15—Ibhayibhile Novukelo Lwasefrance

Ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinesithandathu, uHlaziyo olwalubeka phambi kwabantu iBhayibhile evuliweyo, lwazama ukungena kuwo onke amazwe aseYurophu. Ezinye izizwe zayamkela ngovuyo, njengomthunywa weZulu. Kweminye imimandla ubupopi baphumelela kakhulu ukukuthintela ukungena kwayo; kwaza ukukhanya kokwaziwa kweBhayibhile, nempembelelo zayo eziphakamisayo, zaphantsa ukwalelwa ngokupheleleyo. Kwelinye ilizwe, nangona ukukhanya kwangena, akuzange kuqondwe bubumnyama. Kwaba ziinkulungwane, inyaniso nemposiso zilwela ukulawula. Ekugqibeleni, ububi boyisa, yaza inyaniso yeZulu yalahlelwa ngaphandle. “Umgwebo nguwo lo, ukuba ukhanyiso lufikile ehlabathini, baza abantu bathanda ubumnyama ngaphezu kokhanyiso.” Yohane 3:19. Sashiywa isizwe ukuba sivune iziphumo zekhondo esalinyulayo. Ukukhalima kukaMoya kaThixo kwasuswa kubantu abasidelelayo isipho sobabalo lwaKhe. Ububi bavunyelwa ukuba buvuthwe.Ihlabathilonkelasibonaisiqhamosokwalaukukhanya ngenkani.IE18 240.1

Imfazwe yokuchaswa kweBhayibhile, eyaqhubeka iinkulungwane ezininzi eFrance, yafikelela kwimiboniso yoVukelo. Eso siphumo soyikekayo saba sisiphumo esifanelekileyo sengcinezelo yeziBhalo yiRoma (Bona ISIHLOMELO). Yanika isiboniso esicace kakhulu sokusebenza komthetho-nkqubo wobupopi owaba nesibonakaliso seziphumo semfundiso elathabatha ngaphezu kwewaka leminyaka iBandla laseRoma liyikhulisa.IE18 240.2

Ukucinezelwa kweziBhalo ngexesha lokongama kobupopi kwaxelwa ngenx’ engaphambili ngabaprofeti; waza uMtyhilelwa walatha naye kwiziphumo ezoyikekayo ezaziya kubakho ngakumbi eFrance ngenxa yokongama “komntu wesono.”IE18 240.3

Yathi ingelosi yeNkosi: “Ndaza ndanikwa ingcongolo, ifana nentonga; saye sithunywa eso simi, sisithi, Suka uyilinganise itempile kaThixo, nesibingelelo, nabo banqulayo bekuyo. Intendelezo engaphandle kwetwempile yiphose phandle, ungayilinganisi yona; ngokuba inikwe iintlanga; umzi ongcwele ziya kuwunyathelela phantsi iinyanga ezimashumi mane anambini. Ndiya kuwanika amangqina am amabini, aprofete imihla eliwaka elinamakhulu mabini anamanci mathandathu, ethiwe wambu ngeengubo ezirhwexayo. . . . Xa athe abufeza ubungqina bawo, irhamncwa elinyuka liphuma enzonzobileni liya kwenza imfazwe nawo, liweyise, liwabulale. Izidumbu zawo ziya kuba sesitratweni somzi omkhulu, okuthiwa ngokomoya yiSodom neYiputa, apho kananjalo yabethelelwa khona emnqamlezweni iNkosi yawo. . . . Abo bemiyo phezu komhlaba baya kuwavuyelela, babe nemihlali; bathumelane izipho; ngokuba abo baprofeti babini babathuthumbisa abo bemiyo phezu komhlaba. Emva wemihla leyo mithathu inesiqingatha somhla, umoya wobomi ophume kuThixo wangena kuwo, ema ngeenyawo zawo; baza bawelwa luloyiko olukhulu abo bawabonayo.” IsiTyhilelo 11:2 -11. IE18 240.4

Amaxesha akhankanywe apha—“iinyanga ezimashumi mane anambini,” ne“mihla eliwaka elinamakhulu mabini anamanci mathandathu”--manye, ngokufanayo amele ixesha elathi ibandla likaKristu laphatheka kakubi yingcinezelo yeRoma. Iminyaka eli-1260 yobunganga bobupopi yaqala ngowama-A.D. 538, abe aya kuphela ngowe-1798. (Bona inqaku leSIHLOMELO sephepha 54.) ngelo xesha, umkhosi wamaFrentshi wangena eRoma wambamba uPopi yamvalela entolongweni, wafela elubhacweni. Nangona kwanyulwa uPopi omtsha emva koko, igunya lesihlalo sobupopi alikaze libe njengoko lalinjalo ngaphambili. IE18 241.1

Ukutshutshiswa kwebandla akuzange kuqhube kulo lonke ixesha lweminyaka eli-1260. UThixo, ngenceba yaKhe kubantu baKhe, walenza lifutshaneixeshalokulingwakwalo elalitshisa okomlilo. Ekuxeleni kwangaphambili nge“mbandezelo enkulu” eza kuzela ibandla, uMsindisi wathi: “Ukuba ibingayi kuthi loo mihla inqanyulwe, bekungayi kubakho nyama isindayo; ngenxa ke yabanyuliweyo, loo mihla iya kunqanyulwa.” Mateyu 24:22. Ngempembelelo yoHlaziyo, intshutshiso yapheliswa phambi kowe-1798.IE18 241.2

Ngokubhekiselele kumangqina amabini, waqhubeka wathi umprofeti: “Lawo yile minquma mibini, nezi ziphatho zezibane zibini, zimiyo phambi koThixo womhlaba.” “Lisisibane seenyawo zam ilizwi lakho,” watsho umdumisi, “likukukhanya emendweni wam.” IsiTyhilelo 11:4; Ndumiso 119:105. Amangqina amabini amele iziBhalo zeTestamente eNdala neNtsha. Zombini zingamangqina abalulekileyo emvelaphi nokungapheli komthetho kaThixo. Zombini zikwangamangqina ecebo losindiso. Imifuziselo, imibingelelo, neziprofeto zeTestamente eNdala zalatha phambili kuMsindisi ozayo. IiVangeli neeLeta zeTestamente eNtsha zithetha ngoMsindisi oye wafika kanye ngale ndlela ebixelwe kwangaphambili luhlobo [lwemibingelelo] nesiprofeto.IE18 241.3

“[Aya kuprofeta] imihla eliwaka elinamakhulu mabini anamanci mathandathu, ethiwe wambu ngeengubo ezirhwexayo.” Ixesha elininzi kulo eli, amangqina kaThixo ahlala ekwimo yokufihlakala. Igunya lobupopi lazama ukubafihlela abantu ilizwi lenyaniso, labeka phambi kwabo amangqina obuxoki aphikisa ubungqina balo [ilizwi]. (Bona ISIHLOMELO). Xa iBhayibhile yayizingelwa ngamagunya enkolo nawelizwe; xa ubungqina bayo babugqwethwa, kusenziwa onke amalinge anokwenziwa ngabantu needemon ukuba iingqondo zabantu zijike kuyo; xa abo baba nesibindi sokuvakalisa iinyaniso zayo ezingcwele babezingelwa, bengcatshwa, bethuthunjiswa, bengcwatywa kwizisele ezimnyama zemigxobhozo, bebulawela ukholo lwabo, okanye benyanzeleka ukuba basabe baye kwiinqaba ezisezintabeni, nakwimihadi nemiqolomba yomhlaba—ngelo xesha amangqina athembekileyo aprofeta efake ezirhwexayo. Sekunjalo, aqhubeka nobungqina bawo kulo lonke ixesha leminyaka eli-1260. Ngawona maxesha amnyama, babekho abantu ababelithanda ilizwilikaThixo baye benekhwele ngenxa yokuhlonelwa kwaKhe. Aba bakhonzi banyanisekileyo banikwa ubulumko, amandla negunya lokuyivakalisa inyaniso yaKhe ngalo lonke eli xesha.IE18 242.1

“Ukuba kukho bani unga angawonakalisa, kophuma umlilo emlonyeni wawo, uzidle uzigqibe iintshaba zawo; nokuba kukho bani unga angawonakalisa, umelwe kukubulawa ngokunjalo.” IsiTyhilelo 11:5. Abantu abanako ukulinyathelela phantsi ilizwi likaThixo bangabi natyala. Intsingiselo yale nkcaso yoyikekayo yandlelwe kwisahluko sokugqibela sesiTyhilelo: “Ndiyangqina kubantu bonke abawevayo amazwi esiprofeto sale ncwadi, ukuba, Xa athe umntu wongeza kwezo zinto, uThixo uya kongeza kuye izibetho ezibhaliweyo kule ncwadi; ukuba ke uthe wasusa kuwo amazwi encwadi yesi siprofeto, uThixo uya kusisusa isabelo sakhe encwadini yobomi, nakuwo umzi ongcwele, nakuzo izinto ezibhaliweyo kule ncwadi.” IsiTyhilelo 22:18, 19.IE18 242.2

