IN the first days of the Reformation the people were very happy and joyful, rejoicing in the beautiful and simple gospel of Christ. It was just what many had been longing for, and they listened to the tidings joyfully.
In these days of Sunday-schools, when every little one is taught to read the Bible from babyhood, it is almost impossible for us to realize the difficulties the people in the sixteenth century had to contend with. How would you like to have to walk two or three miles to find a Bible, and then have to stand all the time you read it? Why, sometimes you find it too much trouble to walk across the room to fetch one.
In those early clays the only Bibles that were to be had were in the churches, chained to the reading desk, and as very few could read, it was not so easy to learn about God as it is in these days.
How strange it is that we should so soon forget the goodness of the Lord when He gives us so many blessings, and how little we deserve them!
A preacher, named Roussel, did a great deal of good by his gentle but faithful preaching. He did not tell the people that they were wrong and he was right, he knew that would only make them angry, but he told them the simple Bible truths, and they believed.
Montmorency, the Governor of Paris, was one of the most violent against the Huguenots; he used to burn so many of their places of meeting that the Catholics called him “Mr. Burnbench."
It was the Reformers in France who were called Huguenots; but at this distant time no one is able to say with certainty the origin of this strange name.
Those of you who have read the History of France will remember Catherine de' Medici, a clever but cruel woman who was a great enemy to the Huguenots. She was an Italian lady, but one of the most cunning women who ever lived. It was to those that she most hated that she pretended to show the most love.
The Calvinists, who followed the preaching of Calvin, were composed of classes, from the greatest lords in the kingdom down to the lowest classes of the people.
The Lutherans and Calvinists were afterward called Protestants, because they protested against the doctrines which the assembly of bishops wished them to accept. All those who refused to go to Mass were to be put in prison by the order of Francis I.
When King Henry II. mounted the throne, he began a rigid persecution against the Protestants, but instead of frightening them, it only seemed to in-crease their numbers, and the king soon found out, to his great vexation, that several of the principal noblemen of his court had gone over to the reformed religion. They were not afraid of confessing Christ.
Among those who had embraced the new doctrine, a niece of Francis I., Jeanne, queen of Navarre, stood as firm as a rock; her husband and many of her friends gave way when the tide of persecution set in, but like a brave true woman she dared the anger of those who were dearest to her rather than give up what she knew to be the truth. She helped the Prince of Condé at the siege of Rochelle, and had Bibles and other good books printed, which she gave to those people who were too poor to buy them.
Perhaps the most celebrated man who suffered martyrdom was the good Admiral Coligny. He was a very aged man, but was most cruelly murdered in his bed.
God in His love and mercy took queen Jeanne of Navarre home to Himself before the terrible massacre of St. Bartholomew took place. She escaped the suffering, though she lost the martyr's crown.