The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 161

The European Union in Prophecy
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 laborers 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
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