French Protestants

Now here's a, I think, a very powerful example of someone acting as a surety.

So last night we talked about the persecution of the French Protestants in the 18th century.

And Amanda Sue explained to us that it was illegal for Protestants to worship and so they had to go out into the bush to worship.

In 1756, and this is a true story, in the city of Nîmes, which is a beautiful old Roman city in the south of France, and it was also a bit of a Protestant heartland.

In 1756, the Protestants went out into the bush to worship as they did and the king's troops set an ambush and they captured a number of those who were worshipping and the women were condemned to prison, the men condemned to the galleys, including Pierre Fabre, who was 78.

It's an entirely true story.

A 78-year-old man sent to Toulon, which was where the French navy had their base, to row the oars, which of course was a death sentence for that man.

And his son, Jean, just 28 at the time, he said, I understand.

An account of the life, sufferings, and death of Mr. George Wishart, who was strangled and afterward burned in Scotland for professing the truth of the gospel.

About the year of our Lord, fifteen forty-three, there was in the University of Cambridge one Master George Wishart, commonly called Master George of Bennet's College, a man of tall stature, bold-headed, and on the same a round French cap of the best, judged to be of melancholy complexion by his physiognomy, black-haired, long-bearded, comely of personage, well-spoken after his country of Scotland, courteous, lowly, lovely, glad to teach, desirous to learn, and well-traveled.

Having on him for his clothing a freeze gown to the shoes, a black million fustian doublet, and plain black hosen, coarse new canvas for his shirts, and white falling bands and cuffs at his hands.

He was a man modest, temperate, fearing God, hating covetousness, for his charity had never end, night, noon, nor day.

In 1544, the archbishop's palace at Canterbury was burnt, and his brother-in-law with others perished in it.

These various afflictions may serve to reconcile us to a humble state, for of what happiness could this great and good man boast, since his life was constantly harassed by either political, religious, or natural crosses? Again the inveterate Gardiner laid high charges against the meek archbishop, and would have sent him to the Tower, but the king was his friend, gave him his signet that he might defend him, and in the council not only declared the bishop one of the best affected men in his realm, but sharply rebuked his accusers for their calumny.

A peace having been made, Henry and the French king, Henry the Great, were unanimous to have the mass abolished in their kingdom, and Cranmer set about this great work.

But the death of the English monarch in 1546 suspended the procedure, and King Edward his successor continued Cranmer in the same functions, upon whose coronation he delivered a charge that will ever honor his memory for its purity, freedom, and truth.