Zinjalo izilumkiso uThixo azinikileyo ukwalusa abantu ukuba bangaguquli oko akutyhilileyo okanye akuyaleleyo. Ezi mpikiso zinendili zibhekisa kubo bonke abathi ngempembelelo yabo babenze abantu ukuba bawuthabathe ngokulula umthetho kaThixo. Zimele ukubenza boyike bangcangcazele abo bavakalisa ngokungakhathali ukuba akukho nto ingako nokuba siyawuthobela okanye asiwuthobeli umthetho kaThixo. Bonke abaphakamisa ezabo iimbono ngaphezu kwesityhilelo sikaThixo, bonke abanga bangaguqula intetho ecacileyo yesiBhalo besenzela okwabo ukulungelwa, okanye ukuze bavumelane nehlabathi, bathabathela phezu kwabo uxanduva oloyikekayo. Ilizwi elibhaliweyo, umthetho kaThixo, uya kusilinganisa isimilo somntu ngamnye libagwebe bonke oluthi olu vavanyo lungaphazamiyo lubafumane bengento yanto.IE18 242.3

“Akuba ebugqibile [ebugqiba] ubungqina bawo.” Ixesha, xa amangqina amabini ayeprofeta enxibe ezirhwexayo, laphela ngowe-1798. Xa ayefika ekupheleni komsebenzi wawo osemfihlakalweni, kwakuza kuliwa nawo ngamagunya amelwe “lirhamncwa elihla liye emhadini ongenamanzi.” Kwizizwe ezininzi zaseYurophu, amagunya awayelawula ibandla nesizwe athi, kwiinkulungwane eziliqela, alawulwa nguSathana esebenzisa ijelo lobupopi. Apha kodwakuveza ukubonakalaliswa kwegunya lenkohlakalo.IE18 243.1

Yayiyingumgaqo-nkqubo waseRoma, phantsi kokuthi kunikwa intlonipho iBhayibhile, ukuyigcina itshixiwe ngolwimi olungaziwayo ize ifihlwe kude ebantwini. Phantsi kolawulo lwayo, amangqina aprofeta “enxibe ezirhwexayo.” Elinye igunya--irhamncwa eliphuma enzonzobileni, lafungela ukulwa nelizwi likaThixo.IE18 243.2

“Umzi omkhulu” awayebulawelwa kwizitrato zawo amangqina, nalapho izidumbu zawo zilele khona, “ngokwasemoyeni” yiYiputa. Kuzo zonke izizwe ekuthethwe ngazo kwimbali yeBhayibhile, iYiputa yabukhanyela ngamandla ubukho bukaThixo ophilileyo yaza yamelana nemiyalelo yaKhe. Akakho ukumkani owaka waluqala uvukelo oluphandle nolungqongqo ngaphezu kokumkani waseYiputa. Sathi sakuziswa kuye isigidimi nguMoses, egameni likaYehova, uFaro, ngokuziphakamisa, waphendula, wathi: “Ngubani na uYehova, ukuba ndiphulaphule izwi lakhe, lokuba ndindulule uIsrayeli? Andimazi uYehova, kananjalo andiyi kumndulula uIsrayeli.” Eksodus 5:2. Oku kukungakholwa kuThixo, saye isizwe esimelwe yiYiputa sasiya kuthetha ngohlobo olunye lokwala amabango kaThixo ophilileyo size sibonakalalise umoya ofanayo wokungakholwa nokudelela. “Umzi omkhulu” ukwathelekiswa, “ngokwasemoyeni,” neSodom. Inkohlakalo yeSodom ekwaphuleni umthetho kaThixo kwabonakalaliswa ngendlela eyodwa ekuziyekeleni embulweni. Kanti ke esi sono, sasikwa luphawo olugqamileyo lwesizwe esasiza kuzalisekisa imininingwane yesi sibhalo.IE18 243.3

Ngokwamazwi omprofeti, ngelo xesha, kancinane ngaphambi kowe-1798, elinye igunya elimvelaphi yalo nesimilo salo ikwinkohlakalo laliza kuvuka lilwe neBhayibhile. Kuya kuthi kwindawo apho ubungqina bamangqina amabini kaThixo buya kuvalwa umlomo khona, apho kwakuza kubonakala ukungakholwa kuThixo kukaFaro nokuziyekela esondweni kweSodom.IE18 244.1

Esi siprofeto safumana ukuzaliseka okuthe gingci nokucace kakhulu kwimbali yeFrance.Ngexesha loVukelo,ngowe-1793, “umhlaba, weva okokuqala, intlangano yabantu, abazalwe bafundiswa kwimpucuko, nethi inelungelo lokulawula esinye sezona zizwe ziphambili zaseYurophu, iphakamisa ilizwi elimanyeneyo ukuba lilandule eyona nyaniso inendili enokwamkelwa ngumphefumlo womntu, ize ilahle ngazwinye inkolo nonqulo lukaThixo.”--Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17. “IFrance kuphela kwesizwe emhlabeni ekukho ingxelo eqinisekileyo esafumanekayo ngaso, yokuba, njengesizwe yaphakamisa isandla sayo kuvukelo oluphandle ukulwa noMdali weyunivesi. Abanyelisi abaninzi, abantu abaninzi abangenalukholo, babekho, kwaye basaqhubeka bekho, eNgilane, eJamani, eSpain, nakuyo yonke indawo; kodwa iFrance ithe geqe yodwa kwimbali yomhlaba njengendawo eyodwa ethe, ngomthetho weNtlangano [yowiso-mthetho] YoLawulo lwayo, yathi, Akukho Thixo, nekuthe ngayo, uluntu lonke lwesixeko esiyintloko, nesininzi kwezinye iindawo, abafazi kunye namadoda, badanisa bavuma ngovuyo ukwamkela eso saziso.”--Blackwood’s Magazine, November, 1870.IE18 244.2

IFrance yayikwamele iimpawu eyayibaluleke ngazo ngokukodwa iSodom. Ngexesha loVukelo, kwakubonakala imeko yokubaphantsi kokuziphatha nenkohlakalo efana naleyo yazisa intshabalalo kwizixeko zamathafa. Umbhali wembali ukunika kokubini, ukungakholwa kuThixo nokuziyekela kubuhenyu kweFrance, njengoko kunikwe esiprofetweni: “Okuhlangene kakhulu nemithetho echukumisa inkolo, yayikoko kwacutha umanyano ngomtshato—okona kubambana kungcwele okunokwenziwa ngabantu, okuthi ukuhlala isigxina kwawo kukhokelele ngamandla ekumanyaneni koluntu—kwisizwe sesivumelwano esiqhelekileyo semo edlulayo, abaye bangene kuso nabanye abantu ababini, babuye basiqhawule bakuthanda. . . . Ukuba iintshaba bezizimisele ukusebenzela ukuzuza indlela yokutshabalalisa ngempumelelo nokuba yintoni ehloniphekileyo, entle, okanye esisigxina kubomi bekhaya, nokuzuza kwangelo xesha linye isiqinisekiso sokuba, umonakalo, eyayiyinjongo yazo ukuwenza, wawunako ukwenziwa uhlale uhleli, ukusuka kwisizukulwana ukuya kwesinye, zazingeke zibe nelinye icebo elihleukudlulaukuthobelaphantsi umtshato. . . .USophie Arnoult, umdlali weqonga odume ngoburharha kwizinto awayezithetha, wawuchaza umtshato wesizwe ngokuthi ‘ngumnikelo wokrexezo.’”--Scott, vol. 1, ch. 17.IE18 244.3

“Apho iNkosi yethu yabethelelwa khona.” Le inkcukacha yesiprofeto nayo yazalisekiswa yiFrance. Alikho ilizwe apho umoya wobutshaba ngakuKristu wabonakalaliswa khona ngokucacileyo. Akukho lizwe lalinenyaniso ekwaqutyiswana nayo ngenkcaso ekrakra nekhohlakeleyo. Kwintshutshiso eyenziwa yiFrance kubavakalisi begospile, yayimbethelele uKristu ngokubethelela abafundi baKhe. IE18 245.1

