Chapter 12 . The French Reformation
The Protest of Spires and the Confession at Augsburg , which marked the triumph of the Reformation in Germany , were followed by years of conflict and darkness . Weakened by divisions among its supporters , and assailed by powerful foes , Protestantism seemed destined to be utterly destroyed . Thousands sealed their testimony with their blood . Civil war broke out ; the Protestant cause was betrayed by one of its leading adherents ; the noblest of the reformed princes fell into the hands of the emperor and were dragged as captives from town to town . But in the moment of his apparent triumph , the emperor was smitten with defeat . He saw the prey wrested from his grasp , and he was forced at last to grant toleration to the doctrines which it had been the ambition of his life to destroy . He had staked his kingdom , his treasures , and life itself upon the crushing out of the heresy . Now he saw his armies wasted by battle , his treasuries drained , his many kingdoms threatened by revolt , while everywhere the faith which he had vainly endeavoured to suppress , was extending . Charles V had been battling against omnipotent power . God had said , " Let there be light ," but the emperor had sought to keep the darkness unbroken . His purposes had failed ; and in premature old age , worn out with the long struggle , he abdicated the throne and buried himself in a cloister .
In Switzerland , as in Germany , there came dark days for the Reformation . While many cantons accepted the reformed faith , others clung with blind persistence to the creed of Rome . Their persecution of those who desired to receive the truth finally gave rise to civil war . Zwingli and many who had united with him in reform fell on the bloody field of Cappel . Oecolampadius , overcome by these terrible disasters , soon after died . Rome was triumphant , and in many places seemed about to recover all that she had lost . But He whose counsels are from everlasting had not forsaken His cause or His people . His hand would bring deliverance for them . In other lands He had raised up labourers to carry forward the reform .
In France , before the name of Luther had been heard as a Reformer , the day had already begun to break . One of the first to catch the light was the aged LeFevre , a man of extensive learning , a professor in the University of Paris , and a sincere and zealous papist . In his researches into ancient literature his attention was directed to the Bible , and he introduced its study among his students . LeFevre was an enthusiastic adorer of the saints , and he had undertaken to prepare a history of the saints and martyrs as given in the legends of the church . This was a work which involved great labour ; but he had already made considerable progress in it , when , thinking that he might obtain useful assistance from the Bible , he began its study with this object . Here indeed he found saints brought to view , but not such as figured in the Roman calendar . A flood of divine light broke in upon his mind . In amazement and disgust he turned away from his self-appointed task and devoted himself to the word of God . The precious truths which he there discovered he soon began to teach .
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