The Victory

Bold Berquin

But Berquin's zeal only grew stronger. He decided to take bolder measures. He would not only stand in defense of the truth, he would attack error. The most active of his opponents were the educated monks in the theological department of the University of Paris, one of the highest church authorities in the nation. From the writings of these doctors, Berquin drew twelve propositions that he publicly declared to be “opposed to the Bible,” and he appealed to the king to act as judge in the controversy. 5TC 128.2

The king was glad for an opportunity to humble the pride of these haughty monks, so he ordered the Romanists defend their cause by the Bible. They would find little help from this weapon; torture and the stake were arms that they better understood how to use. Now they saw themselves about to fall into the pit into which they had hoped to push Berquin. They looked around them for some way to escape. 5TC 128.3

“Just at that time an image of the virgin at the corner of one of the streets was mutilated.” Crowds flocked to the place, grieving and angry. The king was deeply moved. “These are the fruits of Berquin's doctrines,” the monks proclaimed. “Everything is about to be overthrown—religion, the laws, the throne itself—by this Lutheran conspiracy.”⁴ 5TC 128.4

The king withdrew from Paris, leaving the monks free to do as they wished. Berquin was tried and condemned to die. To keep Francis from intervening to save him, they carried out the sentence on the very day it was pronounced. At noon a huge crowd gathered to witness the event, and many were astonished to see 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 on one face no shadow rested. The martyr was conscious only of the presence of his Lord. 5TC 128.5

Berquin's face radiated with the light of heaven. He wore “a cloak of velvet, a jacket of satin and damask, and golden pants.”⁵ He was about to testify to his faith in the presence of the King of kings, and no sign of mourning should contradict his joy. 5TC 129.1

As the procession moved slowly through the crowded streets, the people noticed with amazement his look of joyous triumph. They said, “He is like someone sitting in a temple, meditating on holy things.” 5TC 129.2