Kwinkulungwane emva kwenkulungwane, laliphalazwa igazi labangcwele. Nangona amaWaldensi abuncama ubomi bawo ehlala ezintabeni zasePiedmont “ngenxa yelizwi likaThixo, nangenxa yobungqina bukaYesu Kristu,” ubungqina obufanayo kwinyaniso babuthwelwe ngabazalwana bawo, ama-Albhigensi aseFrance. Ngemihla yoHlaziyo, abalandeli balo babebulawa ngokuthuthunjiswa okubi. Ukumkani namadoda anendili, abafazi abazelwe kakuhle neentwazana eziselula, igugu nomkhosi wesizwe, bawamilisela amehlo abo kwiintlungu zabafela uYesu. Amagorha amaHuginoti, awayelwela loo malungelo ewaxabise kakhulu intliziyo yomntu, alithulula igazi lawo kumadabi amaninzi ekwakuliwa kakhulu kuwo. AmaProtestanti ayebonwa njengabagqithi bomthetho, zibonwa njengezinexabiso iintloko zawo, ezingelwa njengezilwanyana zasendle.IE18 245.2

“IBandla eNtlango,” inzala embalwa yamaKristu akudala eyayisafumaneka eFrance ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinesibhozo, izimele ezintabeni zangasezantsi, isayibambile inkolo yooyise. Babesithi xa bezama ukuhlangana ngobusuku ecaleni lentaba okanye kumqwebedu osecaleni, basukelwe ngamajoni akhwele amahashe okanye barhuqwe basiwe kubukhoboka bokuqhuba izikhephe bonke ubomi babo. Abona banyulu, abona bachubekileyo, nabona banobuchopho kumaFrentshi babeqanyangelwa ngamatyathanga, bethuthunjiswa ngeyona ndlela imbi, phakathi kwezihange nababulali. (Bona kuWylie, b. 22, ch. 6.) Abanye, ababephethwe ngenceba noko bona, babedutyulwa bejongile,bengaxhobangabengenakwenzanto, ngexesha besaguqe ngamadolo bethandaza. Amakhulu amaxhego, abafazi abangenako ukuzikhusela, abantwana abamsulwa, babeshiywa befile emhlabeni apho kwindawo yokuhlangana. Ekunqumleni kwabo ecaleni lentaba apho babeye bahlangane khona, kwakunganqabanga ukufumana kwisithuba nje “samanyathelo amanye, imizimba efileyo ithe saa engceni ende, ezinye izidumbu zijinga emithini.” Ilizwe labo, elenziwa layinkangala likrele, izembe, neziko, “laguqulwa layintlango ebanzi, yosizi.” “Obu bubi babusenziwa . . . kungelilo ixesha lobumnyama, kodwa ngexesha lokhanyo likaLouis XIV. Ngelo xesha yakhuliswa isayensi, uncwadi lwanda, iintshatsheli zasezinkundleni nakwisixeko esiyintloko yangamadoda afundileyo nanobuciko, konke kwanegalelo kwizibabalo zobulali nobubele.”--Wylie, b. 22, ch. 7. IE18 245.3

Kanti ke, okona kwakukubi kwimifanekiso emnyama yolwaphulo mthetho, ezona zibi kwizenzo zengcwangu kuzo zonke iinkulungwane, yaba yindyikitya yokubulawa kwabantu eSt. Bartholomew. Ihlabathi lisayikhumbula lingcangcazele luloyiko imibono yeso senzo sobona bugwala nenkohlakalo sokuxhelwa kwabantu. Ukumkani waseFrance, enyanzelwa ngababingeleli baseRoma nabameli bakaPopi, wanika imvume kumsebenzi owoyikekayo. Intsimbi, eyakhala ngesikabhadakazi, yayingumqondiso wokubulala. Amawaka amaProtestanti, elele epholile emakhayeni awo, ethembele kwisidima esithembisayo sokumkani wawo, akhutshwa erhuqwa engalindelanga axhelwa nje ekuhleni. IE18 246.1

Njengoko uKristu wayeyinkokeli engabonwayo yabantu baKhe ukuphuma kubukhoboka baseYiputa, wayenjalo uSathana, inkokeli engabonwayo yabantu abaphetheyo, kulo msebenzi wokuphinda-phindwa kwabafelukholo. Kwaba ziintsuku ezisixhenxe ukubulala kuqhubeka eParis, kwezintathu zokuqala kusenzeka ngengqumbo ekunzima ukuba nomfanekiso wayo. Kanti ke, kwakungaphelelanga esixekweni sodwa, kodwa ngomyalelo owodwa kakumkani, kwanabela kuyo yonke imimandla needolophu apho amaProtestanti ayefumaneka khona. Akukho budala nasini esasindayo. Kwakungekho lusana lumsulwa naxhego linentloko engwevu lasindayo. Abanendili nabemihlaba, abadala nabatsha, umama nomntwana, babulawa bonke. Kuyo yonke iFrance ukuxhela kwaqhubeka iinyanga ezimbini. Amawaka asixhenxe abona babantu bahle besizwe batshabalala. IE18 246.2

“Zathi zakufikaeRoma iindaba zokutshatyalaliswa [kwawo amaProtestanti], isifundisi savuya ngendlela engathethekiyo. Ubhishophu omkhulu waseLorraine wawongwa ngewaka lezithsaba zomthunywa; intloko yabafundisi yaseSt. Angelo yadanduluka ngokukhahlela okuzaliswe luvuyo; zakhala kuzo zonke iincopho iintsimbi; imililo yovuyo yabujika ubusuku bayimini; uGregory XIII, ekunye noobhishophu abakhulu kunye nezinye izikhakhamela zabafundisi, benza umngcelele ukuya enkonzweni yaseSt. Louis, apho ubhishophu omkhulu waseLorraine wayecula iTe Deum [uSiyakudumisa] . . . Intsimbi yembeko yakhaliswa ukuvuyisana nokubulala, kwaye eVatican isabonakala imifanekiso emithathu kaVasari, echaza uhlaselo lomphathi womkhosi, ukumkani esentlanganisweni kucetywa ukubulala, kwanendlela yokubulala. UGregory wamthumela uCharles iGolden Rose [irozi yegolide]; kwathi emva kweenyanga ezine emva kokubulala, waphulaphula ngolonwabo intshumayelo yombingeleli womFrentshi, . . . owayethetha ‘ngaloo mini eyayizaliswe kukonwaba novuyo, xa ubawo ongoyena ungcwele wafumana iindaba, wahamba ngondiliseko olungcwele waya kubulela kuThixo nakuSt. Louis [kuLouis ongcwele].’”--Henry White, The Massacre of St. Bartholomew, ch. 14, par. 34.IE18 246.3

Kwawona loo moya ulawulayo owakhuthaza ukuBulala kwaseSt. Bartholomew wakhokelela kwimiboniso yoVukelo. UYesu Kristu kwathiwa ungumkhohlisi, kanti umkhwazo woqhankqalazo lwaseFrance wawusithi, “Crush the Wretch,” [Tyumza Isikhohlakali],” kuthethwa uKristu. Unyeliso olwaludelela izulu nenkohlakalo ecekisekayo zazihamba kunye, bathi abona bantu baphantsi [ngokuziphatha], nezona zibhoja zilahliweyo zenkohlakalo nobubi, zazezona ziphakanyiswayo. Kuko konke oku, eyona mbeko iphezulu yanikwa uSathana; lo gama uKristu, eneempawu zenyaniso, nobunyulu, nothando olungasekeleze nzuzo, wabethelelwa.IE18 247.1

“Irhamncwa elinyuka liphuma enzonzobileni liya kwenza imfazwe nawo, liweyise, liwabulale.” Igunya lokungakholwa elalilawula iFrance ngexesha loHlaziyo noLawulo Lwegqudu, layenza loo mfazwe yokulwa noThixo nelizwi laKhe elingcwele ngeyona ndlela elingazange layibona ihlabathi. Unqulo lukaThixo lwabhangiswa yiNtlangano yeSizwe. IiBhayibhile zaqokelelwa zatshiswa esidlangalaleni kukho konke ukubonakalaliswa Kokuhlekisaokwakunokwenziwa.Umthetho kaThixowanyhashwa phantsi kweenyawo. Imizi yeBhayibhile yavalwa. Umhla wophumlo weeveki ngeeveki wabekelwa bucala, kwathi endaweni yawo kwamiswa usuku lweshumi olwanikelwa ekonwabeni nasekunyeliseni. Ubhaptizo noMthendeleko walelwa. Izaziso zaxhonywa ngokubonakalayo kwiindawo zokungcwaba zisithi ukufa kukulala kukanaphakade.IE18 247.2

