The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 218

counsel of Erasmus, he determined upon still bolder measures. He would
not only stand in defense of the truth, but he would attack error. The
charge of heresy which the Romanists were seeking to fasten upon him,
he would rivet upon them. The most active and bitter of his opponents
were the learned doctors and monks of the theological department in the
great University of Paris, one of the highest ecclesiastical authorities
both in the city and the nation. From the writings of these doctors,
Berquin drew twelve propositions which he publicly declared to be
“opposed to the Bible, and heretical;” and he appealed to the king to
act as judge in the controversy.
The monarch, not loath to bring into contrast the power and
acuteness of the opposing champions, and glad of an opportunity of
humbling the pride of these haughty monks, bade the Romanists defend
their cause by the Bible. This weapon, they well knew, would avail them
little; imprisonment, torture, and the stake were arms which they better
understood how to wield. Now the tables were turned, and they saw
themselves about to fall into the pit into which they had hoped to plunge
Berquin. In amazement they looked about them for some way of escape.
“Just at that time an image of the Virgin at the corner of one of
the streets, was mu