May 4, 2023 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends! We are continuing our journey through the book, The Great Controversy, and this week we are focusing on God’s faithful people in France during the time of the Reformation.
God’s truth was spreading rapidly with the publication of Lefevre’s French translation of the New Testament in 1523 and the complete Bible in 1528. By God’s providence, the Holy Scriptures were placed into the hands of the common people and nobility across France. Alarmed at how many were converting to the Reformation, Roman Church leaders set up stakes across the country where martyrs were burned alive for their faith.
One such person was the noble Louis de Berquin, a “brave and courtly knight . . . devoted to study, polished in manners, and of blameless morals” (The Great Controversy, p. 215). He, like William Farel, had been a strong proponent of the Roman church and held a special hatred for those who followed the Reformers. However, he was providentially guided to the Bible and was amazed at what he found in its sacred pages. Once converted, Berquin devoted himself fully to the cause of the gospel.
This nobleman was known for “his genius and eloquence, his indomitable courage and heroic zeal, and his influence at court,—for he was a favorite with the king. . .” (The Great Controversy, p. 216).
As he convincingly shared his faith across France, the papists were terrified as they cried out, “He is worse than Luther!” Again and again they thrust the brave knight into prison, claiming he was a “heretic,” but each time he was released by the king.
Berquin was repeatedly warned of his danger, but like the apostles of old, his faith was planted firmly in God, and he could say with the apostle Peter, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Urging him to leave the country, the timid and time-serving Erasmus wrote: “Your enemies are named legion. Were your cause better than that of Jesus Christ, they will not let you go till they have miserably destroyed you. Do not trust too much to the king’s protection. At all events, do not compromise me with the faculty of theology” (The Great Controversy, p. 216).
Sadly, Erasmus was more concerned with his prestige and standing among his colleagues than he was with God’s truth.
But as danger deepened, Berquin’s zeal only became stronger. He determined to not only stand in defense of the truth but would also attack error. His most bitter opponents were the professors in the theological department of the great University of Paris, one of the highest ecclesiastical authorities in the city and nation. From the writings of these doctors of theology, he “drew twelve propositions which he publicly declared to be ‘opposed to the Bible, and heretical'” (The Great Controversy, p. 217). He proposed that these professors defend their teachings by the Bible and appealed to the king to act as judge.
The king agreed to the arrangement and commanded the university professors to defend their case by the Bible. The professors became alarmed, not knowing what to do.
Just at that time, however, the enemy of souls intervened. A statue of the Virgin Mary that stood on the corner of a busy street in Paris was grossly mutilated. Crowds of people flocked to the place, with mourning and indignation. Even the king was disgusted with the deliberate mutilation of the statue.
“These are the fruits of the doctrines of Berquin!” claimed the professors. “All is about to be overthrown—religion, the laws, the throne itself—by this Lutheran conspiracy” (The Great Controversy, p. 217).
Once again, Berquin was arrested. The king left Paris for a time and the noble knight was left to the mercy of his enemies. The Reformer was tried and condemned to die. Fearing even now the king might come to Berquin’s rescue, the magistrates executed his sentence the very day it was pronounced.
Ellen White describes the scene: “At noon Berquin was conducted to the place of death. An immense throng gathered to witness the event, and there were many who saw with astonishment and misgiving that the victim had been chosen from the best and bravest of the noble families of France. Amazement, indignation, scorn, and bitter hatred darkened the faces of that surging crowd; but upon one face no shadow rested. The martyr’s thoughts were far from that scene of tumult; he was conscious only of the presence of his Lord. . . . Berquin’s countenance was radiant with the light and peace of heaven” (The Great Controversy, p. 218).
The noble martyr dressed himself in his finest clothes–“a cloak of velvet, a doublet of satin and damask, and golden hose” (The Great Controversy, p. 218).
Once tied to the stake, Berquin attempted to say a few words to the people, but his voice was drowned out by monks shouting and the soldiers’ clash of arms. He was then strangled, and his body consumed by the flames.
But once again, the martyr’s blood bore witness to God’s truth, and nothing could stop the spread of its light all the way down the ages to us today. Are we willing to carry the torch of God’s truth at this time? People are still in darkness, longing, weeping, and praying for light. Will you, will I, say, ‘Yes, Lord, I am willing. I will go wherever you send me today.'” If so, I invite you to bow your head with me just now as we pray.
Father in heaven, we ask in a very special way that you will guide us as we may face similar situations as the noble Berquin. Lord, we thank you for the stability, the forthrightness, the focus that he had on you and your Holy Word. Help us to stand as firmly on Bible truth as he did, and to recognize that our source of strength does not come from ourselves or those around us, but comes from direct connection to the throne room of Heaven. Thank you, Lord, for giving us this example of how we can stand for Bible truth. In Jesus name, we ask it. Amen.