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Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

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guide myself by my Master's rule, which is to me<br />

clear <strong>and</strong> well known. As we are now about to<br />

receive the Holy Supper <strong>of</strong> our Lord Jesus Christ,<br />

if any one who has been debarred by the<br />

Consistory shall approach this table, though it<br />

should cost my life, I will show myself such as I<br />

ought to be."[9]<br />

When the liturgies were concluded, Calvin<br />

came down from the pulpit <strong>and</strong> took his st<strong>and</strong><br />

before the table. Lifting up the white napkin he<br />

displayed the symbols <strong>of</strong> Christ's body <strong>and</strong> blood,<br />

the food destined for believing souls. Having<br />

blessed the bread <strong>and</strong> wine, he was about to<br />

distribute them to the congreg<strong>at</strong>ion. At th<strong>at</strong><br />

moment there was seen a movement among the<br />

Libertines as if they would seize the bread <strong>and</strong> the<br />

cup. The Reformer, covering the sacred symbols<br />

with his h<strong>and</strong>s, exclaimed in a voice th<strong>at</strong> rang<br />

through the edifice, "These h<strong>and</strong>s you may crush;<br />

these arms you may lop <strong>of</strong>f; my life you may take;<br />

my blood is yours, you may shed it; but you shall<br />

never force me to give holy things to the pr<strong>of</strong>ane,<br />

<strong>and</strong> dishonor the table <strong>of</strong> my God."[10] These<br />

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