is alive for evermore； and hath the keys of
death and of hell； was beside him。 Berquin's countenance was radiant with
the light and peace of heaven。 He had attired himself in goodly raiment；
wearing 〃a cloak of velvet； a doublet of satin and damask； and golden
hose。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of
Calvin； b。 2； ch。 16。 He was about to testify to his faith in the presence
of the King of kings and the witnessing universe； and no token of mourning
should belie his joy。
As the procession moved slowly through the crowded streets； the people
marked with wonder the unclouded peace； and joyous triumph； of his look and
bearing。 〃He is；〃 they said； 〃like one who sits in a temple； and meditates
on holy things。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 9。
At the stake； Berquin endeavored to address a few words to the people； but
the monks； fearing the result； began to shout； and the soldiers to clash
their arms； and their clamor drowned the martyr's voice。 Thus in 1529 the
highest literary and ecclesiastical authority of cultured Paris 〃set the
populace of 1793 the base example of stifling on the scaffold the sacred
words of the dying。〃Ibid。； b； 13； ch。 9。
Berquin was strangled； and his body was consumed in the flames。 The tidings
of his death caused sorrow to the friends of the Reformation throughout
France。 But his example was
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not lost。 〃We； too； are ready；〃 said the witnesses for the truth； 〃to meet
death cheerfully； setting our eyes on the life that is to come。〃D'Aubigne；
History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin； b。 2； ch。 16。
During the persecution of Meaux； the teachers of the reformed faith were
deprived of their license to preach； and they departed to other fields。
Lefevre after a time made his way to Germany。 Farel returned to his native
town in eastern France； to spread the light in the home of his childhood。
Already tidings had been received of what was going on at Meaux； and the
truth； which he taught with fearless zeal； found listeners。 Soon the
authorities were roused to silence him； and he was banished from the city。
Though he could no longer labor publicly； he traversed the plains and
villages； teaching in private dwellings and in secluded meadows； and finding
shelter in the forests and among the rocky caverns which had been his haunts
in boyhood。 God was preparing him for greater trials。 〃The crosses；
persecutions； and machinations of Satan； of which I was forewarned； have not
been wanting；〃 he said； 〃they are even much severer than I could have borne
of myself； but God is my Father； He has provided and always will provide me
the strength which I require。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation of the
Sixteenth Century； b。 12； ch。 9。
As in apostolic days； persecution had 〃fallen out rather unto the
furtherance of the gospel。〃 Philippians 1：12。 Driven from Paris and Meaux；
〃they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching 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 blamelessness 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
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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 enclosed。 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 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 revealed in the Bible； and which teaches man to
look for salvation solely from 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？〃 Wylie； b。 13； ch。 7。
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 church； he
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manifested a faith and courage which the young student painfully contrasted
with his own despair and darkness； while living in strictest obedience to
the church。 Upon the Bible； he knew； the heretics rested their faith。 He
determined to study it； and discover； if he could； the secret of their joy。
In the Bible he found Christ。 〃O Father；〃 he cried； 〃His sacrifice has
appeased Thy wrath； His blood has washed away my impurities； His cross has
borne my curse； His death has atoned for me。 We had devised for ourselves
many useless follies； but Thou hast placed Thy word before me like a torch；
and Thou hast touched my heart； in order that I may hold in abomination all
other merits save those of Jesus。〃 Martyn； vol。 3； ch。 13。
Calvin had been educated for the priesthood。 When only twelve years of age
he had been appointed to the chaplaincy of a small church； and his head had
been shorn by the bishop in accordance with the canon of the chu