Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

congregation of worshippers.
It was impossible that a great movement like
this, obstructed by so many and so irritating
hindrances, should pursue its course without
breaking into occasional violences. In those parts
of France where the whole population had passed
over to Protestantism, the people took possession
of the cathedrals, and, as a matter of course, they
cleared out the crucifixes, images, and relics which
they contained. In the eyes of the Protestants these
things were the symbols of idolatry, and they felt
that they had only half renounced Romanism while
they retained the signs and symbols of its dogmas.
They felt that they had not honestly put away the
doctrine while they retained its exponent. A nation
of philosophers might have been able to distinguish
between the idea and its symbol, and completely to
emancipate themselves from the former without
destroying the latter.
They might have said, These things are nothing
to us but so much wood and metal; it is in the idea
that the mischief lies, and we have effectually
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