Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

'to be reputed a traitor who, seeing the soldiers
dispersed and scattered, raises the captain's ensign,
rallies them, and restores their order,' am I a traitor
for having raised amid the disbanded Church the
old banner of Jesus Christ? For it is not a new and
'strange ensign which I have unfurled, but thy
noble standard, O Lord!'" He adds, with reference
to Sadoleto's taunt that they had broken the peace,
"Did they [the Romanists] not most suddenly and
furiously betake themselves to the sword and the
gibbet? Did they not think that their sole resource
was in arms and cruelty?" They have given us in
default of other consecration that of tribulation and
of blood. We know what we have done, and in
whom we have believed, and "heaven grant,
Sadoleto, that thou and thine may one day be able
to say as much sincerely."[6]
Thus did Calvin, though banished, continue to
cover Geneva with his shield. The writing ran
quickly through Europe. Luther read it and was
delighted beyond measure with it. His eye at once
discerned its freedom, strength, and majesty.
"Here," said he, "is a writing which has hands and
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