Page 16 - Uncompromising Sermons By Bobby Cabonce

es; with quickened pulse and throbbing THE SAINT BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY MAS-
heart he read for himself the words of life, SACRE: Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
pausing now and then to exclaim, “Oh, August 24, 1572, was the date of the
if God would give me such a book for infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
my own!” Angels of heaven were by his in France. On that day, over 400 years ago,
side, and rays of light from the throne of began one of the most horrifying holocausts
God revealed the treasures of truth to his in history. The glorious Reformation, be-
understanding. He had ever feared to offend gun in Germany on October 31, 1517,
God, but now the deep conviction of his had spread to France – and was joyfully
condition as a sinner took hold upon received. A great change had come over
him as never before. An earnest desire the people as industry and learning began
to be free from sin and to find peace with to flourish, and so rapidly did the Truth
God led him at last to enter a cloister spread that over a third of the population
and devote himself to a monastic life. embraced the Reformed Christian Faith.

Every moment that could be spared from However, alarm bells began to ring at the
his daily duties, he employed in study, Vatican! France was her eldest daughter
robbing him of sleep, and grudging and main pillar – the chief source of money
even the moments spent at his humble and power. King Pepin of the Franks
meals. Above everything else he delighted (the father of Charlemagne) had given
in the study of God’s Word. He had found the Papal States to the Pope almost 1000
a Bible chained to the convent wall, years earlier. The clergy owned almost
and to this he often repaired. half the real estate in the country.

On October 1517, Martin Luther posted his Protestants were massacred by the thou-
95 Thesis in Wittenberg. By God’s grace, sands. Meanwhile, back in Paris, the King
Luther’s courageous act of challenging cor- of France and his Court spent their time
ruption and unbiblical heresies launched drinking, reveling and carousing. The Court
the Great Reformation. He was persecuted spiritual adviser – a Jesuit priest – urged
and urged to recant but this is what he them to massacre the Protestants – as pen-
said, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture ance for their sins! To catch the Christians
or clear reasoning that I am in error – for off-guard every token of peace, friendship,
popes and councils have often erred and and ecumenical good will was offered.
contradicted themselves – I cannot recant, Suddenly – and without warning – the
for I am subject to the Scriptures I have devilish work commenced. Beginning at
quoted; my conscience is captive to the Paris, the French soldiers and the Roman
Word of God. It is unsafe and dangerous Catholic clergy fell upon the unarmed
to do anything against one’s conscience. people, and blood flowed like a river
Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. throughout the entire country.
So help me God. Amen.” Martin Luther
Men, women and children fell in heaps
Few people today realized that the first before the mobs and the bloodthirsty
Bibles printed into English had to be smug- troops. In one week, almost 100,100
gled into England, and that the Bible trans- Protestants perished. The rivers of France
lator, William Tyndale, was burnt at the were so filled with corpses that for many
stake for the crime of translating the Bible months no fish were eaten. In the valley
into English. Seven mothers were burned of the Loire, wolves came down from
alive at Coventry for teaching the Ten the hills to fill upon the decaying bodies
Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer and the of Frenchmen. The list of massacres was as
Apostle’s Creed to their children in English. endless as the list of the dead!
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