The priests heard of it, and besought the women to interfere, and the latter obeyed. The senate discussed what was to be done with the preachers that had been sent by "my Lords of Berne." They were not anxious to offend the priests, still less to arouse the ire of "my Lords," and they decided to hear the preachers in the town hall. As Farel and Sauvier entered the senate chamber, every eye was fixed on "that man with keen look and red beard, who was setting all the country in a blaze, from the Alps to the Jura." They were charged with disturbing the world, with trumpeting rebellion, creating discord, fanning sedition, and so forth. "I am not a deluder," was Farel's proud reply. "I am not a trumpet of sedition, I simply proclaim the truth. I am ready to prove out of God's word that my doctrine is true, and not only to sacrifice my ease, but to shed the last drop of my blood for it." And Farel's calm look betokened his sincerity; all saw that he was prepared to adventure all for the cause which he had espoused. The result of the examination was a dismissal, accompanied with the advice not to disturb the tranquility of the city. There were others, however, who were determined that the city's peace should not be kept. These were the enraged priests. A plot was concerted to kill Farel. To argue with him was a roundabout method that was beneath contempt; the shorter plan was more effectual, and they were more conversant with the weapons which destroy than with those that convince. It was proposed to invite Farel and his companion to a debate in the vicar-general's house, where they might be either shot or stabbed to death. Suspicion prevailed among the Protestants that foul play was meant, so unreasonable did it appear that the priests should hold debate with those who decided every doctrine by the word of God. Two chief magistrates assured Farel that he would be protected from danger; and the preachers were, consequently, only too willing to have an opportunity afforded them of openly stating and defending the gospel of Christ. As yet the preachers did not anticipate danger, and, in dependence upon God, they set out for the Episcopal Council. 66 66 Already," says one account, was there a suspicious looking group in front of the Tour Perce. While the upper house of the clergy was sitting at the vicar's, the lower house had met in the streets. The armed curates and chaplains had watched the messengers going to the inn, and guessed what it meant. They gathered their followers, particularly the women and the rabble. When the three Genevans, with the three reformers, passed, they fell in the train. 'Look at the dogs,' said they, with coarse jeers and threats. There was danger on every hand. In the council and in the streets men had sworn Farel's death. At the door of the vicar's house the three reformers had to wait some time, for the two magistrates went in to ask another pledge of the council, that the ministers should be safe while they freely explained their doctrines. The pledge was given, and they entered and stood together before the imposing assembly, all in their sacerdotal robes." The debate seems to have been a farce. The priests did little else but abuse Farel, and by their offensive loquacity practically gave him no chance to speak. The noise was so great that his voice could not be heard. When the grand vicar had secured silence for a moment, Farel seized the opportunity to vindicate himself from the charges that had been brought against him. He was thereupon met with the cry, "Blasphemy." "To the Rhone, to the Rhone." "Kill him. It is better for this rascally Lutheran to die than to let him trouble all the people." The three Reformers were beaten and spat upon, and treated with violence, despite the protestations of the magistrates present. They withdrew while the council deliberated, and as Farel entered an adjoining gallery he observed a gun levelled at him. In an instant the priming flashed, but the load happily was not expelled. It is believed to have burst in the hand of the vicar's servant who had aimed it at the Reformer. Summoned into the room to hear the decision of the ecclesiastics, the grand vicar said, "William Farel, leave my presence and this house, and within six hours get you gone from the city with your two companions, under pain of the stake. And know that, if this sentence is not more severe, you must ascribe it Small respect to our kindness, and to our respect for the Lords of Berne." could they have for these said lords, and their own kindness was cruel-was, indeed, as unacceptable as the treatment of the mob outside, who were lying in wait to silence Farel for ever. A Catholic lady wrote that "the worthy men," by which she meant the mob, were not satisfied to see the heretics alive, and one rushed forward at Farel with a sword" to run him through." He was, however, mercifully delivered out