Isahluko 12—Inguquko Kwezokholo Eyenzakala Elizweni LaseFrance.

Ukutshengisela okwabakhona edolobheni laseSpires njalo lesenzo sababusi basedolobheni laseAugsburg, okwasungula ukunqoba komsebenzi weMvuselelo elizweni laseGermany, kwalandelwa yiminyaka yempi njalo lobunyama. Inkolo yeqiniso eyayiphikisana lebandla leRoma yagcwala impikiswano phakathi kwayo, okwabangela ukuthi ibonakale sengathi yayisizatshabalala kokuphela. Inkulungwane zabantu zachithekelwa ligazi zifakazela iqiniso. Kwavuka impi phakathi kwabantu belizwe elilodwa, inkolo yeMvuselelo yathengiswa ngabanye ababengabalandeli bayo njalo ababelezikhundla, ababusi abanengi ababengabalandeli bayo bawela ezandleni zikamongameli, abanengi babo babehudulwa emgwaqweni besenziwa uchuku lenhlikisa enkulu. Kodwa ngesikhathi lapho umongameli ayecabanga ukuthi wayephezulu, wathola ukwehlulwa okukhulu. Wabona abantu laba ababesezandleni zakhe behluthulwa phambi kwakhe, njalo wacina evumela imfundiso lezi ayefuna ukuzitshabalalisa ukuthi zamukelwe elizweni. Wayefunge ukuthi wayezasebenzisa umbuso wakhe, lenotho yakhe, kanye lempilo ngokwayo ukubhidliza yonke imfundso eyayiphambene laleyi eyebandla. Khathesi wayesebona amabutho wakhe eseqedwe yimpi, inotho yakhe yayisiphela, njalo izizwe ezinengi ezazingaphansi kwakhe zazifuna ukuhlamuka lazo, njalo endaweni zonke ukholo lolu ayezame ukulubhidliza, lwalukhula nsuku zonke. Sonke lesi isikhathi uCharles V, wayelwisana lamandla asezulwini. UNkulunkulu wayethe, “Akubekhona ukukhanya,” kodwa umongameli wayeyenze yonke imizamo yokuthi ubunyama bungasuswa. Imizamo yakhe yonke yayehlulekile, wayesebonakala sengathi ugugile yena esesemncane ngenxa yezimpi ayedlule kizo, wakhetha ukwehla esihlalweni sobukhosi wazivalela endaweni eyayingaphansi kwezandla zebandla leRoma. {GC 211.1}IEP 211.1

Elizweni laseSwitzerland, njengaseGermany, kwabakhona insuku ezimnyama phezu komsebenzi weMvuselelo. Loba nje abantu abanengi babemukele inkolo yemvuselelo, abanengi babambelela enkolweni yaseRoma. Ukuhlukumeza kwabo labo ababekhethe ukwamukela iqiniso ekucineni kwabangela impi elizweni lonke. UZwingli labanye ababekhethe ukwamukela iqiniso babulawa ensimini yaseCappel. UOcolampadius laye ngenxa yezimpi lezi wafa ngemva kwesikhatshana. Ibandla leRoma lajabula kakhulu, njalo endaweni ezinengi kwasekubonakala sengathi lalizathola amandla elaliwathathelwe. Kodwa lowo owazi ikusasa kusukela endulo, wayengalahlanga abantu bakhe kumbe umsebenzi wakhe. Isandla sakhe sasizaletha ukunqoba kibo. Kwezinye indawo wayevuse izisebenzi ezazizathwalela phambili umsebenzi wemvuselelo. {GC 211.2}IEP 211.2

Elizweni laseFrance ibizo likaLuther lingakaziwa njengeloMvuseleli, ilanga laseliqalile ukukhanyisa. Omunye owaqalayo ukwamukela iqiniso kwakunguLafevre owayesekhulile ngeminyaka, indoda eyayiqeqetshile kakhulu, owayengumbalisi ophezulu esikolo saseParis, njalo wayengumlandeli kapapa oqotho. Nxa wayephendlisisa imbhalo yasendulo amehlo akhe awela eBhayibhilini, njalo waqala ukuletha imfundiso yalo kubafundi bakhe. {GC 212.1}IEP 212.1

