The rage of the persecutors was equalled by the faith of the martyrs . Not only men but delicate women and young maidens displayed unflinching courage . " Wives would take their stand by their husband ' s stake , and while he was enduring the fire they would whisper words of solace , or sing psalms to cheer him ." " Young maidens would lie down in their living grave as if they were entering into their chamber of nightly sleep ; or go forth to the scaffold and the fire , dressed in their best apparel , as if they were going to their marriage ." -- Ibid ., b . 18 , ch . 6 .
As in the days when paganism sought to destroy the gospel , the blood of the Christians was seed . ( See Tertullian , Apology , paragraph 50 .) Persecution served to increase the number of witnesses for the truth . Year after year the monarch , stung to madness by the unconquerable determination of the people , urged on his cruel work ; but in vain . Under the noble William of Orange the Revolution at last brought to Holland freedom to worship God . In the mountains of Piedmont , on the plains of France and the shores of Holland , the progress of the gospel was marked with the blood of its disciples . But in the countries of the North it found a peaceful entrance . Students at Wittenberg , returning to their homes , carried the reformed faith to Scandinavia . The publication of Luther ' s writings also spread the light . The simple , hardy people of the North turned from the corruption , the pomp , and the superstitions of Rome , to welcome the purity , the simplicity , and the life-giving truths of the Bible .
Tausen , " the Reformer of Denmark ," was a peasant ' s son . The boy early gave evidence of vigorous intellect ; he thirsted for an education ; but this was denied him by the circumstances of his parents , and he entered a cloister . Here the purity of his life , together with his diligence and fidelity , won the favour of his superior . Examination showed him to possess talent that promised at some future day good service to the church . It was determined to give him an education at some one of the universities of Germany or the Netherlands . The young student was granted permission to choose a school for himself , with one proviso , that he must not go to Wittenberg . The scholar of the church was not to be endangered by the poison of heresy . So said the friars .
Tausen went to Cologne , which was then , as now , one of the strongholds of Romanism . Here he soon became disgusted with the mysticisms of the schoolmen . About the same time he obtained Luther ' s writings . He read them with wonder and delight , and greatly desired to enjoy the personal instruction of the Reformer . But to do so he must risk giving offense to his monastic superior and forfeiting his support . His decision was soon made , and erelong he was enrolled as a student at Wittenberg .
On returning to Denmark , he again repaired to his cloister . No one as yet suspected him of Lutheranism ; he did not reveal his secret , but endeavoured , without exciting the prejudices of his companions , to lead them to a purer faith and a holier life . He opened the Bible , and explained its true meaning , and at last preached Christ to them as the sinner ' s righteousness and his only hope of
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