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Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

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evolution, formed the price which France had to<br />

pay for the fatal choice she made at that gr<strong>and</strong><br />

crisis of her fate.<br />

Let us turn eastward to Bohemia <strong>and</strong> Hungary.<br />

They were once powerful Protestant centers, their<br />

proud position <strong>in</strong> this respect be<strong>in</strong>g due to the<br />

heroism of Huss <strong>and</strong> Jerome of Prague. Sanctuaries<br />

of the Reformed faith, <strong>in</strong> which pastors holy <strong>in</strong> life<br />

<strong>and</strong> learned <strong>in</strong> doctr<strong>in</strong>e m<strong>in</strong>istered to flourish<strong>in</strong>g<br />

congregations, rose <strong>in</strong> all the cities <strong>and</strong> rural<br />

districts. But these countries lay too near the<br />

Austrian Empire to be left unmolested. As when<br />

the simoom passes over the pla<strong>in</strong>, brush<strong>in</strong>g from its<br />

surface with its hot breath the flowers <strong>and</strong> verdure<br />

that cover it, <strong>and</strong> leav<strong>in</strong>g only an expanse of<br />

withered herbs, so passed the tempest of Austrian<br />

bigotry over Bohemia <strong>and</strong> Hungary. The<br />

<strong>Protestantism</strong> of these l<strong>and</strong>s was utterly<br />

exterm<strong>in</strong>ated. Their sons died on the battle-field or<br />

perished on the scaffold. Silent cities, fields<br />

untilled, the ru<strong>in</strong>s of churches <strong>and</strong> houses, so lately<br />

the abodes of a thriv<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>dustrious, <strong>and</strong> orderly<br />

population, testified to the thorough <strong>and</strong> unspar<strong>in</strong>g<br />

11

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