ULafevre wayethanda kakhulu ukufunda ngabangcwele abafileyo, njalo wayezimisele ukuthi wayezabhala phansi imbali yabangcwele labantu abafela iqiniso ngendlela okwakubhalwe ngayo emabhukwini ebandla. Lowu kwakungumsebenzi owawudinga amandla amanengi; kodwa wayesehambe ibanga elide kiwo, lapho acabanga ukuthi sekungenzeka athole usizo eBhayibhilini, waqala ukulibala elomcabango lowu. Lapha wathola kubhalwe ngabangcwele, kodwa hatshi ngendlela okwakubhalwe ngayo engwalweni zebandla. Ukukhanya kwasezulwini kwangena engqondweni yakhe. Ngokumangala njalo lokucaphuka, watshiya umsebenzi lowu ayewuqalile waqala ukubala iBhayibhili ngokuzimisela. Waqala ukufundisa abafundi bakhe amaqiniso wonke ayewathole eBhayibhilini. {GC 212.2}IEP 212.2

Ngomyaka ka1512, uLuther loZwingli bengakaqali umsebenzi wabo, uLefevre wabhala wathi: “NguNkulunkulu osinakayo, ngokukholwa, ubungcwele obusinika impilo enaphakade ngomusa kuphela.” — (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 1). Waqala ukujula endabeni zosindiso waloba wathi: “Oh, awekho amazwi achaza isenzo lesi, lowo ongelacala wabekwa icala, njalo lowo olecala uyakhululwa, isibusiso sithola isono, njalo lowo olesono ulethwa esibusisweni; impilo iyafa, njalo lowo ofileyo uyaphila; inkazimulo iphedulwa ibe yibunyama, njalo lowo obengazi lutho kodwa ukudideka ebusweni bakhe ungqokiswa inkazimulo.”- (D’Aubigne, London ed., b. 12, ch.2). {GC 212.3}IEP 212.3

Ngesikhathi esifananayo nxa wayefundisa ukuba inkazimulo yosindiso ivela kuNkulunkulu kuphela, wayefundisa njalo ukuthi umsebenzi wokulandela imilayo kaNkulunkulu wawungowomuntu wonke. “Nxa wena ulilunga lebandla likaKrestu, kutsho ukuthi ulilunga lomzimba wakhe; nxa ungumzimba wakhe, njalo kutsho ukuthi ugcwele isimo sakhe sobungcwele...Kuphela nxa abantu bebengangena ekuzwisisene isipho lesi, khepha indlela abakade bezaphila ngayo ngokuhlambuluka langokulunga, njalo langobungcwele, njalo ngabe bekuzabanjani nxa beqathanisa inkazimulo ephila kibo lenkazimulo yalumhlaba.” (Ibid, b. 12, ch. 2). {GC 213.1}IEP 213.1

Kwakukhona abanye, phakathi kwabafundi bakaLefevre abalalela amazwi akhe ngesifiso sokuzwisisa, njalo abathi ngemva kwesikhathi eside lapho ilizwi lombalisi wabo laselithulisiwe, ababezaqhubeka befundisa iqiniso. Omunyewabo kwakungu William Farel. Indodana yabazali ababezimisele ebandleni, owayefundiswe ukuthi amukele yonke imfundiso yebandla, laye wayengenelisa ukutsho amazwi kampostoli uPhawuli athi: “...ngangihamba ngokweqembu eliqinileyo lenkolo yakithi ngingumFarisi.” (Imisebenzi 26:5). Wayengumlandeli webandla leRoma owayezimisele ukubhubhisa bonke ababephikisana lemfundiso yebandla. Nxa wayebhala ngembali yakhe wathi: “Ngangigedleza amazinyo wami njengesilwane, nxa ngangisizwa umuntu owayekhuluma amazwi aphikisana lopapa.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 2). Laye wayekhuthalele umsebenzi wokukhonza abangcwele abafileyo, wayelokuhamba loLafevre emabandleni amanengi edolobheni laseParis, ekhonza njalo esipha izipho endaweni lezi. Kodwa zonke inkonzo lezi zehluleka ukuletha ukuthula emoyeni wakhe. Wayehlala esizwa umthwalo wesono phezu kwakhe, owehluleka ukuhamba loba nje wayesenza zonke lezi izinto. Walalela amazwi oMvuseleli kwangathi ayevela ezulwini: “Usindiso luzangomusa.” “Lowo ongelacala ubekwa icala, njalo isoni siyakhululwa.” “Kungenxa yesiphambano sikaKrestu kuphela esenza ukuba amasango ezulu avulwe, njalo kuvalwe amasango egehena.” (Ibid, b. 13, ch. 2). {GC 213.2}IEP 213.2

