Repost: Joe Miller wrote the following post at Today 2:43 AM…
Logos is a great tool for learning. I found this chapter from "The History of the Reformation in Europe" to be quite interesting.
"Truce Between The Two Parties
(From March 28 to May 4, 1533.)
JUST at that time some foreigners were staying in Geneva, and particularly seven merchants of Friburg, who had come for the fair. They looked with sorrow on the spectacle around them, and could not understand how citizens could go so far as to kill one another, ‘to satisfy the appetite of their priests,’ says a manuscript.* These worthy Switzers came forward to mediate. The chiefs of the catholic party, not doubting that they were on their side, asked for their support. ‘We do not meddle in business of this kind,’ wisely answered the Friburgers, ‘except it be to restore peace, since we are co-burghers and good friends with you as well as with the others.’ They proceeded to the Rue des Allemands and said to the reformed: ‘Look at the great multitude of people that is against you. This matter must be settled before worse befals you.’ The reformed, who were ready for the battle, made answer: ‘The disturbance did not begin with us, and we should be distressed to do anything to the disadvantage of the Council or of the people. We only ask to be left at peace and to live according to God, obeying the magistrates, as the Gospel commands. We are acting in self-defence, for they have conspired to kill us. If so many priests and monks remain assembled in the square, rest assured that we shall defend ourselves to the last, if it please God to assist us. But we are not pleased at having to fight against fathers, brothers, relations, friends and neighbours to gratify the appetites of the priests and monks.’*...
‘In the name of God, the Creator and Redeemer, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,’ read the captain, and all bared their heads. ‘In the interest of peace, it is resolved,’ continued the officer with sonorous voice, ‘that all anger, grudges, injuries, and ill-will between any soever of our citizens and inhabitants, as well ecclesiastic as secular, and also all battery, insult, and reproach, committed by one side or the other, be wholly pardoned.’
The listeners appeared satisfied.
‘Item. That every citizen, of what state or condition soever he may be, live henceforward in peace, without attempting any novelty until it be generallyordered to live otherwise.’—‘Really, here is a reform,’ said the huguenots, ‘but it is in the future.’
‘Item. That no one speak against the holy Sacraments, and that in this respect every one be left at liberty according to his conscience.’
Liberty and conscience! what strange words. If the people of Geneva gained that, everything was gained.
‘That no one,’ continued the captain, ‘preach without the license of the superior, the syndics, and the council; and that the preacher say nothing that is not proved by Holy Scripture.’
No article caused greater satisfaction. ‘Good,’ said some of the reformed, ‘our doctrine is that of Holy Scripture.’—‘Good,’ said some of the catholics, ‘the superior will contrive that no heretic preaches.’
The captain added the prohibition to eat meat on Friday, to sing songs against one another, or to say ‘You are a Lutheran,’ ‘You are a papist.’ Moreover he ordered the heads of families to inform their wives and children of the decree. The catholic ladies and their boys had been sufficiently forward at the time of the battle not to be forgotten."
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Thanks for posting this, Joe. I thought it so good as to deserve wider circulation. Hence the repost.
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