FERVENTLY did the gospelers thank God for this deliverance. And a month later they had fresh cause for thanksgiving. Baudichon, who had been seized by the Catholics at Lyons some months before, had been kept in prison, with another Huguenot, and, finally, had been sentenced by the archbishop to be burnt alive. But just after the retreat of the Savoyards from Geneva some Bernese ambassadors were sent to transact some business with Francis I., king of France. They took the opportunity of asking for the release of Baudichon. Francis had his own reasons for wishing to be on good terms with the Swiss. He sent orders to Lyons that Baudichon and his fellow-citizen should be set free. Warmly were they welcomed home by the Huguenots of Geneva.
But the dark days were not yet over. Darker days were yet to come—darker to the eye of man, brighter to the eye of faith—for it was because of the shining of the light of the gospel in Geneva that the prince of darkness mustered his forces against the city he feared to lose. The gospelers of Geneva were to learn how true were the words of Farel, “How nobly all goes on, when all is lost as to the world!” All was to be lost, except Christ, His gospel, and His messengers. It was very clear to the citizens of Geneva that the clouds were gathering. Tidings came that France and Burgundy had promised their help to the duke and bishop, and that a fresh attack would speedily be made. All the citizens were called to arms. The Catholics, who had so nearly betrayed their city, were closely watched lest they should bring enemies within the walls. But the Catholics had other plans. Most of them had determined to leave the city, and join the forces of the duke and bishop. Except the priests, few remained.
With joy the Huguenots saw the Catholics depart. Geneva, save for the priests, was now in their own hands.
The council determined on a desperate measure for the defense of the city. They feared lest the suburbs, outside the walls, should fall into the hands of their enemies. The suburbs were large, consisting of houses and gardens, convents and churches. Orders were given that they should be entirely demolished. The work began at once. The homes of rich and poor alike were pulled down to the ground—the beautiful houses of the rich citizens, the barns and storehouses, the ancient Priory of S. Victor, and the hovels of the poor. Six thousand citizens were thus left homeless and destitute. But the Huguenots within the walls took into their houses all alike—gospelers and Catholics—and shared with them their last loaf, and gave up to them every spare corner.
The last loaf was, alas! soon to be found in many houses. The bishop, from his retreat in Savoy, had sent orders to all towns and villages around his city of Geneva, that no provisions were to be supplied to the rebellious citizens.
The market which the country people had stocked so well with fruit and vegetables, was left empty and deserted. The bishop and the duke placed soldiers in the many castles belonging to them on all sides of the city. None could go out or come in, save at the pleasure of the soldiers. The bishop then took up his abode at Gex, about ten miles off, and ordered all his council to join him there, He gathered around him a number of priests, with whom he took counsel. “We must crush these Lutherans,” he said, “either by war or by any other means.” He then solemnly excommunicated every person left in Geneva—all who should hear the preachers, or talk to them—all who should enter the city for any purpose whatever.
The village people all around now believed Geneva to be a place inhabited by devils. They avoided it, not only out of obedience to the bishop, but from fear and terror. Some bold peasants from one village ventured to go there, for they were curious to see “the devils.” When they came back to their friends, they reported that “the preachers were really men, and not devils at all.” The bishop speedily stopped their tales by sending them to prison.
Thus did the clouds gather over the devoted city. But all these things did not move the gospelers; they had their preachers, and the meetings were now unhindered. Every day the Lord added to the church such as should be saved, and, in spite of all that the enemy could do, “there was great joy in that city.”
At night, when the soldiers were keeping watch at the gates and on the ramparts, the preachers would sit amongst them, and tell them the story of the cross, and of the glory of Christ. Many were thus turned to the Lord. “In the old times,” said the citizens, “the soldiers used to while away their time with ill-conducted women, but now they care for nothing but preaching, and, instead of profane and filthy conversation, we hear nothing but the word of God.”
God was indeed showing mercy to Geneva, in saving multitudes of blind and lost sinners. And He was teaching those whom He saved glorious and blessed lessons. They were soon to learn by experience, as well as from the words of Farel, what it is to lean upon an arm of flesh. If they had been trusting in Berne rather than in God, they were to find that there is but One who can never be as a broken reed. Berne stood aloof; and though not against them, their old allies seemed either unable or unwilling to defend their cause against the duke and the bishop.
The duke meanwhile offered them terms of peace. He would forgive them everything. But it was on the condition that they should send away “these new preachers; that they should allow no more such preachings in their city; that they should receive the bishop back, and live in the faith of our Holy Mother, the Church.” They might have their choice—peace and plenty and the old forms and ceremonies, or the sword and famine, and the gospel of God.
But Geneva, which two years before had driven Farel from its walls, had another spirit now.