UFarel wamukela iqiniso ngentokozo. Ngokuphendulwa okufana lokukaPhawuli, watshibilika esuka ebugqilini bamasiko waya ekukhululweni kwamadodana kaNkulunkulu. “Endaweni yenhliziyo yombulali, wathola inhliziyo ebuthakathaka efana leyemvu, inhliziyo yakhe yasuswa kupapa, yanikwa uJesu Krestu.” — (D’Aubigne, b. 12, ch. 3). {GC 214.1}IEP 214.1

Nxa uLefevre wayeqhubeka ehambisa ukukhanya ebafundini bakhe, uFarel ngokuzimisela emsebenzini kaKrestu okufana lalokho ayelakho ngesikhathi esebenzela upapa, wahamba etshumayela iqiniso ebantwini. Omunye owayelesikhundla ebandleni ubhishopi waseMeaux, wahlanganyela labo ngemva kwesikhatshana. Abanye ababalisi ababelezikhundla eziphezulu, labo bahlanganyela labo emsebenzini wokuhambisa ivangeli, njalo lathola abalandeli abanengi kusukela ebantwini abangelazikhundla kusiya ezindlini zamakhosi. Udadewabo kaFrancis I, owayengumbusi, laye wamukela imfundiso yemvuselelo. INkosi ngokwayo, lonina wayo, okwesikhatshana babonakala sengathi babethakazelela imfundiso leyi, njalo ngethemba elivuselelweyo abavuseleli bakhangela phambili esikhathini lapho ilizwe lonke laseFrance elalizabe selamukele ivangeli. {GC 214.2}IEP 214.2

Kodwa izifiso zabo zazingasoke zifezeke. Ukuhlukunyezwa ndawonye lenhlupho kwakumelele abalandeli beqiniso. Lokhu kodwa ngomusa kaNkulunkulu kwakuvalelwe amehlo abo. Kwabakhona isikhathi sokuthula, esabanika ithuba lokuthola amandla wokumelana lesiphepho esasiphambili; njalo umsebenzi weMvuselelo wakhula masinyane. Ubhishopi waseMeaux wasebenza ngamandla efundisa abantu lezisebenzi ezazingaphansi kwakhe iqiniso. Abapristi ababengafuni ukuzwisisa iqiniso bakhitshwa endaweni yabo kwafakwa labo ababeqeqetshile njalo belungile. Ubhishopi wayelesifiso sokuthi abantu bakibo benelise ukuthola ilizwi likaNkulunkulu ezandleni zabo, ngesikhatshana lokhu kwenzakala. ULafevre waqala umsebenzi wokuphendulela iTestamenti eLitsha elimini lwakibo; njalo ngesikhathi esifananayo lapho iBhayibhili likaLuther ngolimi lwaseGermany elaliphuma khona eWittenberg, iTestamenti eLitsha lolimi lweFrench lalo laliphuma eMeaux. Ubhishopi wasebenzisa yonke indlela eyayikhona ukuthi lihanjiswe endaweni zonke, njalo masinyane abantu baseMeaux basebeloMbhalo oNgcwele ezandleni zabo. {GC 214.3}IEP 214.3

Njengezihambi eziwomele amanzi endleni ezamukela amanzi emthonjeni, ngendlela efananayo abantu laba bamukela ilizwi lasezulwini. Izisebenzi emasimini, lezisebenzi emadolobheni, zenza ukuthi umsebenzi wabo ubelula ngokukhuluma ngamaqiniso eBhayibhili. Ntambama kulokuthi baye endaweni zokunatha utshwala, babehlangana ezindlini zabo bezobala ilizwi likaNkulunkulu, njalo babehlangana emkhulekweni lasekudumiseni. Kwabonakala inguquko enkulu endaweni lezi. Loba nje kwakungabantu ababengafundanga njalo ababesebenza imisebenzi yokuzehlisa emphakathini, amandla wevangeli aguqulayo njalo aphakamisayo abonakala empilweni zabo. Ngokuzehlisa, langothando, njalo ngobungcwele, bama njengabafakazi bamandla wevangeli okuguqula labo abalamukela ngokuzimisela. {GC 215.1}IEP 215.1

Isibane esakhanyiswa edolobheni laseMeaux sakhanyisa endaweni ezikhatshana kakhulu. Nsukuzonke inani labantu ababephenduka lalilokhe likhula. Ulaka lwabaphathi bebandla lwamiswa yinkosi okwesikhatshana, owayezonda izenzo zezisebenzi zebandla kodwa, abaphathi bakapapa banqoba ekucineni. Kwaqala ukubaswa imlilo yokutshisa abalandeli beqiniso. Ubhishopi waseMeaux, watshelwa ukuthi akhethe phakathi komlilo lokuphika inkolo yakhe, wakhetha indlela elula, kodwa loba nje umphathi wabo wayesewile, abalandeli bakhe bama ngesibindi. Abanengi bafakazela iqiniso phakathi kwamalangabi. Ngokuzimisela kwabo njalo lesibindi sabo, amaKrestu lawa akhuluma lenkulungwane ezazingazange zizwe iqiniso ngensuku zokuthula. {GC 215.2}IEP 215.2

