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Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

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paganism, being worshippers <strong>of</strong> the sun, they had<br />

taken th<strong>at</strong> luminary as their symbol. L<strong>at</strong>terly,<br />

retaining the radical idea in their symbol, they had<br />

modified <strong>and</strong> enlarged it into the following motto:<br />

Post tenebras spero lucem – i.e., "After the<br />

darkness I hope for the light:" words which look<br />

like an unconscious prophecy <strong>of</strong> a time <strong>of</strong><br />

knowledge <strong>and</strong> truth in the future. Having<br />

established their Reform<strong>at</strong>ion, the <strong>Geneva</strong>ns<br />

changed their motto once more. Post tenebras<br />

lucem – "After darkness, light" – was the device<br />

stamped on the new money <strong>of</strong> the St<strong>at</strong>e, as if to<br />

intim<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> the light they looked for was now<br />

come.[19]<br />

Finally, as an enduring monument <strong>of</strong> this gre<strong>at</strong><br />

event, the citizens placed a tablet <strong>of</strong> brass in front<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Town-house, with the following inscription<br />

engraven on it: –<br />

Quum Anno M. D. Xxxv.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>lig<strong>at</strong>a<br />

Romani Antichristi<br />

Tyrannide,<br />

155

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