“You ask us,” replied the council, “to give up the gospel of Jesus Christ. We would sooner give up father and mother, wife and children. We would sooner lose our goods and our lives. Tell the duke we will set fire to the four corners of our city, before we send away the preachers who preach to us the word of God.” The duke and the bishop were astonished at this answer, and roused to the height of anger.
The object of the meeting of Thonon was, as you will have seen, to decide upon some plan for bringing back the insolent, rebellious city to its obedience to the bishop. On this occasion Berne declared itself on the side of the duke and bishop! Berne, which had been the hope and strength of Geneva, as the citizens had once thought, Berne was now, if not in the ranks of the enemy, consenting in part at least, to their demands. The hope and strength of Geneva was now to be One greater than Berne—had they lost by the exchange?
Then followed the news that the great emperor Charles V., would also come to the help of Savoy. The duchess of Savoy was his sister-in-law.
“When things seem desperate,” said William Farel, “then is the time for faith to rest in God against all appearances, against all that man can see.
“And though you and I may see things all the contrary to that for which we are looking, though Satan stands up in greater power than ever before, then is the time to pray, for God will then show us His help, for the glory of His own great Name. And truly if there is any one who need be afraid, it is I. And then if there were a hundred thousand times more against you, and less. hope than there is now as to the flesh, I am well assured God would hear your prayer, and give you your heart’s desire. Faith looks at nothing but the fathomless depths of the goodness of God.”
Thus spoke William Farel, and his words did not fall upon deaf ears. In spite of emperor duke, and bishop, the king of France and the threats of Burgundy, in spite of Berne proving to be but a broken reed, the gospelers of Geneva stood firm. They were willing to suffer the loss of all things except Christ and His word.
Day by day the work of destruction went on in the beautiful suburbs. The fragments of the ruined buildings were piled into ramparts. The gospelers denied themselves needful food to give to those who had thus become homeless. All trade was stopped, and want stared them in the face on every side.
The bishop, who had forbidden the country people to enter Geneva, now forbade them to trade with the citizens who went into the country for provisions. No eggs, no butter, no cheese; no meat, could be had. The hungry people would go out by night to any villages where they had friends, and bring back bread or corn.
And just at this time several amongst them were called to suffer death itself for the sake of Christ.
The bishop’s band of robbers, who still kepi watch in the castle of Peney, were daily committing outrages upon any passers by, who were suspected of having dealings with Geneva. Many had been thus seized and carried into the castle dungeons. Some were tortured, one hanged, one torn limb from limb by being tied to restive horses in the courtyard of the castle.
The good knight, Gaudet, was thus waylaid, and seized by the spies from Peney. You remember that he had been for some months preaching the gospel at Geneva. This faithful soldier of Christ was tortured for five days. His life was offered him, if he would give up the gospel. But Gaudet had a strength which could withstand all that the devil or man could do. “The Lord stood beside him and strengthened him.” He was condemned to be roasted alive over a slow fire, “for having settled at Geneva, for having attended sermons, and heard and preached the gospel.” Such was the charge laid against him. All the peasants of the neighborhood were invited to have the pleasure of seeing him burnt in the castle-yard. He was fastened to a post, with burning embers under his feet. He was then burnt, limb by limb, and pricked meanwhile with the spears and halberds of his tormentors. For two days was he thus kept in torture. Meanwhile lie prayed for his enemies, and told them that Christ made all suffering light to him, and that he rejoiced to endure the torment for His blessed name. The peasants went back to their homes, weeping and horrorstricken. The priests said, “Gaudet’s death will do us more mischief than twenty of Farel’s sermons.”
Some of the Huguenots determined to avenge Gaudet’s death, and drive the murderers from their stronghold. But they returned mournfully to Geneva. Some had been killed in the assault, others terribly wounded, and the castle was left in the hands of the enemy. “God can do greater things for you,” said Farel, “than you can do for yourselves. He has ways and means which you do not understand, in order that He may have all the honor, and that you may look to Him, not to your human undertakings and your pieces of cannon.”
Yes, in God’s good time the help would come. But for the present the little flock at Geneva must learn to wait upon God. Their ambassador wrote back from Berne to say that many there were roused to grief and anger by the tidings of their persecution. Yet still Berne hung back from helping them. “God has all in His own hand,” said the ambassador; “He will give us all that is needful; needful not to carry out our will, but His. And this is what we must look for, if we are Christians... Jesus, our Redeemer, will not let us suffer more than we can bear. To Him be honor and glory, to you His peace and grace.” The ambassador also advises them in this letter to destroy the dens of the robbers, who were at the bottom of the mischief. By this, he meant the convents of Geneva. F.B.