Kwakungasibo bodwa abaswelayo labazehlisayo phakathi kwenhlupheko njalo lokuthethiswa abakhetha ukufakazela uKrestu. Ezindlini zamakhosi kwakukhona imphefumulo yamakhosi eyakhetha iqiniso kulokuphakanyiswa kwasemhlabeni lempilo kanye lesikhundla. Izembatho zesikhosini zazivalele ngaphakathi umoya ophakemeyo okwedlula izembatho zamabhishopi lemiqhele yabo. ULouis de Berquin wayezelwe esikhosini. Wayeyindoda elesibindi, njalo wayezimisele ukubala, elesimo esilungileyo, njalo engelasici. Nxa omunye eloba uthi, “Wayengumlandeli omkhulu wemfundiso kapapa, njalo engumlaleli oqotho wentshumayelo zebandla...njalo wagcwalisa ukulunga kwakhe konke ngokuzonda imfundiso kaLuther kakhulu.” Kodwa njengabanye abanengi, waholelwa eBhayibhilini, wamangala nxa wayethola kilo, “hatshi imfundiso yebandla leRoma, kodwa imfundiso kaLuther.”- (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 9). Kusukela lapha wazinikela ngokuphelela emsebenzini wevangeli. {GC 215.3}IEP 215.3

“Omunye wezifundiswa ezinkulu zaseFrance,” lolwazi lwakhe lesipho sokukhuluma, lesibindi sakhe kanye lokuzimisela, lendonsela ayelayo esigodlweni, ngoba wayethandwa yinkosi, konke lokhu kwabangela ukuthi abantu abanengi babeke ithemba kuye elokuthi wayezaba nguMvuseleli welizwe lakibo. UBeza nxa wayekhuluma ngaye wathi: “UBerquin wayezaba nguLuther wesibili, ngabe wayethole kuFrancis I umbusi ofana lombusi waseSaxony.” “Mubi okwedlula uLuther,” kwakhala abaphathi bebandla. - (Ibid, b. 13, ch. 9). Abaphathi bebandla babemesaba kakhulu elizweni laseFrance. Bamphosela entolongweni njengomhlamuki, kodwa wabuya wakhululwa yinkosi. Okweminyaka eminengi impi leyi yaqhubeka. UFrancis wayelokhu ezidla ezibuza ukuthi asekele inkolo yeRoma kumbe eyeMvuselelo, ekucineni wavumela ulaka lwababusi bebandla. UBerquin wabotshwa kathathu ngabaphathi bebandla, ngazozonke izikhathi ekhululwa yinkosi, eyayisazi ukulunga kwakhe njalo wazimisela ukuthi wayengeke amnikele ezandleni zabaphathi bebandla. {GC 216.1}IEP 216.1

UBerquin wayetshelwa nsuku zonke ngengozi eyayimzungezile elizweni laseFrance, njalo watshelwa ukuthi alandele amanyathela alabo ababethole ukuphepha endaweni ezifihlakeleyo. UErasmus omunye wezikhwicafundo kodwa owayehluleke ukukhetha iqiniso ngokuphelela kwalo wabhalela uBerquin incwadi esithi: “Cela ukuthi bakuthumele njengomeli welizwe kweyinye indawo; hamba uvakatshele ilizwe laseGermany. Uyamazi uBeda ukuthi uyisilo esilamakhanda ayinkulungwane, esikhafula itshefu indawo yonke. Izitha zakho zingamakhulu. Ngabe umsebenzi wakho ubungcono kulokaJesu Krestu, bebengeke bakuyekele bazebakubulale. Ungathembeli kakhulu ekuvikelweni yinkosi. Loba sekutheni ungangifaki engozini mina lesikolo engifundisa kiso.” (Ibid, b. 13, ch. 9). {GC 216.2}IEP 216.2