Ukoyika uThixo kwathiwa kukude kakhulu ekubeni kukuqala kobulumko, kusithiwa kukuqala kobuyatha. Lonke unqulo lwenkolo lwalelwa, ngaphandle kolwenkululeko nelizwe. “Owayengubhishophu waseParis ngokusemthethweni waziswa ngaphambili ukuba adlale indawo ephambili kumdlalo ohlekisayo nowawunguwona ukrwada nonyelisayo owaka wadlalwa phambi kwesizwe. . . . Waziswa ngomgcelele opheleleyo, ukuba avakalise kwiNkomfa ukuba inkolo awayeyifundisa iminyaka emininzi, ngazo zonke iindlela, wawungowobubingeleli, ingenaso isiseko kwimbali okanye kwinyaniso engcwele. Wakhanyela, ngamazwi anendili nacacileyo, ubukho bukaThixo awayethanjiselwe kunqulo lwaKhe, waza wazinikela ekuthini kwixesha elizayo uza kunika imbeko kwinkululeko, ekulinganeni, kokuhle, nokuziphatha. Waya wabeka phambi kwakhe iimbasa zenkonzo, wamkela ukwangiwa kumongameli weNgqungquthela. Iqela lababingeleli bokreqo bawulandela umzekelo walo mmeli kaPopi.”--Scott, vol. 1, ch. 17. IE18 247.3

“Abo bemiyo phezu komhlaba baya kuwavuyelela, babe nemihlali; bathumelane izipho; ngokuba abo baprofeti babini babathuthumbisa abo bemiyo phezu komhlaba.” IFrance engakholwayo yathulisa ilizwi elithethisayo lamangqina amabini kaThixo. Ilizwi lenyaniso lalahlwa phantsi lifele ezitratweni zayo, baza abo babezithiyile izithintelo nokufunwa ngumthetho kaThixo batsibatsiba luvuyo. Abantu bamdelela ekuhleni uKumkani wezulu. Njengaboni bakudala, badanduluka, bathi: “Unokuthini na ukwazi uThixo? Kukho ukwazi na kOsenyangweni?” Ndumiso. 73:11. IE18 248.1

Ngesibindi esinonyeliso, esaphantsa ukudlula okunokukholelwa, omnye wababingeleli behlelo elitsha wathi: “Thixo, ukuba ukhona, liphindezele igama lakho elenziwe buhlungu. Ndiyakudelela! Uthe cwaka; akusoze uzithumele iindudumo zakho. Ngubani oya kuthi emva koku akholelwe kubukho baKho?--Lacretelle, History, vol. 11, p. 309; in Sir Archibald Alison, History of Europe, vol. 1, ch. 10. Ukuphindwa okunjalo koko uFaro wakufunayo: “Ngubani na uYehova, ukuba ndiphulaphule izwi lakhe?” “Andimazi uYehova!” IE18 248.2

“Sithi isidenge entliziyweni yaso, Akukho Thixo.” Ndumiso 14:1. Ithi yona iNkosi ngabagqwethi benyaniso: “Ukungabi nangqiqo kwabo kuya kubonakala kubantu bonke.” 2 Timoti 3:9. Emva kokuba iFrance ilulahlile unqulo lukaThixo ophilileyo, “Ophezulu nophakamileyo Ohleli ngonaphakade,” kwaba kancinane yehla yaya kunqulo lwezithixo okuhlazisayo, ngokunqula iSithixo seNgqiqo, simelwe ngumntu ongumfazi oziphethe kakubi. Kwaye oku kusenziwa yintlangano emele isizwe, oko kusenziwa ngawona magunya aphezulu—eliphathelele kurhulumente nelimele abantu! Uthi umbhali wembali: Enye yeenkonzo zeli xesha lempambano imele, kungekho mngeni, amahlazo ahlangene nokungoyikwa kukaThixo. Iingcango zeNgqungquthela zavulwa genge kwiqela leemvumi, ziqalelwa ngubani, ngamalungu ombutho kamasipala ngomngcelele onendili, kuvunywa ingoma, kudunyiswa inkululeko, kukhapha, njengomgomo wonqulo lwexesha elizayo, ibhinqa eligqunyiweyo, abalibiza ngokuthi siSithixo seNgqiqo. Lakuba lisondezwe kufuphi neqonga, latyhilwa ngentlokoma enkulu, labekwa ngasekunene komongameli, lakuba lamkelwe ngabo bonke ukuba liyintombazana edanisayo yomculo weopera. . . . Kulo mntu, njengoyena mmeli ufanelekileyo wengqiqo, banqula, iNgqungquthela yesizwe yaseFrance yanika imbeko yomntu wonke.IE18 248.3

“Lo mdlalo wokungahloneli Thixo nohlekisayo wawunohlobo lwawo olulodwa, kwaza ukumiselwa kweSithixo seNgqondo senziwa ngokutsha salinganiswa kwisizwe sonke, kwiindawo ezinjengezo abahlali babefuna ukuzibonisa ukuba bakulingene konke ukuphakama koVukelo.”--Scott, vol. 1, ch. 17. IE18 249.1

Yathi imbongi eyayisazisa unqulo lwengqiqo: “Bawisi bomthetho! Ukugabadela kusukule kwema ingqiqo endaweni yako. Amehlo ako angaboni kakuhle awakwazi ukumelana nokubengezela kokukhanya. Namhlanjeumkhosiomkhuluuhlangenephantsikwaloomaphahla akudala, athe, okokuqala, ayiphinda inyaniso. Apho abantu baseFrance baya bavuyela unqulo ekuphela kwalo olwenyaniso,--olo lwenkululeko, olo lweNgqiqo. Apho senze iminqophiso yempumelelo yezixhobo zeRiphabliki. Apho sithe sazilahla izithixo ezingenabomi zeNgqiqo, sathabatha umfanekiselo ophilileyo, umsebenzi wobuchule wendalo.”--M. A. Thiers, History of the French Revolution, vol. 2, pp. 370, 371.IE18 249.2

Sathi isithixo sakuba siziswe kwiNgqungquthela, imbongi yasibamba ngesandla, yajika yajonga kwintlangano, yathi: “Bantu abanokufa, yekani ukoyika phambi kweendudumo zikaThixo ezingenawo amandla othe wadalwa luloyiko lwenu. Ukususela ngoku, musani ukwamkela uthixo ongeyiyo iNgqiqo. Ndininika umfanekiselo wayo onendili nonyulu kakhulu; ukuba kufuneka nibe nesithixo, bingelelani kuphela kwesinje ngesi. . . . Thobani phambi kweBhunga leNkululeko, Aah! Sigqubuthelo seNgqiqo!”IE18 249.3

“Isithixo, emva kokuba siwolwe ngumongameli, sakhweliswa kwinqwelo entle kakhulu, sakhokelwa, phakathi kwesihlwele esikhulu, sasiwa kwikhathedrale kaNotre Dame, ukuba siyokuthabatha indawo kaThixo. Apho, saphakanyiselwa kwisibingelelo esiphezulu, safumana ukudunyiswa ngabo bonke ababekho.”--Alison, vol. 1, ch. 10.IE18 249.4

Oku kwalandelwa, kungekudala emva koko, kukutshiswa kweBhayibhile esidlangalaleni. Kwesinye isiganeko, umbutho owaziwayo ogcina izinto ezindala [“the Popular Society of the Museum”] wangena kwiholo kamasipala, ukhwaza, “Vive la Raison!” [Phambili NgeNgqiqo] uthwele phezu koluthi olude iintsalela zencwadi eziliqela ezazitshile kodwa zingaphelanga, phakathi kwazo kukho iincwadi zemithandazo yabafundisi—iibreviyari neemisssal, iiTestamente eNdala neNtsha, ezacamagushela emlilweni omkhulu,” ngokutsho kukamongameli, “bonke ubuhiba abenze ukuba uhlanga loluntu lubenze.”-- Journal of Paris, 1793, No. 318. Icatshulwe kuBuchez-Roux, Collection of Parliamentary History, vol. 30, pp. 200, 201.IE18 249.5

Yayibubupopi obaqala umsebenzi owawugqityezelwa kukungakholwa kuThixo. Umthetho-nkqubo waseRoma wamisa ezo meko—zombuso, zopolitiko, nezenkolo—ezaziyiqweqwedisela iFrance kwantshabalalo. Ababhali, bebhekisa kwiintlondi zoVukelo, bathi, olu gqithiso kufuneka kube lityala letrone nebandla. (Bona ISIHLOMELO). Ngokobulungisaobungqongqo, kufunekazibekwe zalityala lebandla. Ubupopi bazityhefa iingqondo zookumkani ekuchasweni koHlaziyo, njengotshaba lwesithsaba, imbangi yokungavani okwakuza kuba nokuluchitha uxolo nemvisiswano yesizwe. Yayikukuhlakanipha kweRoma okwathi, ngale ndlela, kwakhuthaza inkohlakalo etsolileyo neyona yaka yabuhlungu eyayiphuma etroneni.IE18 250.1

Umoya wenkululeko wemka neBhayibhile. Naphina apho yamkelwa khona igospile, iingqondo zabantu zavuswa. Baqala ukukhulula amakhamandela awayebagcine bengamakhoboka okungazi, enkohlakalo, neenkolelo. Babeqala ukucinga nokwenza ngokwabantu. Iikumkani zayibona zangcangcazela ngenxa yokuphatha ngqwabalala kwazo.IE18 250.2

IRoma yayingahambi okolovane ukuphembelela uloyiko lwabo olunomona. Ngowe-1525, uPopi wathi kummeli wakhe waseFrance: “Le mpambano [ubuProtestanti] ayizokwanela nje ukuphazamisa itshabalalise inkolo, kodwa neziphathamandla, nendili nomthetho, nocwangco, namanqanaba olawulo akhoyo.”--G. de Felice, History of the Protestants of France, b. 1, ch. 2, par. 8. Kwiminyaka embalwa emva koko, ummeli kaPapa walumkisa ukumkani, ngelithi: “Mhlekazi, ungakhohliswa. AmaProtestanti aza kuluphazamisa ucwangco lwesizwe nolwenkolo. . . . Itrone ikwingozi enkulu kakhulu njengesibingelelo. . . . Ukungena kwenkolo entsha kunyanzelisa ukungena koburhulumente obutsha.”--D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 2, ch. 36. Abanolwazi ngoThixo babhenela kwintiyo yabantu ngokuthi imfundiso yobuProtestanti “ilukuhla abantu ngokubatsalela kwizinto ezintsha nobuyatha; ihlutha kukumkani uthando lokuzinikela kwabantu bakhe, ichitha ibandla nesizwe. Ngaloo ndlela iRoma yaphumelela ekuyenzeni iFrance ukuba ilwe noHlaziyo. “Yayikukuxhasa itrone, ukugcina amadoda abekekileyo, nokugcina imithetho, okwenza ukuba ikrele lentshutshiso liqale eFrance ukurholwa kwisingxobo salo.”--Wylie, b. 13, ch. 4.IE18 250.3

Abazange bakwazi abalawuli belizwe ukuzibona kwangaphambili iziphumo zomgaqo-nkqubo oyingozi. Imfundiso yeBhayibhile ngeyatyala ezingqondweni nasezintliziyweni zabantu loo mithetho-siseko yobulungisa, ubungcathu, inyaniso, ukulunga, nobubele, izinto kanye ezingamatye embombo empumelelo yesizwe. “Ubulungisa buyalu-phakamisa uhlanga.”Ngabo, “itrone iyazinziswa.” IMizekeliso 14:34; 16:12.IE18 251.1

“Wothi umsebenzi welungisa ube luxolo;” size isiphumo sibe “kukuzola nokukholosa ngonaphakade.” Isaya 32:17. Lowo uwuthobelayo umthetho ongcwele, ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuyithobela imithetho yelizwe lakhe. Lowo umoyikayo uThixo uya kumzukisa ukumkani ekusebenziseni lonke igunya elilungileyo nelisemthethweni. Yona iFrance engonwabanga, yayalela iBhayibhile yabagxotha abalandeli bayo. Kwinkulungwane emva kwenkulungwane, amadoda agcine umthetho nesidima, amadoda achubeke engqondweni nakwazi ukuziphatha ngentembeko, enesibindi sokumela oko akukholelwayo, nokholo lokuphatheka kakubi ngenxa yenyaniso—kwaba ziinkulungwane la madoda esebenza nzima ekuqhubeni izikhephe engamakhoboka, atshabalala etshiswa ebotshelelwe ezibondeni, okanye abolela eziseleni ezingaphantsi komhlaba. Amawaka ngamawaka afumana ukusinda ngokubaleka; kwaza oku kwaqhubeka iminyaka engamakhulu amabini anamashumi amahlanu eminyaka emva kokuqala koHlaziyo.IE18 251.2

“Phantsa asabikho isizukulwana sabantu baseFrance, ngeli xesha lide, aesingazange sibabone abalandeli begospile bebhaca phambi kwengqumbo yempambano yomtshuthisi, bebaleka benobuchopho, ubuchule, ukukhuthala, ucwangco, izinto ezo ezihamba phambili, ngokomthetho, ekutyebiseni loo mimandla bafumana kuyo inkuseleko. Ngokulinganayo ke, njengoko zatyebisa amanye amazwe ngezi zipho zilungileyo, zaphuma kangako kowazo. Ukuba konke oko kwagxothwayo eFrance kwakuye kwagcinwa; ukuba, ngala makhulu mathathu eminyaka, ubuchule bokuvelisa ezazinabo ezi mbacu babulima umhlaba wazo; ukuba ngala makhulu mathathu eminyaka, ukuthanda kwazo ukwenza izinto ngobuchule kwaya kwaphuhlisa imizi yemveliso; ukuba kula makhulu mathathu eminyaka, ubuchule bazo bokuqala izinto, namandla akwazi ukucalula ayesetyenziswe ekutyebiseni uncwadi nokukhulisa isayensi yayo; ukuba ubulumko bazo babukhokela amaqumrhu ayo, ukukhalipha kwazo bulwe amadabi ayo, ukulunga kwazo kwenze imithetho yayo, inkolo yeBhayibhile inike amandla ubuchopho, ilawule isazela sabantu bayo, hayi ubukhulu bokuphakama kodumo olwaluza kuyirhangqa iFrance! Athi Indlela ebeliya kuba likhulu, libenempumelelo, lonwabe ngayo ilizwe--indlela elaliya liya kuba ngumzekelo ngayo kwizizwe!IE18 251.3

“Zona iinkani ezingaboniyo nezingenasisa zazileqa zemka kumhlaba wazo zonke iititshala ezilungileyo, bonke abenza ucwangco, bonke abakhuseli betrone abanyanisekileyo; kubantu ababelenze izwe labo ‘labaluleka lanodumo’ emhlabeni, zathi: Khethani enikukhethayo, umlilo okanye ukubhaca. Ekugqibeleni, impalalo yesizwe yaphelela; akwasala sazela sakusukelwa; akwasala nkolo yakurhuqelwa emlilweni, akwabakho kuthandazwe kwakugxothelwa elubhacweni.”--Wylie, b. 13, ch. 20. UVukelo, nabo bonke ububi benkohlakalo yabo, kwasesona siphumo sincamisileyo.IE18 252.1

Ekubalekeni kwamaHuginoti, kwabakho ukuhla kuyo yonke iFrance. Izixeko ezazikhula ngemveliso, zawa zonakala; imimandla eyayityebile yabuyela ekubeni ngamahlathi njengakuqala; ukudangala kwengqondo nokuhla kokuziphatha kwalandela ixesha lenkqubela eyayingaqhelekanga. IParis yaba yindawo ebanzi ecela amalizo, kwaye kuqikelelwa ukuba, kwathi kwakubakho uVukelo, amakhulu amabini amawaka amahlwempu afuna uncedo kwisandla sikakumkani. Yaba ngamaJesuits kuphela awakhulayo kwisizwe esifayo, aza alawula, ngobundlobongela oboyikekayo, amabandla nezikolo, iintolongo namakhitshi asezinqanaweni.” IE18 252.2

Igospile ngeyayizisela isisombululo iFrance kwezo nkathazo zopolitiko nasekuhlaleni ezadida ubuchule babafundisi bayo, ukumkani wayo, nabenzi bemithetho yayo, ekugqibeleni, zasenza isizwe sakwesibi isiphithiphithi nentshabalalo. Kwathi phantsi kokugunya kweRoma, abantu balahlekelwa zizifundo ezisikelelekileyo zoMsindisi zokuzincama nothando olungasekeleze nzuzo. Benziwa ukuba baziyeke izenzo zokuzincama nokwenzela abanye okulunguleyo. Izityebi azizange zithethiswe ngokucinezela kwazo amahlwempu, aza amahlwempu awafumana kuncedwa kubukhoboka nokuthotyelwa phantsi kwawo. Umona wabanobutyebi namandla wabonakala unengcinezelo ngakumbi nangakumbi. Kwaba ziinkulungwane ukubawa nokuthsafaza kwamadoda ahloniphekileyo kubonakala ekucudisweni okubi kwabasebenza umhlaba. Abazizityebi babonakalisa abangamahlwempu, baza abangamahlwemp babathiya abazizityebi.IE18 252.3

Kumaphondo amaninzi, imizi yayisezandleni zamadoda ahloniphekileyo, abasebenzi bona bengabahlalinje; abobabexhomekekekwiimfefe zabanini bezindlu baye benyanzelekile ukuba baziyekele kwizidingo zabo ezingaphezu kokuqonda. Umthwalo wokuxhasa ibandla nesizwe wawuphezu kodidi oluphakathi kunye noluphantsi, ezazirhafiswa kakhulu ngamagunya awongamileyo karhulumente nabafundisi. Ulonwabo lwamadoda ahloniphekileyo lwalubekwe phambili ngumthetho; amafama nabasebenzi bomhlaba babengalamba, nto leyo eyayingakhathalelwe ngabacinezeli babo. . . . abantu babenyanzelekile, kumacala onke, ukuba bahlangabezane nokuthandwa okukhethekileyo kwabanini beendawo abakuzo. Ubomi babasebenzi bokulima babukukusebenza okungapheliyo nentlupheko engakhululwayo; izikhalazo zabo, xa bathe banesibindi sokukhalaza, zaziphathwa ngendelelo enokusa. Iinkundla zobulungisa zazisoloko ziphulaphula abahloniphekileyo bechasa abasebenzi; kusamkelwa izinyobo ngabagwebi abakhohlakeleyo; nokuguquguquka nje kwengqondo okungalindelekanga kwezihandiba kwakunegunya oku komthetho, kuba nje lukolu hlelo lwenkohlakalo kuyo yonke indawo. Ngokweerhafu ezazitsalwa kumntu wonke ongenanto, izinhanha, kwelinye icala nabafundisi kwelinye, kwakungekho nesiqingatha sazo [ezo rhafu] ezazikwazi ukuya kufika kuvimba wasebukhosini okanye webandla; ezinye zazichithelwa ekuthsafazeni kokuzonwabisa. Kanti ke, abantu abahlwempuze abantu ababaphetheyo ngolo hlobo, bona babekhululwe ekuhlawuleni irhafu, benikwe igunya ngumthetho okanye isiko kuzo zonke izikhundla zesizwe. Amaqela anamalungelo ayefikelela kwikhulu elinamashumi amahlanu amawaka, ekwathi, ukuze kwaneliseke obabo ubomi, izigidi zabantu zanikelwa kubomi obungenathemba nobuhlazisayo.” (Bona ISIHLOMELO).IE18 253.1

Ibhotwe lalinikelwe kubuyokoyoko nokuthsafaza. Kwakukuncinane ukuthembana phakathi kwabantu nabaphathi. Ukukrokrelwa kwabakho kuwo onke amanyathelo karhulumente ngokungathi ayeceba, etsalela kuwo. Ngaphezu kwesiqingatha senkulungwane ngaphambi kwexesha loHlaziyo, etroneni kwakuhleli uLouis XV, owathi, nangaloo maxesha mabi, wabaluleka ngokuba ngukumkani onqenayo, onemfeketho, nothanda iziyolo. Sathi sinobungcungcu obulihlazo nobukhohlakeleyo, nodidi lwabantu abaphantsi abahluphekileyo abangazi nto, isizwe esingenamali nabantu abaqumbileyo, saye singadingi liso lamprofeti ukubona kwangaphambili okwakuza kugqabhuka. Kwizilumkiso zabacebisi bakhe, ukumkani waziqhelisa ukuphendulaathi: “Zamani ukuzenza izinto ziqhubeke kangangoko ngoku ndisaphila; emva kokuba ndifile koba yiloo nto koba yiyo.” Kwakulilize ukukhuthazwa kokufuneka kohlaziyo. Wayebubona ububi, kodwa engenaso isibindi namandla okuqubisana nabo. Intshabalalo eyayilindele iFrance yayibonakala ngokupheleleyo ekunqeneni nasekuthandeni okukokwakhe kwempendulo yakhe, “Emva kwam, sisikhukula!”IE18 253.2

Ngokwenza ukuba ookumkani neqela elilawulayo babe nekhwele, iRoma yabaphembelela ukuba babagcine abantu besebukhobokeni, isazi kakuhle ukuba isizwe siya kungabi namandla ngolo hlobo, inenjongo ngoku yokubophelela abaphathi nabantu kobayo ubukhoboka. Ngenkqubo ebona kude yazi ukuba, ukuze ibakhobokise ngempumelelo abantu, amatyathanga kufuneka abotshelelwe emiphefumlweni yabo; ukuze eyona ndlela iqinisekileyo yokuba thintela ekuphuncukeni ebukhobokeni yayikukubenza bangakwazi ukuzikhulula. Kwaba kubi ngokuphindwe kaliwaka kunokuphatheka kakubi ngokwasenyameni, okwaba sisiphumo senkqubo yayo, ukuhla ngokwasekuziphatheni. Behluthwe iBhayibhile, beyekelwe kwiimfundiso zeenkani nomona, abantu bagutyungelwa kukungazi neenkolelo, baza bazika ebubini, kangangokuba abakufanela ngokupheleleyo ukuzilawula. IE18 254.1

Kona ukwenziwa kwako konke oku kwakwahlukile kwinto eyayicetywa yiRoma. Endaweni yokuzigcina izihlwele ekuzithobeleni zingazi nto ngeemfundiso zayo, umsebenzi wayo waba nomphumela wokuzenza ukuba zingakholwa zibe ngabavukeli. UbuRoma babudela njengobubingeleli. Bababona abafundisi njengeqela labacinezeli babo. Uthixo ekuphela kwakhe ababemazi yayisisithixo saseRoma; imfundiso yayo yaba kuphela kwenkolo yabo. Bakubona ukubawa nenkohlakalo yayo njengesiqhamo esisemthethweni seBhayibhile, baza abafuna nokuva ngayo.IE18 254.2

IRoma yasiveza ngendlela engeyiyo isimilo sikaThixo yakugqwetha akufunayo, baza ngoko abantu bayala iBhayibhile noMdali wayo. Yafuna ukholo olungenambuzo kwiimfundiso zayo, phantsi kokuvunyelwa ziziBhalo okungeyiyo inyaniso. Ekuphenduleni, uVoltaire namahlakani akhe, balilahlel’ ecaleni ilizwi likaThixo ngokupheleleyo baza bayisasazele kuyo yonke indawo ityhefu yokungakholelwa kuThixo. IRoma yabanyathelelaphantsi abantu phantsi kwesithende sentsimbi; ngoku, zathi izihlweleezithotyelwephantsineziphethwe ndlongondlongo, ekoyikeni kwazo ubundlongondlongo bayo, zalahla kude konke okubandezelayo. Zinengqumbo ngenxa yokuqhathwa okumenyezelayo ababekade bekuhloniphile, bayala inyaniso kunye nobuxoki ngokufanayo; bathi ngokuphazamisa imvume njengenkululeko, amakhoboka obubi avuya ngenxa yenkululeko awayecinga ukuba ayifumene.IE18 254.3

Ekuqalekeni koVukelo, ngemvume kakumkani, abantu banikwa ukumelwa okudlula okwamadoda ahloniphekileyo nabafundisi behlanganisiwe. Ngaloo ndlela, ukuzinziswa kwamandla kwaba sezandleni zabo; kodwa babengakulungelanga ukukusebenzisa ngobulumko nangobungcathu. Benenzondelelo yokulungisa iziphoso abaphatheka nzima ngenxa yazo, bazimisela ukumisa kakuhle umphakathi. Bengabantu abanengqumbo, abangqondo zabo zazizaliswe ziinkumbulo zobukrakra nekukade zigodliwe zokungalunganga, bagqiba ekubeni basimise ngenye indlela isizwe ababeye bakhulelwa kukungakwazi ukubanyamezela nokuba baziphindisele kwabo babe zimbangi zokuphatheka kwabo kakubi. Ababecinezelwe benza ngokwesifundo abasifunda phantsi kobubhovubhovu baza baba ngabacinezeli babo babecinezelwe ngabo.IE18 255.1

IFrance engenalo ulonwabo yavuna ngegazi isivuno eyayisihlwayele. Zaba zibi kakhulu iziphumo zokuziyekela kwayo kwigunya elilawulayo leRoma. Apho iFrance, phantsi kwempembelelo yobuRoma, yathi yamisa iziko lokuqala ekuqalekeni koVukelo, apho uVukelo lwamisa iziko lokuqala lokunqunyulwa kwentloko. Kuloo ndawo kanye apho abafelukholo bokuqala ngenxa yokholo lobuProtestanti batshiswa khona ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinesithandathu, amaxhoba okuqala anqunyulwa iintloko ngeyeshumi elinesibhozo. Ekugxotheni igospile, engeyayizise ukuphiliswa kwayo, iFrance yavulela ukungakholwa nentshabalalo ucango. Kwathi ngokubekelwa bucala kwezithintelo zomthetho kaThixo, kwafunyaniswa ukuba imithetho yomntu yayinganele ukuthintela imisinga enamandla yemizwa yomntu; saza isizwe satshayelelwa kuvukelo nokungabikho komthetho. Imfazwe elwa iBhayibhile yaphehlelela ixesha elimi kwimbali yehlabathi njengoLawulo lweGqudu. Uxolo nolonwabo zagxothwa kumakhaya neentliziyo zabantu. Akukho wayekhuselekile. Lowo woyisayo namhlanje, wakrokrelwa, wagwetywa, ngengomso. Ubundlongondlongo nenkanuko balawula bungaphikiswa.IE18 255.2

Ukumkani, abafundisi, izidwangube, bonke banyanzeleka ukuba balulamele iintlondi zabantu abathabathekileyo nabanogezo ngumsindo. Ukunxanelwa kwabo ukuziphindezela kwakhuthazwa kuphela kukubulawa kukakumkani; baza abo babewise umyalelo wokuba abulawe, nabo bakhawuleza ukumlandela ekubulaweni. Kwabakho ukuzimisela kokubulawa kwabo bonke ababekrokrelwa ngenkohlakalo ngakuVukelo. Iintolongo zazala ntli, ngaxa limbi zivalele ngaphezu kwamawaka amabini amabanjwa. Izixeko zobukumkani zazizaliswe yimibono emasikizi. Amaqela abavukeli ayesilwa wodwa, yaza iFrance yangumhlaba kafayayo, womxukuxela oqhutywa yingqumbo yeemvakalelo zawo. “EParis iingxwabangxwaba zalandelelana, abemi behlukene bengamaqela anikelana ngokulwa, into eyayibonakala ikukuzimisela kokutshabalalisa.” Ukongeza kule ntlekele ijongene nomntu wonke, isizwe sabandakanyeka kwimfazwe ende netshabalalisayo namagunya amakhulu aseYurophu. “Ilizwe laphantsa labhanga, imikhosi ifuna intlawulo eyayilityazisiwe, abantu baseParis belamba, imimandla ibhuqekile ngamaqela ezihange, yaphantsa yaphela inkcubeko kukungabikho komthetho nokwenza ngemvume.”IE18 256.1

Abantu bazifunda kakuhle izifundo zenkohlakalo nokuthuthumbisa ezafundiswa ngenkohlakalo yiRoma. Ekugqibeleni, imini yempindezelo yayifikile. Ngoku yayingengabo abalandeli bakaYesu ababephoswa emihadini berhuqelwa emililweni. Abo babefe kudala okanye babhekiswa elubhacweni. IRoma engenalusini ngoku yawava amandla abulalayo abo yayibaqeqeshele ukonwabela imisebenzi yegazi. “Umzekelo wentshutshiso owaboniswa ngabafundisi baseFrance kwiminyaka emininzi, waya wabuyiselwa kubo ngamandla amakhulu. Amanqwanqwa ababomvu ligazi lababingeleli. Izikhephe neentolongo, ezazizele ngamaHuginoti, ngoku zazala ngabatshutshisi bawo. Bebotshelelwe ezihlalweni okanye emiqobeni, abafundisi beBandla bazifumana zonke iintlondi ibandla labo elangcungcuthekisa ngazo ngokukhululekileyo abalahlekisi ababenobulali.” (Bona ISIHLOMELO.)IE18 256.2

“Ngoko kwakufike loo mihla ekwathi kwamiselwa eyona mithetho ingenankcubeko kunayo yonke eyakha yamiselwa zezona nkundla zingazanga zanenkcubeko; ekwakungekho mntu ukwazi nokubulisa abamelwane bakhe okanye athandaze . . . angajongani nengozi yokwaphula umthetho onesigwebo sokufa; xa oongcothoza babe buthuma kuyo yonke ikona; xa iqonga lokubulala lalisebenza nzima lingaphumli zonke iintsasa; xa iintolongo zazizele ntli ngokwenqanawa yokuthwala amakhoboka; xa imisele yayibaleka igazi elihla liye kumlambo iSeine. . . . ngexesha iinqwelo ezizele yimithwalo yamaxhoba asiwa ekubulaweni kwawo zazizalise izitrato zaseParis, iirhuluneli, ezazithunywe kumasebe yikomiti kakumkani, zazivuyiswa kukusetyenziswa kwenkohlakalo engazanga yabonwa kweso sixeko siyintloko. Imela yomashini wokubulala kwakubukeka kucotha kakhulu ukuhla inyuka kwayo kumsebenzi wokuxhelwa kwabantu. Imiqodi yabathinjwa yayisingelwa phantsi ngeembumbulu zenkanunu. Izikhephe zazigqojozwa imingxuma ngaphantsi zizele ngabantu. ILyons yajika yaba yintlango. EArras amabanjwa avinjwa nenceba yenkohlakalo yokuba afe ngokukhawuleza. Ekuhleni kwayo yonke iLoire, ukusuka eSaumur ukuya elwandle, imihlambi yamahlungulu namaxhalanga ayenesidlo kwizidumbu ezize, ezazibotshelelwe zihlanganiswe ngendlela emasikizi. Kwakungekho kusizelwa kwasini nabudala. Inani lomlisela nomthinjana okwishumi elinesixhenxe leminyaka ubudala elabulawa nguloo rhulumente ucekiseka kakhulu laliqikelelwa kumakhulu-khulu. Iintsana ezazihluthwa emabeleni zazithiwa chu ngemigqala ebukhali zisiwe kumajoni ehlelo elinoburhalarhume exesha loLawulo lweGqudu.” (bona ISIHLOMELO). Ngexesha nje elifutshane leminyaka elishumi, izihlwele zabantu zatshabalala.IE18 256.3

Konke oku kwakunjengokuba kwakufunwa nguSathana. Yinto le awayesebenzela yona iminyaka ukuba ayizuze. Umthetho wakhe kukukhohlisa ukusuka kowokuqala kuye kowokugqibela, kwaye injongo yakhe ezingileyo kukuzisa usizi nentlupheko ebantwini, ukucima nokungcolisa umsebenzi kaThixo, ukonakalisa iinjongo ezingcwele zobubele nothando, ukuze kubekho ukukhala ezulwini. Uthi ke, ngobuchulebakhebokukhohlisa, azimfamekise iingqondo zabantu, abenze ukuba babuyisele ukugxeka umsebenzi wakhe kuThixo, ngokungathi yonke le ntlekele isisiphumo seceboloMdali.IE18 257.1

Ngokunjalo, xa abo babethotyelwe phantsi baphathwa kakubi ngamandla enkohlakalo yakhe, bethe bafumana eyabo inkululeko, ubakhuthaza ukuba bagabadele kakhulu benze okubi ngokudlulisa. Kuthi ke lo mfanekiso wenkululeko engenamikhala kwalathwe kuwo ngabantu abandlongondlongo nabacinezeli njengobonisa iziphumo zenkululeko.IE18 257.2

Ithi yakubonwa imposiso inxibe impahla ethile, uSathana ayifihle ngokuyambathisa enye, zize izihlwele ziyamkele ngolangezelelo njengakuqala. Bathi abantu bakufumanisa ukuba ubuRoma buyinkohliso, waye engakwazi ukuthi ngesi senzeleli abenze ukuba bagqithe emthethweni kaThixo, wabakhuthazela ukuba yonke inkolo bayithabathe njengenkqatho, iBhayibhile njengentsomi; baze, ngokulahlela ecaleni imiyalelo kaThixo, bazinikele kubugwenxa obungenamikhala.IE18 257.3

Imposiso eyingozi eyazisa usizi kubemi baseFrance yaba kukungakhathalelwa kwale nyaniso inye inkulu, ethi: inkululeko yenene ifumaneka phakathi kokuzingelwa [kokukufunwa] kwenyaniso kaThixo. “Akwaba imithetho yam ubuyibazele iindlebe! Beluya kuba njengomlambo uxolo lwakho, nobulungisa bakho bube njengamaza olwandle.” “Akukho luxolo kwabangendawo, utsho uYehova.” “Ke yena ondivayo uhleli ekholosile, wonwabile ekunkwantyiseni kobubi.” Isaya 48:18, 22; IMizekeliso 1:33. IE18 258.1

Abangakholwayo kuThixo, abangenalukholo, nabakreqi baphikisa balahlele phantsi umthetho kaThixo; kodwa iziphumo zempembelelo yabo zibonisa kakuhle ukuba ukulungelwa komntu kuxhomekeke ekuthobeleni imiyalelo yezulu. Abo bangafuniyo ukusifunda isifundo encwadini kaThixo bayalelwa ukuba basifunde kwimbali yezizwe.IE18 258.2

Wathi uSathana akwenza ukuba iBandla laseRoma libakhokelele kude abantu nokuthobela, isenzeleli sakhe safihlakala, waza umsebenzi wakhe wafihlakala kangangokuba ukuthotyelwa phantsi nentlekele ezaba sisiphumo azaze zibonwe njengesiqhamo sokugqitha umthetho. Igunya lakhe kwaqutyiswana nalo kakhulu nguMoya kaThixo kangangokuba iinjongo zakhe zathintelwa ekufikeleleni kuvutho-ndaba lwazo olupheleleyo. Abantu abazange balilande igalelo lembangi yalo[ukugqithwakomthetho]bade bayifumane intsusa yeentlekele zabo.Kwathi, kodwa, kuVukelo, umthetho kaThixo wabekelwa bucala ngokuphandle liQumrhu leSizwe. Kulawulo ngeGqudu olwalandelayo, ukusebenza kokuhlwayela nokuvuna kwakubonwa ngumntu wonke.IE18 258.3

