Tracings Among the Huguenots

As we examine the records of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the later Huguenots bring to mind the valiant exploits of the earlier persecuted Huguenots of France. We mark the renewal of the spirit of John Huss in the Moravian Church, together with the great Methodist awakening under the Wesleys. It is among such outstanding evangelical movements that we naturally look for the men and women through whom God could especially reveal Himself; and we are not disappointed in this field of study.AGP 224.4

The derivation of the name Huguenot is somewhat uncertain. But it was used to designate the Protestants in France in the early part of the sixteenth century.AGP 224.5

The Protestant Reformation began in France about the time that Luther started his work of reformation in Germany. That we may have a proper background for later prophetic tracings, let us return to the beginning of the century.AGP 224.6

In the year 1512, Jacobus Faber published a volume on the doctrine of righteousness by faith as against righteousness by works. Eight years later, in 1523, appeared his French translation of the New Testament, thus placing that part of the word of God in the homes of the common people, in a language they could understand. This resulted in many conversions to the new teaching. Without delay, persecution was set on foot by the papacy. As early as 1525, five Protestant martyrs were burned at the stake. These were the first of multiplied thousands martyred during the two centuries following.AGP 225.1