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

that dimmed his eye--" Yes, God is very sweet."
This was all he spoke. It was as if a Divine hand
had dropped a cordial into the soul of Coligny.
Speaking afterwards to his friends of the incident,
he said that these words were as balm to his spirit,
then more bruised than his body. There is here a
lesson for us--nay, many lessons, though we can
particularize only one. We are apt to suppose that
those exemplify the highest style of piety, and
enjoy most of the Spirit's presence, who are
oftenest in the closet engaged in acts of devotion,
and that controversy and fighting belong to a lower
type of Christianity. There are exceptions, of
course; but the rule, we believe, is the opposite. We
must distinguish between a contentious lot and a
contentious spirit; the former has been assigned to
some of the most loving natures, and the most
spiritual of men. That is the healthiest piety that
best endures the wear and tear of hard work, just as
those are the healthiest plants which, in no danger
of pining away without the shelter of a hot-house,
flourish in the outer air, and grow tall, and strong,
and beautiful amid the rains and tempests of the
open firmament. So now: breaking through the
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