of France, and be animated and refreshed. God is as able and as willing as ever to interpose in behalf of his people, and frequently there is one characteristic style of dealing towards the same Church in different ages. If, in twelve years, he wrought such a change in and by the persecuted Church of France, who can tell what happy moral and religious changes may be accomplished by the same Church in these latter days? And who can estimate what glorious achievements the Christian Church of Britain may be honoured to effect, in more favourable circumstances, in as brief a space of time.

In reading the history of modern missions in the South Seas, one is struck with the rapidity of the change. Often a few days, or weeks, or months, according to Williams, were sufficient to induce whole islands, comprehending several thousand of inhabitants, to abandon their idolatry, though taught only by two or three humble agents. The conversion of a few of the leading chiefs led to the conversion of the great body of the people, at least, to the renunciation of the horrible creed and practices of their fathers. Tidings of change in one island, led to change in another. Singular events in the providence of God, too, such as epidemics and famines, under which superstition could afford no comfort, seem, when the people had reached a certain awakened state of mind, to have acted as precursors and hasteners of the change. It is certain, that when the lies of heathenism were once found out, like broken credit at a bank, the public confidence at once gave way on every point. The experience of Scotland, in reference to Popery at the Reformation, as I shall have occasion to notice, was similar. Both cases hold out the pleasing prospect, that when God's time arrives, all superstition, whether Popish or Pagan, shall be overtaken with the same rapid destruction. Who can doubt that, were a considerable body of the Roman Catholic priesthood in this country, at this moment, to throw off Popery, tens of thousands of the people would follow their example? This is one of the consolations in connection with false

religion, that when it does break up, it will disappear like smoke, and, by the suddenness and universality of its death, so to speak, compensate for the duration of its life. It is an interesting remark of the sacred writer, in reference to the cleansing of the House of God, in the days of Hezekiah : "And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.”

CHAPTER II.

FROM 1572 TO 1598.

THE progress of the Protestant Church of France was exceedingly rapid, and indicated the outpouring of the Spirit of God in a remarkable manner. But matters were not long permitted to remain in this prosperous condition. Provoked, it would seem, with the amazing growth of the cause of God, the great adversary of the Church stirred up the most violent opposition against her members, and, doubtless, their own shortcomings also lent an unhappy influence in bringing down upon them the heavy chastisement under which they were now destined to groan. No sooner had the Church of France become eminent for character and numbers, than she became eminent for her sufferings. The day of affliction often follows quickly upon the day of prosperity.

A

Various are the forms of persecution which the Church of Rome has employed, but the present was, perhaps, one of the most savage and cowardly of the whole. scheme was devised for treacherously cutting off the whole Protestant population-at least the influential portion-at a blow; and to a considerable extent the scheme was successful. I allude to the massacre of St Bartholomew's day, in 1572,-a massacre which was begun at Paris, at midnight, upon unoffending Protestants collected into the capital on false pretences, and which was afterwards extended to the country, lasting for days and months, and destroying not less, according

to Sully, than sixty or seventy thousand persons. The first who fell was Admiral Coligny, eminent at once for his rank and his piety. I need not sicken the reader with the details of this infamous massacre; but it is due to the memory of the suffering saints of God, whose record is on high, that I mention a few particulars. It appears, then, from unquestionable Roman Catholic authorities, that the crime of indescribable atrocity, was not the deed of a passionate moment, but was deliberately planned two years before; and that the peace of the space of time which preceded it, was intended, and, as it proved, successfully, to draw the Protestants together, throw them off their guard, and render the slaughter the more complete. There were 60,000 armed men collected in Paris for the work of murder. This incidentally shows how numerous and influential the adherents of the Reformed Faith had been. One man boasted, that he had killed a hundred with his own hand. The river Seine was literally dyed with blood. The bodies of Protestants were opened, and rifled of whatever could be converted into money. * By a dreadful retribution, those of the Reformed Church who had become apostates, were required to show the sincerity of their new faith, by being foremost in the slaughter of their brethren. The example of Paris was a signal for all the leading towns. They followed in her bloody steps. In a few days, 6000 were slain at Rouen. In five or six towns, such as Sancerre, Privas, Rochelle, Montauban, and Nismes, the Protestants were strong enough to defend themselves, but the attempt brought no real advantage. It added to their sorrows: they were besieged, and involved in famine, which cut off even more than the sword. Such was the fierceness of the siege, that, in the case of Rochelle, in a single month, 13,000 cannon-shot were directed against the

*The persecutors in their work of slaughter, frequently and blasphemously mimicked the Psalm-singing of the Protestants, which must have made the scene more horrible. They seem to have borne a peculiar hatred to the singing of the praises of God, whether in public or in private. The practice we believe, was peculiar to the Protestant Church. The Popish Church executes this, and many other parts of worship, by the proxy of the priest.

C

town. Amid all these terrible proceedings, there was no relenting on the part of the Church of Rome. At Lyons, the Pope's Legate, meeting the murderers fresh from their deeds of blood, absolved, by making over them the sign of the cross.

The celebrated Jonathan Edwards, who is not accustomed to speak without good authority, says, in his History of Redemption,-"It is reckoned that, about this time, within thirty years, there were martyred in this kingdom (France,) for the Protestant religion, 39 princes, 148 counts, 234 barons, 147,518 gentlemen, and 760,000 of the common people ;" and yet, as I have said, the massacre of St Bartholomew called forth no relenting,—on the contrary, it filled Rome with joy. It was stated in the beginning of last century, that there were in the great hall of the palace of the Vatican, where the Pope gives audience to ambassadors, several pieces of painting representing the Parisian massacre ; and one in which the news of Admiral Coligny's death is represented as being brought to the French king, with these words, "Rex Colignii necem probat." The Pope ordered triumphant medals to be struck, having on one side the Pope's head, with this inscription,-" Gregorius XIII., Pont. Max., An. I;" on the other side a destroying angel, with a cross held up in one hand, and a sword in the other, killing the Protestants, with these words," Hugonotorum strages, 1582,"-the slaughter of the Hugonots.* But in spite of all these things, there is verily a Judge-a moral government-even in this fallen world. It is a remarkable fact, that all the chief persons who were engaged in the Parisian massacre, at

* Mission. Voyage d' Italie, p. 32.-When our great Reformer, John Knox, drew near his end, the tidings of St Bartholomew were brought to him. It is said that they sunk him much. In a spirit not uncommon among the good men of his day, he uttered a declaration which was afterwards remarkably fulfilled. "Sentence," says he, "is pronounced, in Scotland, against that murderer, the King of France, and God's vengeance shall never depart from his house; but his name shall remain an execration to posterity; and none that shall come of his loins shall enjoy that kingdom in peace and quietness, unless repentance prevent God's judgment." This was spoken in a part of the Tolbooth Church, fitted up in Knox's old age, for a hundred people, to whom he preached. All the ministers of Edinburgh spoke largely on the subject, so that the French Ambassador complained, but ineffectually.