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From Rise of Protestantism in France to Publication of the Institutes - James Aitken Wylie

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dy<strong>in</strong>g."[20]<br />

What though <strong>the</strong> roll <strong>of</strong> drums drowned <strong>the</strong> last<br />

words <strong>of</strong> Berqu<strong>in</strong>? It was his DEATH that must<br />

speak. And it did speak: it spoke <strong>to</strong> all <strong>France</strong>; and<br />

this, <strong>the</strong> most eloquent and powerful <strong>of</strong> all<br />

testimonies, no clamours could stifle.<br />

The fire had done its work, and where a few<br />

m<strong>in</strong>utes before s<strong>to</strong>od <strong>the</strong> noble form <strong>of</strong> Berqu<strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>re was now only a heap <strong>of</strong> ashes. In that heap<br />

lay en<strong>to</strong>mbed <strong>the</strong> Reformation <strong>in</strong> <strong>France</strong> -- so did<br />

both friend and foe deem. The Sorbonnists were<br />

overjoyed: <strong>the</strong> Protestants were bowed down under<br />

a weight <strong>of</strong> sorrow. There was no sufficient reason<br />

for <strong>the</strong> exultation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> one or <strong>the</strong> dejection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r. Berqu<strong>in</strong>'s stake was <strong>to</strong> be, <strong>in</strong> some good<br />

measure, <strong>to</strong> <strong>France</strong> what Ridley's was <strong>to</strong> England --<br />

a candle which, by God's grace, would not be put<br />

out, but would sh<strong>in</strong>e through all that realm.[21]<br />

Footnotes:<br />

1. Laval., Hist. Reform. <strong>in</strong> <strong>France</strong>, vol. 1., p. 24.<br />

151

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