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