Kodwa nxa iyezi lengozi lalilokhe likhula, isibindi sikaBerquin laso sakhula ngamandla. Kulokuthi amukele izixwayiso zikaErasmus ezazizabangela ukuthi amukelwe kwezombusazwe, wazimisela ukuma ngesibindi. Wayengasoke ame kuphela avikele iqiniso kodwa wayezahlasela imfundiso yamanga. Icala lokufundisa amanga ibandla elalimbeka lona, wayezalibeka phezu kwabo. Izitha zakhe ezazihamba phambili kwakuyizikhwicamfundo esikolweni saseParis, esasiphezu kwazo zonke izikolo njalo silendonsela elizweni lonke. Phakathi kwemibhalo yababalisi laba uBerquin waloba imigca engamatshumi lambili, “wakhuluma phambi kwabantu bonke ukuthi yayiphikisana leBhayibhili njalo yayingamanga;” njalo wacela inkosi ukuthi ibengumahluleli endabeni leyi. {GC 216.3}IEP 216.3

Inkosi ngenxa yokungesabi ukuqathanisa amaqembu lawa womabili ayelwisana, njalo ngenxa yokuthakazelela ithuba lokwehlisa ukuziphakamisa kwabaphathi bebandla, yabiza umhlangano wokuthi bezomela inkolo yabo besebenzisa iBhayibhili. Isikhali lesi babesazi ukuthi sasingeke sibalethele lutho, konke ababekwazi kwakuyikusebenzisa uchuku, lentolongo, kanye lokutshisa emlilweni. Khathesi konke kwasekuhlanekelwe, njalo bazibonela ukuthi basebezawela emgodini ababefise ukuthi baphosele kuwo uBerquin. Ngokumangala bakhangela eceleni bedinga indlela yokuphunyuka. {GC 217.1}IEP 217.1

“Kungakapheli insuku ezingaki isithombe sikaMaria komunye umgwaqo sadilizwa.” Kwabalokuhlokoma edolobheni lonke. Abantu abanengi bagcwala endaweni leyi. Abanengi begcwele inzondo lokukhala. Inkosi layo yakhathazeka kakhulu ngenxa yesenzo lesi. Leli kwasekulithuba abaphathi bebandla ababezalisebenzisa, njalo abazange bechithe isikhathi. Amazwi abo wokuqala aba ngawokuthi “Lezi yizithelo zemfundiso kaBerquin,“. “Konke sekuzatshabalaliswa, inkolo, lemthetho, kanye lombuso ngokwawo, ngenxa yemfundiso leyi yabalandeli bakaLuther.”- (Ibid, b. 13, ch. 9). {GC 217.2}IEP 217.2

Ngesikhatshana uBerquin wabotshwa futhi. Inkosi yasuka edolobheni laseParis, okwabangela ukuthi abaphathi bebandla bazenzele ngokuthanda kwabo. UMvuseleli wathonisiswa, wagwetshelwa ukufa, njalo bathi bebona ukuthi kwasekungenzeka uFrancis angenele, isigwebo sabekwa kwabekwa ukuthi abulawe ngosuku olufananayo. Ngezikhathi zemini uBerquin waqhutshelwa endaweni ayezabulawelwa khona. Ixuku labantu abanengi labuthana lifuna ukuzobona ukubulawa kwakhe, njalo kwakulabantu abanengi abakhangela ngokumangala ukuthi umuntu owayezabulawa wayengumuntu olungileyo njalo owayelesibindi esigodlweni saseFrance. Ukumangala, lolaka, lenhlekisa, njalo lenzondo enkulu yayigcwele ebusweni babantu abanengi, kodwa kwakungela sithunzi ebusweni bomuntu oyedwa. Imicabango kaBerquin yayikhatshana kakhulu kweziphithiphithi ezazimhanqile; wayecabanga kuphela ngobukhona bukaNkulunkulu. {GC 217.3}IEP 217.3

Inqola leyi ayegade kuyo, lobuso bezitha zakhe ezazihwaqile, lokufa okubuhlungu ayesiya kikho, konke lokhu kazange ekunake, Lowo ophilayo njalo owayefile, njalo ophila inaphakade, njalo olamakhiye okufa njalo legehena, wayeseduze laye. Ubuso bukaBerquin babugcwele ukukhanya lokuthula kwasezulwini. Wayegqoke izembatho ezinhle kakhulu. (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 2, ch. 16.) Wayesezafakazela ukholo lwakhe phambi kweNkosi yamakhosi, kanye lomhlaba wonke owawukhangele, njalo kwakungeke kubekhona usizi olulodwa olwaluzakhipha intokozo yakhe. {GC 218.1}IEP 218.1

