But the two days at Geneva had by no means discouraged Farel. On the contrary, the thought of the hungry souls whom he had left behind, only strengthened his longing for the day when Geneva should “be taken for Christ.”
After a few days at Orbe, he journeyed on to Granson. At this place he found Anthony Froment, who, young as he was, had become the pastor of the little flock at the village of Yvonand, not far off. But Farel had other plans for Anthony Froment. He determined to send him at once to face the “stout priests” of Geneva. You know, from the story of Boudevilliers, that Anthony was not wanting in courage. But he was scarcely twenty-two years old. He was of mean appearance, he was shy, and he was small in stature. He had, however, one qualification which was a great one in the eyes of Farel, and which he possessed beyond many others. This was, that he was “nobody.” To Anthony therefore Farel betook himself. He related his adventures at Geneva, and described how the Huguenots were waiting eagerly to hear the blessed gospel.
Froment listened with the deepest interest. Then Farel fixed his eyes upon the young man, and said, “Go and try if you can find an open door at Geneva.”
Froment stood speechless. “How should I dare,” he said at last, “to face the enemies who drove away even you, Master Farel?”
Farel said, “Begin as I did at Aigle. I became a schoolmaster, and taught little children, and took any opportunity I could find to speak of Christ to one and to another, till the door was opened for me to preach.” Froment began to think this might be almost possible for him. And Farel, to encourage him further, said, “Dear Anthony, do you not remember how you and I went to Neuchâtel, and the villages near? Do you not remember the blows and abuses we got so often? Once, you know, at Valangin, you saw how my blood bespattered that little chapel, where I was nearly killed. You have seen enough of what it is to fight the Lord’s battles, not to fear the men of Geneva.”
But these recollections failed to give courage to Anthony. And the other preachers also thought that he was far too young to be thus sent into the lions’ den. Anthony said he could not go.
In the meantime, Anthony Saunier, with Robert Olivetan, and several other preachers, set off on a fresh journey to the valleys of the Waldenses. Their chief object was to talk over with the barbes some plan for a fresh translation of the Bible into French. They wished to begin this work at once, and to supply the Waldenses with printed Bibles as soon as possible. The Waldenses were delighted. They collected no less than 500 golden crowns, which they gave to Robert towards the expenses of printing. It must have cost them many a meal, and many a warm coat, to provide such a large sum. The work was begun, and for a time Farel undertook to revise the translation. Later on, he made over this part of the work to Robert.
At the end of October, Farel again appeared at Yvonand.
“Anthony Froment,” he said, “once more I ask you, whether, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will go to Geneva?”
Anthony replied as before, that he was young, and weak, and of no repute, and that Geneva was the stronghold of the enemy. “Fear nothing,” said Farel, “it is a great thing to be nobody. You can then be free of everybody. Nobody will attend to what you do. God will guide you, and will guide you in His own path.”
Anthony felt that the message came to him from God. It was not to please Farel, but to please Christ, that he would dare to go. He fell on his knees. “O God,” he said, “I trust not in the power of man, I place myself entirely in Thy hands. To Thee I commit my cause, praying Thee to guide it, for it is Thine.” He called together the little flock at Yvonand to take leave of them. They all joined with him in prayer, saying,” O God, give him grace to be useful for making known Thy Word.” Then he embraced them and Farel, and departed for Geneva, amidst their prayers and blessings.
He went by way of Lausanne, along the shores of the lake of Geneva. Sometimes he stopped and asked himself whether he was not mad to have undertaken such a task. But the words of God came to him with power, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
And thus strengthened, Anthony went on.
The people of Geneva were just then much disturbed by the sight of a blazing object in the sky every night. It seems from the description to have been a comet. But they imagined it to be a sign that some great event was going to take place. At this time Anthony arrived. They little knew how great an event was that.
Nor had Anthony any reason to think that his arrival at Geneva was of any importance. He felt shy and strange, with only unknown faces around him. No one knew him or cared for him, and he got short answers from everyone. He remembered the names of the chief Huguenots, Farel’s friends, and he called upon them. But they looked at him coldly, almost scornfully. Farel, they thought, might at least have sent them a learned doctor, not a mean shabby looking working man, almost a boy. They would be ashamed of having Anthony as their spokesman with the learned clever priests of Geneva.
So poor little Anthony had every door closed in his face. He walked back to his inn, sad and perplexed. It was quite clear that even the Huguenots, who wished for the gospel, despised him, and would have nothing to say to him. He therefore went to his landlord, paid his bill, packed up his little bundle, and turning his steps to the Swiss gate, he left the city of Geneva.