Truth is ancient; it's grey hairs may make it venerable;
it comes from Him who is the ancient of days. --Thomas Watson

 

10 January, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 1 In February 1683, the persecutions began in Dauphiny France. The town of St. Paul, where we lived, was the first to suffer. The Catholic bishop sent for six companies of soldiers of the regiment of Vendome, and billeted them in the homes of those of the Reformed religion. The most cruel among the troops were chosen out, and sent first to our pastor, Monsieur Piffard, and afterwards to my father's house. I must say I have never seen worse men. They committed a thousand ravages by day, and kept up a continual revelry all night - frying large gammons of bacon on the fire, and drinking in proportion. One person was kept constantly busy supplying them with drink. The soldiers used to say, "You may easily free yourselves from all this expense. If you will recant, money will be given you, and we shall be taken away". . . . A recent comment made in defense of an entertainment-driven church that had come under fire for a marketing stunt, said: "I thought this Christian life was supposed to be a blast. ... we're going to have a blast living this life! Rock On". Someone else described this church as "real people having fun serving Christ and being real". This misguided thinking is sometimes the byproduct of today's "God has a wonderful plan for your life" evangelism, which offers lifestyle-improvement as bait for coming to Christ. As a reminder that life often gets more difficult for someone when they become a Christian, especially in different lands or times, I've created the section of Old Truth entitled "Wonderful Plan?". To highlight what "serving Christ and being real" meant for some generations of Christians, I am starting this multi-part series of posts based on the life of a 21 year old woman named Blanche Gamond, who was one of the many persecuted Christians in 17th century France. Her true story is told in the book Stories of The Huguenots, which I will be excerpting from over the next several weeks. . . . continuing from top of page . . . Many of our fellow-citizens were persuaded by these means, and the billet was doubled for those who remained firm, or who were richer than their neighbors. Besides this trouble and expense, execrable cruelties were practiced, persons being actually suspended from the spit before the fire, or put standing with bare feet on burning coals. One day my mother was taken to the bishop, who offered her a large sum of money, saying, "Promise me that you and your family will change your religion, and this shall be yours". But my mother did not yield. Soon afterwards he sent his steward, who did his best to persuade us. "It grieves me", he said, "to see the injury that has been done to you. Believe me, the Bishop is willing to make it all up to you; and he will, moreover, grant one hundred francs to each member of your family". I answered him; "thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. We have not been redeemed with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, which is an infinite price. When vineyards or fields are exchanged, it is the possessor of the property which is worth least who has to give money into that bargain. Your religion must therefore be worse than ours, as you offer money to make up the value. When Christ sent out his apostles, He commanded them to take neither purse nor scrip nor sword. You go from house to house with money in your hand, and then send your soldiers to strangle us. That is not quite the way to make good Catholics". When he found that he could not gain us over, he left us to the dragoons (soldiers), and our sufferings increased. I was considered the most obstinate of the heretics. A neighbor said one day to one of the soldiers, "Do your best to convert that girl. She is more determined in her religion than any one else in our town. If I were you, I would carry her off to church by force". I overheard this conversation, and from that time devoted myself more zealously to the reading of the Holy Scriptures and to meditation, that I might be able to answer my enemies. The story continues on the next page . . . Learn more about the French Huguenots on Wikipedia or in the highly recommended book Sketches From Church History Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.572   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism