where preaching the word."(331) And thus
the light found its way into many of the remote provinces of France.

God was still preparing workers to extend His cause. In one of the schools
of Paris was a thoughtful, quiet youth, already giving evidence of a
powerful and penetrating mind, and no less marked for the blamelessness of
his life than for intellectual ardor and religious devotion. His genius
and application soon made him the pride of the college, and it was
confidently anticipated that John Calvin would become one of the ablest
and most honored defenders of the church. But a ray of divine light
penetrated even within the walls of scholasticism and superstition by
which Calvin was inclosed. He heard of the new doctrines with a shudder,
nothing doubting that the heretics deserved the fire to which they were
given. Yet all unwittingly he was brought face to face with the heresy,
and forced to test the power of Romish theology to combat the Protestant
teaching.

A cousin of Calvin's, who had joined the Reformers, was in Paris. The two
kinsmen often met, and discussed together the matters that were disturbing
Christendom. "There are but two religions in the world," said Olivetan,
the Protestant. "The one class of religions are those which men have
invented, in all of which man saves himself by ceremonies and good works;
the other is that one religion which is revealed in the Bible, and which
teaches man to look for salvation solely from the free grace of God."

"I will have none of your new doctrines," exclaimed Calvin; "think you
that I have lived in error all my days?"(332)

But thoughts had been awakened in his mind which he could not banish at
will. Alone in his chamber he pondered upon his cousin's words. Conviction
of sin fastened upon him; he saw himself, without an intercessor, in the
presence of a holy and just Judge. The mediation of saints, good works,
the ceremonies of the church, all were powerless to atone for sin. He
could see before him nothing but the blackness of eternal despair. In vain
the doctors of the church endeavored to relieve his woe. Confession,
penance, were resorted to in vain; they could not reconcile the soul with
God.

While still engaged in these fruitless struggles, Calvin, chancing one day
to visit one of the public squares, witnessed there the burning of a
heretic. He was filled with wonder at the expression of peace which rested
upon the martyr's countenance. Amid the tortures