12. The French Reformation. 219
the glory within them,— that glory which the eye of flesh cannot see,— would they deem all the glory of this world.” 316
There were some among Lefevre ' s students who listened eagerly to his words, and who, long after the teacher ' s voice should be silenced, were to continue to declare the truth. Such was William Farel. The son of pious parents, and educated to accept with implicit faith the teachings of the church, he might, with the apostle Paul, have declared concerning himself,“ After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.” 317 A devoted Romanist, he burned with zeal to destroy all who should dare to oppose the church.“ I would gnash my teeth like a furious wolf,” he afterward said, referring to this period of his life,“ when I heard any one speaking against the pope.” 318 He had been untiring in his adoration of the saints, in company with Lefevre making the round of the churches of Paris, worshiping at the altars, and adorning with gifts the holy shrines. But these observances could not bring peace of soul. Conviction of sin fastened upon him, which all the acts of penance that he practised, failed to banish. As to a voice from heaven, he listened to the Reformer ' s words:“ Salvation is of grace.”“ The Innocent One is condemned, and the criminal is acquitted.”“ It is the cross of Christ alone that [ 214 ] openeth the gates of heaven, and shutteth the gates of hell.” 319
Farel joyfully accepted the truth. By a conversion like that of Paul, he turned from the bondage of tradition to the liberty of the sons of God.“ Instead of the murderous heart of a ravening wolf, he came back,” he says,“ quietly, like a meek and harmless lamb, having his heart entirely withdrawn from the pope, and given to Jesus Christ.” 320 While Lefevre continued to spread the light among his stu-
316 Ibid. 317 Acts 26:5. 318 Wylie, b. 13, ch. 2. 319 Wylie, b. 13, ch. 2. 320 D ' Aubigné, b. 12, ch. 3.