Nxa umthimba wawuhamba kancane phakathi kwemigwaqo yedolobho, abantu bakhangela ngokumangala ubuso bakhe obabugcwele ukuthula, njalo lentokozo yokunqoba. “Ngathi ngumuntu ohlala ethempelini ocabangisisa ngendaba ezingcwele.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 9). {GC 218.2}IEP 218.2

Phambi kwendawo yokutshiswa, uBerquin wazama ukukhuluma labantu, kodwa abaphathi bebandla ngokwesaba umphumela wakhona, baqala ukumemeza, lamasotsha lawo aqala ukuqakeza okwabangela ukuthi ilizwi lakhe lingezwakali. Ngale indlela ngomnyaka ka1529, abantu ababelezikhundla lamandla amakhulu edolobheni laseParis, “babeka umzekeliso ebantwini abaphila ngomnyaka ka1793 wokubanga umsindo ukwenzela ukuthi amazwi abantu abafayo engazwakali.” — (Ibid, b. 13, ch. 9.) {GC 218.3}IEP 218.3

UBerquin wabotshwa njalo umzimba wakhe waphelela emalangabini. Umbiko wokubulawa kwakhe wabangela usizi elizweni lonke kulabo ababengabangane beMvuselelo. Kodwa umzekeliso wakhe wawungalahlekanga. “Lathi ngokunjalo sikulungele,” kwatsho abalandeli beqiniso, “ukuhlangana lokufa ngentokozo, sikhangelise amehlo ethu empilweni ezayo.”- (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 2, ch. 16.) {GC 218.4}IEP 218.4

Ngesikhathi sokuhlukunyezwa edolobheni laseMeaux, abafundisi benkolo yemvuselelo bancitshwa ilungelo lokutshumayela, ngakho basuka bayakwezinye indawo. ULefevre ngemva kwesikhatshana wasuka waya elizweni laseGermany. uFarel wabuyela ekhaya empumalanga yelizwe, ukuba ayehambisa ilizwi ebantwini bakibo. Indaba zalokhu okwakusenzakala eMaeux zasezifikile edolobheni lakibo, njalo leqiniso ayelifundisa ngesibindi lathola abalaleli. Ngesikhatshana abathungameli bedolobho benza imizamo yokuthi athuliswe, bamxothsa edolobheni lakibo. Loba nje wayengasenelisi ukusebenza egcekeni, waqala ukuvakatshela indawo ezisemaphandleni, efundisa emakhaya, njalo wayethola indawo yokulala emadwaleni lasezixukwini ayezesaba ekukhuleni kwakhe. UNkulunkulu wayemlungiselela inhlupheko ezedlula lapha. “Iziphambano, lokuhlukunyezwa, njalo lemtshoko kaSathane, ebengitshelwa ngayo, yonke seyenzakele, kubuhlungu okudluliseleyo, okwedlula lokhu ebengingakwamukela ngamandla wami; kodwa uNkulunkulu nguBaba wami; unginike amandla njalo uzahlala enginika amandla engiwadingayo.” — (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 12, ch. 9.) {GC 219.1}IEP 219.1

Njengasensukwini zabapostoli, ukuhlukunyezwa “kwakubangele ukuhanjiswa kwevangeli.” (Kwabasefiliphi 1:12). Ngemva kokuxotshwa kwabo eParis laseMeaux, “bagcwala indawo zonke bahamba betshumayela ilizwi.” (Imisebenzi 8:4). Ngale indlela ukukhanya kwathola indlela yokufinyelela indawo zonke zaseFrance. {GC 219.2}IEP 219.2

UNkulunkulu wayelokhe elungiselela izisebenzi ezazizahambisa umsebenzi wakhe. Kwesinye sezikolo zaseParis kwakulomuntu omutsha owayecabangisisa, elungile, njalo wayeseqalile ukubonasa ubufakazi bokuba lengqondo eqedisisayo, owayengelasici empilweni yakhe yokukholwa njalo leyemfundo. Ukuqedisisa kwakhe lendlela ayesebenzisa ngayo ulwazi lwakhe, kwabangela ukuthi abeligugu esikolweni sakhe, njalo abantu babelethemba lokuthi uJohn Calvin wayezaba ngomunye wabameli bebandla abakhulu. Kodwa insaba zokukhanya zangena phakathi kwemiduli yemfundiso yamasiko lapho uCalvin ayevalelwe khona. Laye wezwa ngemfundiso leyi entsha, wayengela kuthandabuza ukuthi abahlamuki laba babefanele isigwebo ababesithola. Ngemva kwesikhatshana wahlangana layo imfundiso yemvuselelo wabalethuba lokubona amandla wemfundiso yebandla awokubonisa ukuthi imfundiso leyi yayingamanga. {GC 219.3}IEP 219.3

