Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

with its precious fruits. It was not necessary to
select, as its seat, a great empire or a renowned
capital; a little town such as this at the foot of the
Alps would serve the purpose better than a more
conspicuous and more expansive stage. The
territory selected must be separated from the other
countries of Christendom, Popish and Reformed,
and yet it must be near to them; and not near only,
but in the midst of them. Moreover, it must in some
way be protected from external violence while
working out its great problem. If around it there
rises no massy bulwark frowning defiance on the
foe; if there musters at its gates no powerful army
to do battle with the invader; if the great mountains
are too remote to serve as walls and ramparts to it;
if earthly defense it has none, all the more evident
will it be that it owes its safety to an Invisible Arm
that is stretched out in its behalf, and that it is
environed by ramparts which the foe is unable to
see, and equally unable to scale.
Here will stand the true "Threshold of the
Apostles." The doors of this shrine will open to the
holy only; it will be visited by enlightened and
117