of their hands, and afterwards left Geneva, still believing that the wrath of man would yet be changed for praise to the God whose gospel of love he so earnestly preached. Geneva must yet be evangelised. What if it should ultimately become wholly Protestant ! He certainly had not given up all thoughts of winning over the Genevese to a purer faith. He proposed new plans to his friends by which this might be done. He selected a young man of piety and ardour, named Froment, whom he advised to begin, as he himself had begun, as a schoolmaster. Though hesitating at first, for the difficulties were apparently tremendous, Froment ultimately decided upon going to the city which had witnessed so great a tumult. He tried first to preach the gospel, but was not rewarded with any attention. At last, concluding that he could do better elsewhere, he decided upon journeying to another district: but when on the point of departure, he remembered how successful Farel had been at Aigle, under similarly trying circumstances, and he resolved to remain. He hired a room, and put up the following curious placard:-"A young man, just arrived in this city, engages to teach reading and writing in French, in one month, to all who will come to him, young and old, men and women, even such as have never been to school; and if they cannot read and write within the said month, he asks nothing for his trouble. He will be found at Boytet's Hall, near the Motard. Many diseases are also cured gratis." The children flocked to the school, heard the New Testament read and explained before they left, and told their parents all. Then the parents were interested, and their curiosity was excited. They went to hear the Bible read and expounded by the “schoolmaster who spoke French so well." Some came to cavil and to report to the priests; but many were so completely won that Froment soon found defenders as well as foes. He was called " a little fool," and his youth was despised; still, said his friends, "That fool can teach you to be wise." Converts were given the preacher, and these spread the good news. A lady of influence was among the number, and she became a most useful friend to the despised preachers, and the refugees were at all times welcome to her hospitable abode. At last, Froment was forbidden by the city council to preach, and was bitterly persecuted; yet the work proceeded, and believers multiplied. A season of bitter suffering for Christ's sake followed; and would probably have brought the Huguenots to silence but for the interposition of the Lords of Berne, who remonstrated with some effect. A blustering priest offered to enter into discussion with any debaters the Lords of Berne might send. Hapless man; he knew not that Farel would be commissioned; so, regarding discretion as the better part of valour, he absconded. We need not enter into minute details of all that followed. Protestant Berne ultimately had its way, although things were done which savoured of the tactics of the Romish party, and were therefore unjustifiable. At last, the day came when the first Protestant sermon was delivered in a Genevan church, and one by one other churches were opened to the Reformers. Infamous plots were, however, concerted to destroy, by poison and otherwise, the lives of those who had thus turned the little world of Geneva upside down; the priests tried hard to recover lost ground, but they lost more each day; images were destroyed, and ultimately the councillors decided to abolish Popery and to establish Protestantism. Had they confined themselves to granting religious liberty to all parties, it would have been better; but they had not learned this wisdom. Protestantism was now completely enthroned in Geneva. About this time, Farel was brought into contact with a mind of different cast -Calvin, who had already acquired great repute by his celebrated "Institutes of the Christian Religion." Farel, hearing of the visit of this great theologian, at once solicited his help. Calvin hesitated; he did not wish to bind himself to any one church. Farel's reply was terrible, and was to Calvin as an awful threatening. "Now, I declare unto you," said he, with almost prophetic voice, "in the name of the Almighty God-to you who only put forth your studies as a pretence that if you will not help us to carry on the work of the Lord, the curse of God will rest upon you, for you will be seeking your own honour rather than that of Christ." Calvin was, as he confesses, literally inspired with terror, and he was compelled to yield. It was well he did. The Genevese listened with profound admiration, and with increasing respect, to his sermons; and soon he was elected preacher and professor of theology. These two holy men worked together in unison, although Farel now and then offended the good taste of the more judicious and less excitable reformer. After a while, Farel settled