ounded."(313) The Protestant Reformers had built on Christ, and the
gates of hell could not prevail against them.

12. THE FRENCH REFORMATION.

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The Protest of Spires and the Confession at Augsburg, which marked the
triumph of the Reformation in Germany, were followed by years of conflict
and darkness. Weakened by divisions among its supporters, and assailed by
powerful foes, Protestantism seemed destined to be utterly destroyed.
Thousands sealed their testimony with their blood. Civil war broke out;
the Protestant cause was betrayed by one of its leading adherents; the
noblest of the reformed princes fell into the hands of the emperor, and
were dragged as captives from town to town. But in the moment of his
apparent triumph, the emperor was smitten with defeat. He saw the prey
wrested from his grasp, and he was forced at last to grant toleration to
the doctrines which it had been the ambition of his life to destroy. He
had staked his kingdom, his treasures, and life itself, upon the crushing
out of the heresy. Now he saw his armies wasted by battle, his treasuries
drained, his many kingdoms threatened by revolt, while everywhere the
faith which he had vainly endeavored to suppress, was extending. Charles
V. had been battling against omnipotent power. God had said, "Let there be
light," but the emperor had sought to keep the darkness unbroken. His
purposes had failed; and in premature old age, worn out with the long
struggle, he abdicated the throne, and buried himself in a cloister.

In Switzerland, as in Germany, there came dark days for the Reformation.
While many cantons accepted the reformed faith, others clung with blind
persistence to the creed of Rome. Their persecution of those who desired
to receive the truth, finally gave rise to civil war. Zwingle and many who
had united with him in reform, fell on the bloody field of Cappel.
OEcolampadius, overcome by these terrible disasters, soon after died. Rome
was triumphant, and in many places seemed about to recover all that she
had lost. But He whose counsels are from everlasting had not forsaken His
cause or His people. His hand would bring deliverance for them. In other
lands He had raised up laborers to carry forward the reform.

In France, before the name of Luther had been heard as a Reformer, the day
had already begun to break. One of the first to catch the light was the
aged Lefevre, a man of e