Page 14 - 12 The French Reformation
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his other virtues by holding Lutheranism in
special abhorrence.” But, like so many others,
providentially guided to the Bible, he was
amazed to find there, “not the doctrines of
Rome, but the doctrines of Luther.”—Wylie,
b. 13, ch. 9. Henceforth he gave himself with
entire devotion to the cause of the gospel.
“The most learned of the nobles of France,”
his genius and eloquence, his indomitable
courage and heroic zeal, and his influence at
court,—for he was a favorite with the king,—
caused him to be regarded by many as one
destined to be the Reformer of his country.
Said Beza: “Berquin would have been a
second Luther, had he found in Francis I a
second elector.” “He is worse than Luther,”
cried the papists.—Ibid., b. 13, ch. 9. More
dreaded he was indeed by the Romanists of
France. They thrust him into prison as a