in Neufchatel as pastor, and led a quieter life-a life, however, not without its vicissitudes; for in seeking to maintain godly discipline-a difficult thing in a State church-he was flung, once again, into turmoil. His opponents proved too strong for him; and so he was about to leave when the plague broke out. "The courage of Farel rose with the dangers of his situation. He acted the part of a pastor who had never been disowned by any of the people. He visited the sick every day, relieved the poor, and sought to win his enemies by kindness." He was successful, and a few weeks after he was re-elected pastor for life. For twelve months he was absent from his people, fighting the battle of Protestantism against superstition and Popery in Metz and the Moselle; here he had to endure much from his enemies. It is said that his garments were a proof of the persecutions he had endured, as well as of his poverty and his disregard to dress. Until his death, Farel laboured on with zeal and energy. It is marvellous how untiring were his efforts to propagate the gospel, and to encounter, with the sharp edge of his argument, the superstitious follies of Roman Catholicism. He outlived Calvin fifteen months-Calvin being the younger. At the ripe old age of seventy-six, this great evangelist, as D'Aubigné calls him, departed this life, leaving behind him a memory that the world will not willingly let die. He was buried in Neufchatel. Farel was the terror of the sacerdotalist, and of all who hated the gospel of Jesus Christ; but he was also the joy of the church which he served. His oratory was powerful; Calvin felt its mighty influence and acknowledged that he had been enchained at Geneva by "those thunders of the word." His constant activities and heated debates did not weaken his piety; he was strong in the presence of his foes, because he was strong in the room where he sought "power from on high." That power came; it made his utterances almost prophetic, and gave them a fiery fervour which roused the antagonism of his foes, and won the enthusiasm of the people. His voice of thunder was needed; and God used it for his glory. DEAR SIR, The Paris Baptist Chapel. It will gratify many of your readers to learn that the Baptist Church at Paris, with whom some of us have so often worshipped in the rooms at the Rue St. Roch and the Rue des Bons Enfans, are likely, at last, to have a commodious chapel of their own. The English fund collected for this purpose some seven or eight years since, and of which our beloved brother, Sir Morton Peto, and I have been treasurers, proved to be totally inadequate even for the purchase of the land; and the money has, therefore, been lying on deposit at Messrs. Barclay's bank. But, during the past autumn, a deputation has arrived from the American Missionary Union at Boston, who already contribute largely to the support of the pastor, empowered to take the necessary steps for the erection of a chapel, provided the sum already collected here could be made available for the purpose. And, as an earnest of their intentions, they sent over 10,000 dols., equal to about £2,000, to add to our amount. After friendly conferences with them, and communications with Paris, we received from the Church a formal request to transfer our fund to Dr. Murdock, the Secretary of the Union, and of course we did so at once. With these moneys, and with a further sum borrowed on the credit of the committee, Dr. M. has secured and paid for an eligible plot of ground, measuring about 45 feet 6 inches wide, 115 feet deep, or about 5,230 feet superficial; and he has obtained plans and estimates for a good chapel, to seat about 550 persons, and in which there will also be accommodation for the pastor's residence, and for schoolrooms, vestries, etc., etc. The address is No. 48, Rue de Lille, near its intersection with the Rue du Bac, close to the southern quays and the bridges. The situation is very convenient for the members, and will be readily accessible to visitors. Dr. Murdock has sailed for the United States, with the plan and estimates, and hopes to return in the spring with the necessary authority and funds to erect and open the chapel in the course of 1872. When I have further particulars of his progress, I will ask your permission to lay it before your readers; but, in the meanwhile, as my official duties in connection with the undertaking have ended, I should like to make public the following brief summary of our accounts: PARIS BAPTIST CHAPEL FUND. TREASURERS: Sir S. Morton Peto, Bart., and Mr. James Benham. [We most earnestly commend the case of our dear Paris brethren to the sympathy of the Lord's stewards. We have worshipped with them, and enjoyed their simple fervour. It was our privilege to help them during the siege, and their gratitude was touching. We have some funds for them, and will be glad to receive more. We hope to see them ere long, and carry help in our hand, if given us by God's people.