The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 223

gentle, unpretentious bearing. His work began with the people at their
homes. Surrounded by the members of the household, he read the Bible
and opened the truths of salvation. Those who heard the message carried
the good news to others, and soon the teacher passed beyond the city to
the outlying towns and hamlets. To both the castle and the cabin he
found entrance, and he went forward, laying the foundation of churches
that were to yield fearless witnesses for the truth.
A few months and he was again in Paris. There was unwonted
agitation in the circle of learned men and scholars. The study of the
ancient languages had led men to the Bible, and many whose hearts
were untouched by its truths were eagerly discussing them and even
giving battle to the champions of Romanism. Calvin, though an able
combatant in the fields of theological controversy, had a higher mission
to accomplish than that of these noisy schoolmen. The minds of men
were stirred, and now was the time to open to them the truth. While
the halls of the universities were filled with the clamor of theological
disputation, Calvin was making his way from house to house, opening
the Bible to the people, and speaking to them of Christ and Him
crucified.
In God’s providence, Paris was to receive another invitation to accept
the gospel. The call of Lefevre and Farel had been rejected, but again
the message was to be heard by all classes in that great capital. The
king, influenced by political considerations, had not yet fully sided with
Rome against the Reformation. Margaret still clung to the hope that
Protestantism was to triumph in France. She resolved that the reformed
faith should be preached in Paris. During the absence of the king, she
ordered a Protestant minister to preach in the churches of the city. This
being forbidden by the papal dignitaries, the princess threw open the
palace. An apartment was fitted up as a chapel, and it was announced
that every day, at a specified hour, a sermon would be preached, and the
people of every rank and station were invited to attend.

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