It is perhaps difficult for a Protestant to write upon this subject with perfect impartiality, however earnestly he may desire to do so. The lapse of two hundred years has not terminated the great conflict. The surging strife has swept across the ocean, and even now, with more or less of vehemence, rages in all the states of this new world. Though the weapons of blood are laid aside, the mighty controversy is still undecided. The advocates of the old faith were determined to maintain their creed, and to force all to its adoption, at whatever price. They deemed heresy the greatest of all crimes, and thought--and doubtless many conscientiously thought--that it should be exterminated even by the pains of torture and death. The French Parliament adopted for its motto, "_One religion, one law, one king._" They declared that two religions could no more be endured in a kingdom than two governments. At Paris there was a celebrated theological school called the Sorbonne. It included in its faculty the most distinguished doctors of the Catholic Church. The decisions and the decrees of the Sorbonne were esteemed highly authoritative. The views of the Sorbonne were almost invariably asked in reference to any measures affecting the Church. In 1525 the court presented the following question to the Sorbonne: "_How can we suppress and extirpate the damnable doctrine of Luther from this very Christian kingdom, and purge it from it entirely?_" The prompt reply was, "_The heresy has already been endured too long. It must be pursued with the extremest rigor, or it will overthrow the throne._" Two years after this, Pope Clement VII. sent a communication to the Parliament of Paris, stating, "It is necessary, in this great and astounding disorder, which arises from the rage of Satan, and from the fury and impiety of his instruments, that every body exert himself to guard the common safety, seeing that this madness would not only embroil and destroy religion, but also all principality, nobility, laws, orders, and ranks." The Protestants were pursued by the most unrelenting persecution. The Parliament established a court called the _burning chamber_, because all who were convicted of heresy were burned. The estates of those who, to save their lives, fled from the kingdom, were sold, and their children, who were left behind, were pursued with merciless cruelty. The Protestants, with boldness which religious faith alone could inspire, braved all these perils. They resolutely declared that the Bible taught their faith, and their faith only, and that no earthly power could compel them to swerve from the truth. Notwithstanding the perils of exile, torture, and death, they persisted in preaching what they considered the pure Gospel of Christ. In 1533 Calvin was driven from Paris. When one said to him, "Mass must be true, since it is celebrated in all Christendom;" he replied, pointing to the Bible,