Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" --Jeremiah 6:16

 

9 February, 2007   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   A Huguenot's Story - Part 4 In the month of March 1687 a list was made of all of those who had not recanted, and one evening the guard said to a good many of our sisters, "Hold yourselves in readiness to leave tomorrow". From that time I redoubled my prayers and vows to God, asking for an increase in strength. Above all, I prayed fervently that, if it was in accordance with his holy will, I might not fall into the hands of the most cruel and bitter prosecutor - La Rapine, the agent of the bishop of Valence. The guard and some other gentlemen came to do the count, and one of the gentlemen, although a Papist, was friendly to us and promised to make inquiries as to our fate. "If I can not speak to you", he said "I will let you know by signs as to whether you are to be sent to another prison or to La Rapine. A needle will be the sign for La Rapine". Three days later Mademoiselle Cassagne came to me with tears in her eyes, saying, "He has shown me the needle. We shall be taken immediately to La Rapine, and there will be no escape for us. He starves his victims, he throws them into the water, or stupefies them with blows, and compels them to take the communion host. If they want to kill me, I am ready to suffer any death that may be chosen, but it will be better to recant than to go to La Rapine; for, once in his power, I feel I shall have no strength to resist." "Mademoiselle", I said, "this is indeed sad news. Is it possible that you intend to renounce the truth, and leave me, after we have spent 14 months together? I beg of you to remember that if we recant now, all the sufferings we have gone through will rise in judgment against us and condemn us. It would be better to have never known the truth, than having begun in the spirit, to end in the flesh. My dear sister, let us encourage ourselves in the Savior, and in the strength of His power; let us put on the full armor of God, that we may be able to resist the devil; for we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places. Wherefore let us put on the full armor of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand." But the guard entered the dungeon and put an end to our conversation. "I come in the name of the court", he said, "to tell you that all who have not recanted are to be sent to La Rapine, and resistance will be useless when once you are in his hands. Take my advice and recant while you are still here; for if you do not, you loose all chance of escape." "Monsieur", I replied, "if I have done anything amiss, let me die in a public place, by the hand of a public hangman, but do not send me to this private executioner, a man possessed with the devil. All the world will hear that the honorable parliament has in it's service a secret inquisitor, who practices worse cruelties than any that are known in hell". I then retired into one of the cells to pray, and to write a note to my father and mother, begging them to watch at the gates of the prison for the chance of seeing me on my way out. While I was writing, two young ladies came to me bathed in tears, and my own tears were falling fast upon my own letter. "For pity's sake", they said, "tell us what you intend to do". "My intention is to follow the Lamb of God where ever He goes; and I hope that God will be glorified either by my life or by my death". All around were weeping; some were tearing their hair, some had already given way, and some were still holding fast. Soon after Mademoiselle Garsin, the sister of a pastor, came to me and said, "So you have made up your mind to go to La Rapine! I could bear the rack, but rather than go to him I would recant. Truly you will not be able to resist. Stronger minds than yours have been subdued by him". "Mademoiselle", I answered, "you give me bad advice. When you were afflicted I did my best to comfort and strengthen you. I know that I can do nothing myself; but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In the evening our tormenters came again to persecute and terrify us; so much so that the number of those who remained firm was reduced to three. The story continues on the next page . . . The above is part of my multi-part series of posts based on the trials 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 am posting excerpts of. If you are just tuning in, you can get caught up by starting on part 1. Learn more about the French Huguenots on Wikipedia or in a book that I highly recommended called Sketches From Church History. Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.575   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism