Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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king responded roughly and laid all the blame on the Protestants, who, he
declared, had excited the attack by throwing stones at the Duke of Guise.
“Well then,” said Beza, “he should have punished only those who did the
throwing.” And then he added these memorable words: “Sire, it is in truth
the lot of the Church of God, in whose name I am speaking, to endure
blows, and not to strike them. But also may it please you to remember that
it is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.” f1292
Civil war now broke out, Condé on one side and the Guises on the other;
and Beza, although so unwilling, was fairly involved in it.
In a lull in the strife the third national Synod of the Reformed Church was
held at Orleans on April 25. Beza was present, and his translation of the
Psalms was sung upon the streets.
On May 20, 1562, the Prince of Condé sent a memorable answer to the
petition of the Guises that King Charles would take active measures to
extirpate heresy in his domains. The reply was really the work of Beza, and
is a masterpiece of argument and eloquence. f1293
The necessity of securing allies induced Condé to send Beza to Germany
and Switzerland. He went first to Strassburg, then to Basel, and at length
on Friday, Sept. 4, he arrived at Geneva. How earnest must have been the
conversations between him and Calvin! How glad must his many friends
have been to welcome back home the leader of French Protestantism!
Beza resumed his former mode of life. Two weeks passed and he had just
begun to feel himself able in peace to carry out his plans for the Academy
and the Genevan churches, when a messenger riding post haste from
D’Andelot, a brother of Coligny, and his fellow-deputy to the German
princes, announced the fresh outbreak of trouble in France. Beza was at
first inclined to stay at home, mistrusting the necessity of his presence
among the Huguenot troops, but Calvin urged him to go, and so he went,
and for the next seven months Beza was with the Huguenot army. He
acted as almoner and treasurer. He followed Condé to the battle of Dreux,
Dec. 19, 1562, at which Condé was taken prisoner. It was made a matter
of reproach that he took an active part in the battle. He did indeed ride in
the front rank, but he denied that he struck a blow. He was in citizen’s
dress. He then retired to Normandy with Coligny. The expected help from
England did not arrive, and it was determined to send him to London. So
utterly sick was Beza of the military life that he seriously meditated going