Umzawakhe owayethole imfundiso yeMvuselelo wayamukela, wayevakatshele edolobheni leParis. Laba bobabili babelokuhlangana bekhulume ngezinto ezazihlukumeza inkolo yesiKrestu. “Kulenkolo ezimbili kuphela emhlabeni,” watsho uOlivetan owayenguMvuseleli. “Iqula elilodwa yileli elilemfundiso eyasungulwa ngabantu, kukho konke lokhu abantu bayazama ukuzisindisa ngokwenza inkonzo ezinengi lemisebenzi emihle; elinye iqula yinkolo leyi evezwa eBhayibhilini, njalo efundisa abantu ukuthi bakhangele emuseni kaNkulunkulu ongathengiswayo nxa befuna ukuthola usindiso.” {GC 220.1}IEP 220.1

“Angisoke ngilalele loba yimfundiso yakho eyodwa,” waphendula uCalvin; “ucabanga ukuthi sengiphile phakathi kwamaphutha impilo yami yonke?”- (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 7). {GC 220.2}IEP 220.2

Kodwa imicabango yaseyisunguliwe engqondweni yakhe, okwakungeke kubelula ukuthi ayesule lula. Wathi esesele yedwa endlini yakhe, waqala ukucabanga ngamazwi ayekhulunywe ngumzawakhe. Wezwa umthwalo wesono emoyeni wakhe, wazibona emile engelameli ezulwini, phambi komahluleli ongcwele njalo olungileyo. Ukuncengelwa ngabangcwele abafileyo, lemisebenzi yenyama, lenkonzo zebandla, zazingela mandla wokwesula isono. Kwakungekho okunye ayengakubona kulobunyama obunaphakade. Imfundiso zebandla zenza yonke imizamo yokususa ukwesaba kwakhe ngeze. Ukuvuma izono ebandleni, leminikelo, kwabayimizamo eyize; ngoba konke lokhu kwakungelamandla wokubuyisa umphefumulo entandweni kaNkulunkulu. {GC 220.3}IEP 220.3

Wathi elokhu ephatheke empikiswaneni leyi, uCalvin kwathi ngelinye ilanga evakatshela indawo lezi ezazivulekile edolobheni, wabona ngokokuqala omunye wabahlamuki etshiswa emlilweni. Wamangaliswa yikuthula okwakubonakala ebusweni benceku kaNkulunkulu eyayifela iqiniso. Phakathi kochuku lokubulawa ngendlela ebuhlungu, njalo ngaphansi kokubekwa icala elikhulu yibandla, inceku leyi yayibonisa ukukholwa lesibindi esasidlula ubunyama ayekubo yena loba nje wayephila impilo yokulandela imfundiso yebandla ngokuphelela kwayo. Wayesazi mhlophe ukuthi abahlamuki babebeke ukholo lwabo eBhayibhilini. Wazimisela ukulibala laye, ngoba wayefuna ukubakwazi imfihlo yenjabulo yabo. {GC 220.4}IEP 220.4

EBhayibhilini wathola uKrestu. “O Baba,” wakhala, “umnikelo wakhe sewapholisa ulaka lwakho; igazi lakhe selasula izono zami; isiphambano sakhe sesathwala isigwebo sami; ukufa kwakhe sekwangibuyisa lezulu. Sesazenzela imisebenzi eminengi engasiziyo, kodwa wena ufake ilizwi lakho phambi kwami njengesibane, njalo wena uthinte inhliziyo yami, ukwenzela ukuthi ngibone zonke indlela njengamanyala, kuphela igazi likaJesu.”- (Martyn, vol. 3, ch. 13). {GC 221.1}IEP 221.1

UCalvin wayefundiselwe ukuba abe ngumpristi. Wayefakwe wabangomunye wabatshumayeli ebandleni eleminyaka elitshumi lambili kwelinye lamabandla amancane, njalo ikhanda lakhe laligelwe ngumbhishopi ngendlela imthetho yebandla eyayiphawula ngayo. Kazange agcotshwe, njalo kazange afeze umsebenzi wakhe njengompristi, kodwa waba lilunga labaphathi bebandla, wabalesikhundla, njalo wayethola umholo ovela ebandleni. {GC 221.2}IEP 221.2

