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

 

13 January, 2008   comments: (0) Wonderful Plan?   The Story of a Huguenot Galley Slave - Part 1 Last week I received a notice that an Emergent writer had mentioned me on his blog, protesting that my "list of essentials" is enormously long. I was being used as a springboard to support his minimalist views which would have us believe that the only thing that really matters are a handful of beliefs such as the divinity of Christ, the incarnation, the resurrection, and very few other doctrines. He went on to suggest that Christians might in fact have varying beliefs beyond those things, but only the bare "essentials" are worth fighting for. As we've pointed out numerous times before on Old Truth, there have been past generations of Christians who were willing to suffer tremendously for various Christian beliefs that would be considered non-essential by today's standards. The bar seems to have been lowered in our times in an effort prioritize unity above almost everything else. An example from church history that may serve to challenge today's minimalist agenda is the true story of the life of M. Le Fevre who was forced to be a galley slave for not agreeing to trade his form of Christianity for the brand of Christianity that was popular in his country at that time. This is the first in a multi-part series of posts on the trials of one French Huguenot, from the same book that I excerpted from last year at this time. You might also remember another Huguenot post from last summer on the anniversary of the 16th century St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in which tens of thousands of protestants were killed by the Catholic leadership of France. When you consider these two belief systems, isn't it interesting that the Catholics would affirm those same "essential" beliefs that you hear protestants come up with today. Much more than all of that however, reading the true story of M. Le Fevre will challenge you and serve as a reminder of the grace of God that can help us endure unimaginable sufferings. I pray that this account blesses many of it's readers over the next few Fridays. Our story now begins . . . We have spoken of the frequent condemnation of the protestants to the [slave ship] galleys. This was a most afflicting lot, in which much was added to the usual miseries of captivity. The blasphemies of the degraded beings whom these good men were surrounded, was far from the lightest of evils they had to endure. The prophet Ezekiel's magnificent description of the navy of Tyre, comes before us in fearful contrast to the horrors of these galley-fleets, as described by an eye-witness. The "benches of ivory from the isles of Chittim," the "sails of fine linen with broidered work from Egypt" and all the luxurious appointments of Tyre, in all her glory, were not there; but it might truly be said of them, as of Tyre, in the day of her calamity: "All they that handle the oar shall cry bitterly;" --"They shall make themselves bald, and gird themselves with sackcloth, and weep with bitterness of heart, and bitter wailing." Ezekiel 27:31 &c. One of the most touching details of the sufferings of those who have been condemned to the galleys is to be found drawn up in the memoirs of the life and death of M. Le Fevre. A counselor by profession, well educated, and possessed of almost everything which could make life pleasant to him, he was arrested in his thirty-seventh year, on account of his religion; and bore, for sixteen years, the hard yoke of a cruel bondage, with unrepining submission to the word of God; taking joyfully his sufferings, and in the manner of the apostle, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer." It is from his letters to various friends that the materials of this narrative will be chiefly drawn. It appears that he was born at Chatel Chinon, in Niveronois [, France], of honorable parents, and one of the most considerable families in that province. The pious and affectionate strain in which he speaks of his departed parents, interests us in his favor. It is thus that he writes to one of his friends: "The great God hath been mindful of his promises in favor of the children of those that fear him. My father and mother were of that number; and having walked before him in Christian simplicity, died both in a good old age, in fellowship with the true church. My mother, God took to himself betimes; but I know her piety was exemplary, and her life edifying. You know the probity, the zeal, and the patience of my deceased father. I cannot mention him without emotion; but his memory is too dear to me to pass it over in silence. You visited him on his death-bed, or rather on the bed of life; and I remember that, on coming away, you gave this testimony: "I came to edify and comfort a sick person, but he has edified and comforted me." Such you saw him then, and such he was through the course of his sickness, which was very long, and very severe. Resigned, patient, and always willing to give up his soul into the hands of God. He was naturally hasty and passionate; but the grace of God raised him so much above himself, that it made him the most patient man in the world, in the most intense and violent pains. I praise God, the God of my fathers, for the spirit of meekness wherewith he endued his servant, and for the internal piety with which he inspired him; and as long as I live, I shall bless the Lord God of the spirits of the flesh, who granted me the favor to be present when he took the soul of his servant to himself, and when he put these words in my mouth, "Lord Jesus receive his spirit into thy hands!" May the blessed Jesus put them again into my heart and mouth, at the last moment of my life; and say himself unto my soul, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord: I am thy Savior." M. Le Fevre, after studying at Geneva and at Orleans, where he took his degree, came to Paris. The testimonials which he brought with him recommended him to the notice of the advocate-general, who admitted him as one of the advocates of the court of parliament. But scarcely was he entered on a career so favorable to his wishes, when the Edict of Nantes was revoked. He was compelled to seek safety by flight; but in vain. Arrested and tried at Besancon, he was condemned to the galleys. From Besancon, he was conducted, first to Dijon, where he arrived May 30, 1686. From the prisons of Dijon he wrote to a friend, describing the hardships of his journey to this new house of bondage, and the sufferings it frequently occasioned. "I am," he says, "as it were, impotent. I suffer great pains all over my body; and if it had not been for the comfort that the Lord sent me at Ausonne, they would not have brought me alive to Dijon. My irons were taken off at Ausonne, and I was set on horseback; whereas before I was in the wagon, in a distressing posture, and pressed on all sides. But whatever happens to us we put our trust in God; we hope in him only. I have had some fits of ague, more violent than ever; but God will not forsake me." He was advised to present a petition to the intendant, in order that, if possible, some relief may be attained for him when he should be attached to the chain, to proceed with other prisoners to the galley-station. But he declined doing so, observing, that if he should be favored more than others, which he believed would not be the case, it would be cowardice in him to shrink back from the burden which others were bearing. "We do not fear," he said, "all the preparations they threaten us with, and which we cannot avoid, without a miracle; we wait for it all. The sight of a passionate deputy, and a troop of inhuman guards, will be nothing frightful to us. That which troubles me most, is the blasphemies of the wicked wretches with whom we shall be coupled." The story continues on the next page . . . Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.905   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism