18.03.2019 Views

Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie

  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

twenty feet high, adorned with <strong>the</strong> royal arms, rose<br />

<strong>in</strong> triumph over <strong>the</strong> demolished edifice. O<strong>the</strong>r<br />

temples throughout <strong>France</strong>, venerable for <strong>the</strong>ir age,<br />

or impos<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong>ir size, which had escaped <strong>the</strong><br />

demolitions <strong>of</strong> former years, were now swept<br />

away. Alas, <strong>the</strong> sorrowful scenes that marked <strong>the</strong><br />

clos<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se churches! Drowned <strong>in</strong> tears, <strong>the</strong><br />

congregation assembled <strong>to</strong> hear <strong>the</strong>ir pas<strong>to</strong>r's<br />

farewell sermon, and s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir last psalm; <strong>the</strong>n,<br />

form<strong>in</strong>g a long and mournful procession, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

passed before <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>ister, who bes<strong>to</strong>wed on each<br />

s<strong>in</strong>gly his benediction, exhort<strong>in</strong>g him <strong>to</strong> be<br />

steadfast un<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> death. With many a hallowed<br />

Communion Sunday l<strong>in</strong>ger<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir memories,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong>n passed out for ever. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

churches fell amid a confused noise <strong>of</strong> blar<strong>in</strong>g<br />

trumpets, <strong>the</strong> shout<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> Romanists, and <strong>the</strong><br />

sobb<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> Protestants. Topp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ru<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Church <strong>of</strong> Nimes might long be seen a s<strong>to</strong>ne which<br />

had formed <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>tel <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> portrico <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> now<br />

overthrown edifice, on which were graven <strong>the</strong><br />

words, "This is <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> God, this is <strong>the</strong> Gate<br />

<strong>of</strong> Heaven."[3]<br />

84

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!