-C. H. S.] Memoranda. WE have been enabled to continue our | ministry and other labours under very considerable difficulty from feeble health, and now, in order to gain rest and escape the fogs which close the year, we have felt bound to make a short sojourn in the warmer climate of the south of France. This number of our Magazine was, therefore, prepared earlier than usual, and the accounts do not run on so far as usual into the month. publicly to rejoice in his great success in attracting young men into the Anglican Establishment; he loudly crowed at the Church Congress, because he had done this under the very eaves of Mr. Spurgeon's Tabernacle. Now, when we have received Episcopalians by the score into our church, we have been thankful, but have not felt inclined to publish the fact at our denominational meetings. However, if Mr. We acknowledge with many thanks se- Maclagan feels it needful to boast, we veral small sums from working men, who hope it may be a relief to him. We are have been led to help the Orphanage through not aware of a single member of our church reading John Ploughman's Almanack. One whom he has stolen from us, nor can we brother wants us to urge some hundreds of discover that a solitary young man has left workers to send 2s. 6d. each, as he has done, us or is likely to do. When gentlemen and so increase the income. We thank make statements, we are inclined to raise the him for his spontaneous liberality, and hope cry of "Name, name! Some rejoice in others will give as he has done out of care unhatched chickens, and some go further for the orphans. Of such givers, we will only and crow over unlaid eggs. On Monday "the more the merrier." Another sends evening, November 6, when in our Taberhalf-a-crown, because he thinks the Alma-nacle, there were from ten to twelve hunnack honestly worth that money: John dred at a prayer-meeting; we Ploughman lifts his hat to that friend. trustworthy friend to see how many Another generous friend feels sure that John responded to the tinkling bell of our parish Ploughman's Almanack will have a great church, and, counting priests and officials, sale, and encloses four guineas, as "an equi- male and female, there were only twentyvalent for 1,000 copies, towards the Stock- two persons present. Here is surely well Orphanage Funds, trusting that many case of "great boast, little roast." If we of your readers may follow the example." were Mr. Maclagan, we would not blow the trumpet just yet. However, it is a matter of taste; he may blow away as much as he likes, for it pleases him, and it does not harm us. say, One of the most remarkable spectacles upon which our eye has ever rested was seen in the Tabernacle on the evening of Tuesday, November 7th, when the churches of the London Baptist Association met to celebrate the Lord's Supper. We believe that very little short of 2,500 persons must have communed; we wonder if ever before, in this country, so large a number of believers have sat down at the Lord's table at one time. Better, however, than the largeness of the number was the greatness of the blessing, for surely the Lord was there. The tokens of spiritual life in our churches, as brought out during this day of prayer, were most encouraging. Prayer-meetings were held all over London, and, so far as we can gather, they were all good meetings. In our own district, the two meetings in the Borough Road Chapel, at 6 30 and 11, were remarkable for spiritual fervour, as also was that at the Tabernacle at 4. On the first Sabbath of the month of Nov., 45 persons were received into our fellowship, a sign of a gracious visitation from the Lord. We are praying much. and hoping confidently. A blessing has come, and is yet coming Oh for a revival all over England! The Rector of Newington thinks it wise sent On the 17th we opened a new chapel in the Cornwall Road, Brixton. It is situated behind the houses, but it has a tower in the street, so as to catch the eye and intimate that a place of worship is near. Our excellent friend, Mr. Asquith, will, we hope, for many a day labour there with success. Did we dream it? Hardly, for our eyes were wide open. But this was the fancy which passed before us. Christmas is coming, and there are those 200 boys at the Orphanage, what are we to do for them again? Last year we were among them, and it was a day indeed. A day of feasting, and romping, and general glee. We had a noble store of gifts, and we did them justice. Many kind friends contributed, and there was no complaining at our tables. thing was wasted, but everything was enjoyed. Now, within a month, Christmas will be here again. Suppose nothing should come,-no materials for plum-pudding, no oranges, no nuts! Poor boys! What a fall off since 1870! The chairman (C. H. S.) will hardly dare to show his face No |