Yathi iFrance yakumala ekuhleni uThixo, yayikhuphela ecaleni iBhayibhile, abantu abakhohlakeleyo nemimoya yobumnyama yavuya ekufezekiseni injongo yayo eyayikade iyilangazelela—ubukumkani obungenazo izithintelo zomthetho kaThixo. Ngenxa yokuba isigwebo ngenxa yomsebenzi wenkohlakalo asikhawuleziswa ukwenziwa, ngoko intliziyo yoonyana babantu “izele ngaphakathi kwabo kukwenza okubi.” Intshumayeli 8:11. Phofu ukugqithwa komthetho olungileyo nonobulungisa kufuneka, ngokuqinisekileyo, kulandelwe sisiphumo sobubi nentshabalalo. Nangona ingafikelwa kwangoko zizigwebo, inkohlakalo yabantu, sekunjalo, yayisebenza intshabalalo yabo. Iinkulungwane zokreqo nolwaphulo lomthetho lwaluqokelela ingqumbo ejongene naloo mini yembuyekezo; kuze kuthi, xa ubugwenxa babo banele, abadeleli bakaThixo babone sekusemva kakhulu ukuba kuyinto eyoyikekayo ukuluduba luphele unyamezelo olungcwele lukaThixo. UMoya kaThixo othintelayo, owanqandayo amandla enkohlakalo kaSathana, wawususwe kakhulu, waza wathi lowo ovuyo lwakhe lukukuhlupha abantu, wavunyelwa ukuba asebenze ngokwentando yakhe. Abo bakhetha umsebenzi wovukelo bayekwa ukuba bavune iziqhamo zawo lada ilizwe lazaliswa lulwaphulo lomthetho olubi kakhulu ukuba usiba lungakwazi ukukubhala. Ukusuka kumaphondo abhuqekileyo nezixeko ezidilikileyo, isikhalo esoyikekayo savakala—isikhalo sokubandezeleka okukrakra. IFrance yaba ngathi ishukunyiswa yinyikima. Inkolo, umthetho, ucwangco lolawulo, usapho, isizwe, nebandla—zonke zalahlelwa phantsi sisandla esingamoyikiyo uThixo esasiphakanyiselwe ukulwa umthetho waKhe. Yathetha yatyapha indoda esisilumko xa isithi: “Ongendawo uwa kwangokungendawo kwakhe.” “Nakubeni umoni esenza okubi izihlandlo ezilikhulu, ayolule imihla yakhe, noko ndiyazi ukuba kuya kulunga kwabamoyikayo uThixo, kwaboyikayo ebusweni bakhe; kungalungi kongendawo.” IMizekeliso 11:5; Intshumayeli 8:12, 13. “Ngethuba lokuba bakuthiyile ukwazi, abakunyula ukoyika uYehova;” “baya kudla ke isiqhamo sendlela yabo, bahluthe ngamacebo abo.” Imizekeliso 1:29, 31.IE18 258.4

Amangqina kaThixo athembekileyo, awabulawa ligunya elalinyelisa “elinyuka liphuma enzonzobileni,” aye engazi kuhlala xesha lide ethe cwaka. “Emva kwemihla leyo mithathu inesiqingatha somhla, umoya wobomi ophume kuThixo wangena kuwo, ema ngeenyawo zawo; baza bawelwa luloyiko olukhulu abo bawabonayo.” IsiTyhilelo 11:11. Kwakungowe-1793 eyathi imithetho eyayisalela inkolo yobuKristu, ibekela bucala iBhayibhile, yaphunyezwa kwiNtlangano [yowiso-mthetho] yaseFrance. Kwiminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha emva koko, isigqibo esirhoxisa le mithetho, sinika ukunyamezelwa kweziBhalo, sathatyathwa kwanguwo loo mhlangano. Ihlabathi lakhwankqiswa kakhulu bubukhulu bobutyala obaba sisiphumo sokwaliwa kwemiYalelo Engcwele, baza abantu bakuqonda ukudingeka kokukholwa kuThixo nelizwi laKhe njengesiseko sokuhle nokuziphatha ngendlela. Uthi uYehova: “Ngubani na lo umngcikivileyo, umnyelisileyo? Ngubani na lo umphakamisele ilizwi lakho, ukude uwaphakamisele amehlo akho phezulu nje? NgOyingcwele wakwaIsrayeli,” Isaya 37:23. “Ngako oko, yabona, ndiyabazisa ngesi sihlandlo, ndibazise isandla sam nobugorha bam, bazi ukuba igama lam linguYehova.” Yeremiya 16:21.IE18 259.1

Ngokubhekiselele kumangqina amabini, umprofeti ugqitha athi: “Eva izwi elikhulu liphuma ezulwini, lisithi kuwo, Nyukelani apha! Enyuka, aya ezulwini esefini; zawabona iintshaba zawo.” IsiTyhilelo 11:12. Kususela ukuba iFrance yalwa namangqina amabini kaThixo, aphakanyiswa ngaphezu kwakuqala. Ngowe-1804, kwaqulunqwa iBritish and Foreign Bible Society. Oku kwalandelwa yimibutho efanayo, enamasebe amaninzi kwizwekazi leYurophu. Ngowe-1816, kwasekwa iAmerican Bible Society. Ngexesha lokusekwa kweBritish Society, iBhayibhile yayishicilelwe yasasazwa ngeelwimi ezingamashumi amahlanu. Ukususela ngoko yaguqulelwa kwiilwimi neentetho zezizwana ezingamakhulu. (Bona ISIHLOMELO).IE18 260.1

Kwiminyaka engamashumi amahlanu eyayingaphambi kowe-1792, yayincinane kakhulu ingqwalasela eyayinikwe umsebenzi wokuvangela kumazwe angaphandle [kwalawo ayeyibambile inkolo yobuKristu].Kwakungekhomibuthomitshaeyenziwayo,embalwanamabandla awenza ilinge lokusasaza ubuKristu kwimimandla yobuhedeni. Kwathi kodwa, xa kusiya ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yeshumi elinesibhozo, kwabakho inguqulelo enkulu eyathi yenzeka. Abantu baya benganeliswa ziziphumo zokusetyenziswa nje kwengqondo, bakuqonda ukudingeka kwentyilelo yezulu nenkolo ebambekayo. Ukususela kweli xesha, umsebenzi wovangelo lwangaphandle waba nokukhula obungazanga babonwa ngaphambili. (Bona ISIHLOMELO.)IE18 260.2

Ukuphuhliswa koshicilelo kwanika amandla kumsebenzi wokusasazwa kweBhayibhile. Izixhobo zonxibelelwano phakathi kwamazwe awahlukeneyo ezaye zanda, ukuwa kweendonga zakudala zentiyo nokwenziwa amakheswa kwezizwe, nokulahleka kwamandla okulawula umhlaba kukaPopi waseRoma, kwayivula indlela yokungena kwelizwi likaThixo. Kuyiminyaka iBhayibhile ithengiswa ngaphandle kwesithintelo kwizitrato zaseRoma, kwaye ngoku isiwe kuyo yonke indawo emiweyo kumhlaba wonke. IE18 260.3

Owayengenalukholo uVoltaire, waka wathetha ngokuzigwagwisa esithi: “Ndidiniwe kukuva rhoqo kusithiwa amadoda alishumi elinambini amisa inkolo yobuKristu. Mna ndiza kubonisa ukuba indoda enye yanele ukuba iyoyise.” Kwadlula izizukulwana emva kokuba wafa. Izigidi zaya zangenelela kwimfazwe yokulwa iBhayibhile. Sekunjalo, kukude kakhulu ukuba ingatshatyalaliswa, kuba, apho kwakukho ikhulu ngexesha likaVoltaire, ngoku kukho amawaka alishumi, kunjalo, amakhulu amawaka encwadi kaThixo. Ngokwamazwi omHlaziyi wangaphambili, ethetha ngebandla lobuKristu, “IBhayibhile iyintsimbi ekukhandwa phezu kwayo ezinye ethe yadla yaqoba izando ezininzi.” Uthi uYehova: “Zonke izixhobo ezikhandelwa ukulwa nawe aziyi kuba nampumelelo; zonke iilwimi ezimelene nawe ematyaleni uya kuzigweba.” Isaya 54:17.IE18 260.4

“Ilizwi likaThixo wethu liya kuma ngonaphakade.” “Zithembekile zonke iziyalezo zakhe.” Isaya 40:8; Ndumiso 111:7, 8. Nayiphi into eyakhelwe phezu kwegunya lomntu iya koyiswa; kodwa, leyo yakhelwe phezu kolwalwa lwelizwi likaThixo elingaguqukiyo, iya kuma ngonaphakade. IE18 261.1