the great controversy-第68章
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actress famous for the witty things she said； described the republican
marriage as 'the sacrament of adultery。'〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
〃Where also our Lord was crucified。〃 This specification of the prophecy was
also fulfilled by France。 In no land had the spirit of enmity against Christ
been more strikingly displayed。 In no country had the truth encountered more
bitter and cruel opposition。 In the persecution which France had visited
upon the confessors of the gospel； she had crucified Christ in the person of
His disciples。
Century after century the blood of the saints had been shed。 While the
Waldenses laid down their lives upon the mountains of Piedmont 〃for the word
of God； and for the testimony of Jesus Christ；〃 similar witness to the truth
had been borne by their brethren； the Albigenses of France。 In the days of
the Reformation its disciples had been put to death with horrible tortures。
King and nobles； highborn women and delicate maidens； the pride and chivalry
of the nation； had feasted their eyes upon the agonies of the martyrs of
Jesus。 The brave Huguenots； battling for those rights which the human heart
holds most sacred； had poured out their blood on many a hard…fought field。
The Protestants were counted as outlaws； a price was set upon their heads；
and they were hunted down like wild beasts。
The 〃Church in the Desert；〃 the few descendants of the ancient Christians
that still lingered in France in the eighteenth century； hiding away in the
mountains of the south； still cherished the faith of their fathers。 As they
ventured to meet by night on mountainside or lonely moor； they were chased
by dragoons and dragged away to lifelong slavery in the galleys。 The purest；
the most refined； and the most intelligent of the French were chained； in
horrible torture； amidst robbers and assassins。 （See Wylie； b。 22； ch。
6。） Others； more mercifully dealt with； were shot down in
cold blood； as； unarmed and helpless； they fell upon their
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knees in prayer。 Hundreds of aged men； defenseless women； and innocent
children were left dead upon the earth at their place of meeting。 In
traversing the mountainside or the forest； where they had been accustomed to
assemble； it was not unusual to find 〃at every four paces； dead bodies
dotting the sward； and corpses hanging suspended from the trees。〃 Their
country； laid waste with the sword； the ax； the fagot； 〃was converted into
one vast； gloomy wilderness。〃 〃These atrocities were enacted 。 。 。 in no
dark age； but in the brilliant era of Louis XIV。 Science was then
cultivated； letters flourished； the divines of the court and of the capital
were learned and eloquent men； and greatly affected the graces of meekness
and charity。〃Ibid。； b。 22； ch。 7。
But blackest in the black catalogue of crime； most horrible among the
fiendish deeds of all the dreadful centuries； was the St。 Bartholomew
Massacre。 The world still recalls with shuddering horror the scenes of that
most cowardly and cruel onslaught。 The king of France； urged on by Romish
priests and prelates； lent his sanction to the dreadful work。 A bell；
tolling at dead of night； was a signal for the slaughter。 Protestants by
thousands； sleeping quietly in their homes； trusting to the plighted honor
of their king； were dragged forth without a warning and murdered in cold
blood。
As Christ was the invisible leader of His people from Egyptian bondage； so
was Satan the unseen leader of his subjects in this horrible work of
multiplying martyrs。 For seven days the massacre was continued in Paris； the
first three with inconceivable fury。 And it was not confined to the city
itself； but by special order of the king was extended to all the provinces
and towns where Protestants were found。 Neither age nor sex was respected。
Neither the innocent babe nor the man of gray hairs was spared。 Noble and
peasant； old and young； mother and child； were cut down together。 Throughout
France the butchery continued for two months。 Seventy thousand of the very
flower of the nation perished。
〃When the news of the massacre reached Rome； the
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exultation among the clergy knew no bounds。 The cardinal of Lorraine
rewarded the messenger with a thousand crowns； the cannon of St。 Angelo
thundered forth a joyous salute； and bells rang out from every steeple；
bonfires turned night into day； and Gregory XIII； attended by the cardinals
and other ecclesiastical dignitaries； went in long procession to the church
of St。 Louis； where the cardinal of Lorraine chanted a Te Deum。 。 。 。 A
medal was struck to commemorate the massacre； and in the Vatican may still
be seen three frescoes of Vasari； describing the attack upon the admiral；
the king in council plotting the massacre； and the massacre itself。 Gregory
sent Charles the Golden Rose； and four months after the massacre； 。 。 。 he
listened complacently to the sermon of a French priest； 。 。 。 who spoke of
'that day so full of happiness and joy； when the most holy father received
the news； and went in solemn state to render thanks to God and St。
Louis。'〃Henry White； The Massacre of St。 Bartholomew； ch。 14； par。 34。
The same master spirit that urged on the St。 Bartholomew Massacre led also
in the scenes of the Revolution。 Jesus Christ was declared to be an
impostor； and the rallying cry of the French infidels was； 〃Crush the
Wretch；〃 meaning Christ。 Heaven…daring blasphemy and abominable wickedness
went hand in hand； and the basest of men； the most abandoned monsters of
cruelty and vice； were most highly exalted。 In all this； supreme homage was
paid to Satan； while Christ； in His characteristics of truth； purity； and
unselfish love； was crucified。
〃The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against
them； and shall overcome them； and kill them。〃 The atheistical power that
ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror； did wage such
a war against God and His holy word as the world had never witnessed。 The
worship of the Deity was abolished by the National Assembly。 Bibles were
collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn。
The law of God
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was trampled underfoot。 The institutions of the Bible were abolished。 The
weekly rest day was set aside； and in its stead every tenth day was devoted
to reveling and blasphemy。 Baptism and the Communion were prohibited。 And
announcements posted conspicuously over the burial places declared death to
be an eternal sleep。
The fear of God was said to be so far from the beginning of wisdom that it
was the beginning of folly。 All religious worship was prohibited； except
that of liberty and the country。 The 〃constitutional bishop of Paris was
brought forward to play the principal part in the most impudent and
scandalous farce ever acted in the face of a national representation。 。 。 。
He was brought forward in full procession； to declare to the Convention that
the religion which he had taught so many years was； in every respect； a
piece of priestcraft； which had no foundation either in history or sacred
truth。 He disowned； in solemn and explicit terms； the existence of the Deity
to whose worship he had been consecrated； and devoted himself in future to
the homage of liberty； equality； virtue； and morality。 He then laid on the
table his episcopal decorations； and received a fraternal embrace from the
president of the Convention。 Several apostate priests followed the example
of this prelate。〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
〃And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them； and make merry；
and shall send gifts one to another； because these two prophets tormented
them that dwelt on the earth。〃 Infidel France had silenced the reproving
voice of God's two witnesses。 The word of truth lay dead in her streets； and
those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God's law were
jubilant。 Men publicly defied the King of heaven。 Like the sinners of old；
they cried： 〃How doth God know？ and is there knowledge in the Most High？〃
Psalm 73：11。
With blasphemous boldness almo
