THE HUGUENOTS IN FEANCE Gl 



the Hugueuots iu France in 1668 better than this trans- invincible 

 lation of a letter written by one of their number : ^"* 



These things make us justly apprehensive that in the end they will 

 break out in acts of open violence ; there being nothing which they are 

 not in case to undertake for accomplishing of our ruine. And unless 

 we be willfully blind, we cannot but see that they design to drive U3 

 into some insurrection. (But that we never shall do, preferring rather 

 to suffer the greatest extremity and our blood to be shed, than in the 

 least to violate the respect which we owe to our prince.) And if they 

 cannot overcome our patience (as assuredly they never shall), then 

 their resolution is, By continual importunity to prevail with his 

 Majesty to drive us out of the kingdom. But we hope that the King 

 is so good and just that he will never gratifie them in such a thing, 

 without a parallel. And if we should be called to such a trial, we hope 

 God will give ua such strength and courage that we may serve Him where- 

 ever His providence shall call us. And this in effect is the general reso- 

 lution of all the Protestants in the kingdom. 



That is the kind of Christian spirit and character that, 

 banished from France, was to enrich every European 

 country, and our own America. "Patient as a Hugue- 

 not" became a proverb, because the ministers were re- 

 solved to suffer for righteousness' sake rather than again 

 make appeal to arms. 



" One might be tempted to suppose," says Poole, "that 

 not the least reason for the energy of the clergy in opposi- 

 tion to the Huguenots was suggested by jealousy of the 

 contrast between their own scandalous neglect and the 

 careful order and nice discipline of the Protestants." As 

 Gustave Massou, the historian, says: " The Vitality of 

 Protestantism iu France, despite the severest persecutions 

 that can be imagined, is a circumstance which, while it can- 

 not be denied, fills us with hope for the future. ' ' The hope 

 of Protestant France lies in the noble words which Theodore 

 de Beze spoke to the King of Navarre : "Sire, it is the 

 part of the Church of God to endure blows, and not to 

 deal them : but your Majesty will please to remember 

 that it is an anvil which has already worn out many a 

 hammer." 



