The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

S88FAITH NOT TO BE KEPT WITH HERETICS.leges with tlie Catholics.So bright was the deceitful gleamthat heralded the dismal storm ! Not only were the fearsof the Protestants laid at rest, but those of E,ome wereawakened, thinking that either the King of France meantnot to keep his engagement in the matter, or that he wasoveracting his part. But the cruel issue did more thanmake amends. In a moment the bolt fell. For three daysand nights the work of human slaughter went on, and Francebecame a very shambles. At length the dreadful businesshad an end. Seventy thousand corpses covered the soil ofFrance. Paris shouted for joy, and the cannon of St Angelo,from beyond the Alps, returned that shout. The Popehad some reason to rejoice. The blow struck at Paris decidedthe fortunes of Protestantism in Europe for two centuries.The Protestant faith was on the point of gainingthe ascendancy both in Poland and France. The sagaciousand patriotic Coligny meditated the project of a grand alliancebetween these two countries, and of giving thereby apowerful centre and a uniform action to the Protestantcause, and humbling the two main props of the Papacy,Spain and Austria.* As matters then stood, the projectwould have been completely successful. The other Protestantstates of Europe would have joined the alliance ; but,in truth, France and Poland combined could have easilymade head against the Popish powers, and could haveshaken the dominion of Rome. But the massacre of StBartholomew was fatal to this great scheme. The venerableColigny, as is well known, was its first victim ; andhis project, big with the fortunes of Protestantism, perishedwitli him. The Protestants were panic-struck in France,and disheartened in other countries. The victory which hadlong trembled in the balance between the Reformation andRome now inclined decidedly to the latter ; and from that daythe Protestant influence declined in Europe. The two cen-* Krasinski's Rise, Progress, and Decline of the Reformation in Poland,vol. ii, p. 6.