Manje wathi esenanzelela ukuthi wayengasoke esaba ngumpristi, waqala ukufunda ngezemithetho okwesikhatshana, kodwa ekucineni wakutshiya konke lokhu wanikela impilo yakhe yonke evangelini. Kodwa wayengelaso isifiso sokuba ngumtshumayeli phambi kwabantu. Wayengumuntu othuleyo ngokwesimilo sakhe, njalo wayesindwa ngumthalo womsebenzi lowu, kodwa wazimisela ekufundeni iBhayibhili. Amazwi abangane bakhe wokuthi aqale ukutshumayela, ekucineni aphumelela. “Kuhle kangakanani, ukuthi lowo ozelwe emulini ephansi, athole ithuba lokuphakanyiswa ahlonitshwe kangaka.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 9). {GC 221.3}IEP 221.3

UCalvin wangena emsebenzini wakhe ngokuthula, njalo amazwi akhe ayengathi ngamazolo awela emhlabathini. Wayesesukile edolobheni laseParis, njalo wayesesedolobheni lapho ayengaphansi kokuvikelwa yinkosikazi uMargaret, owayethe ngokuthanda ivangeli, wakhetha ukuvikela abafundi balo. UCalvin wayelokhe engumuntu omutsha, olungileyo, njalo owayengelakho ukuzenzisa. Umsebenzi wakhe waqala ezindlini zabantu. Wayefunda iBhayibhili phambi komdeni wonke, njalo wayebavulela amaqiniso wosindiso. Labo ababesizwa indaba ezimnandi babezithwalela kwabanye, ngesikhatshana wadlulela kwamanye amadolobho lakwezinye indawo. Wenelisa ukungena ezindlini zamakhosi lasebantwini bonke, waqhubeka edlulela endaweni zonke lapho ayesungula khona amabandla, ayezaqhubeka njalo lawo athwalele iqiniso phambili ngesibindi. {GC 221.4}IEP 221.4

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa wayesebuyelile edolobheni laseParis. Kwaba lokuhlokoma phakathi kwezifundiswa. Ukufundwa kwemibhalo yakudala kwakuholele abantu eBhayibhilini, njalo inengi labantu ababengathintwanga enhliziyweni ngamaqiniso walo, babehlala bekhuluma ngalo njalo bephikisana labameli bebandla. UCalvin loba nje wayeyincitshi kwezenkolo, wayelomsebenzi omkhulu wokwenza okwedlula ukuphikisana okwakusenziwa yizifundiswa lezi. Ingqondo zabantu zasezivulekile, manje kwasekuyisikhathi sokubavulela iqiniso. Nxa izindlu zokufundela ezikolo zazigcwele abantu ababephikisana, uCalvin yena wayesenza umsebenzi wakhe wokwethekelela abantu ezindlini zabo, ebavulela iBhayibhili, njalo ebafundisa ngoKrestu owabethelwayo. {GC 222.1}IEP 222.1

Ngomusa kaNkulunkulu idolobho laseParis laselizathola elinye ithuba lokuzwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. Ubizo lukaLafevre loFarel lwalungamukelwanga, kodwa ngokwesibili ivangeli lalizafinyelela abantu abanengi. Inkosi loba nje yayikhethe amandla ezombusazwe, yayingakadonselwa ngabaphathi bebandla ukuthi izonde abaVuseleli. UMargaret wabambelela ethembeni lokuthi umsebenzi weMvuselelo wawuzaphumelela edolobheni leParis. Waceba ukuthi ivangeli kwakumele litshunyayelwe eParis. Inkosi yathi iphumile edolobheni, wathumela omunye wabafundisi ukuthi ayetshumayela emabandleni ayesedolobheni leli. Ngenxa yokuthi lokhu kwakungavunyelwa, ababusi bavula iminyango yesigodlo. Kwayakhwa ithempeli kweyinye indlu, kwahamba ilizwi lokuthi nsuku zonke, kwakuzaba lenkonzo, ngehola elithile, njalo abantu bonke kungakhathalekile izigaba zabo zempilo, banxuswa ukuthi bezokuzwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. Amaxuku abantu eza enkonzweni lezi. Abantu bagcwala ethempelini leli elaliyakhiwe, abanye bagcwala kwezinye izindlu ngenxa yobunengi babo. Kwakubuthana inkulungwane zabantu ezazigoqela ababusi, labameli, labosomabhizimisi njalo lezisebenzi ezehlukeneyo. Inkosi kulokuthi yenqabele inkonzo lezi yabeka umthetho wokuthi kuvulwe amanye amabandla amabili edolobheni. Kwakungazake kube lesikhathi lapho idolobho lonke elathintwa yilizwi likaNkulunkulu kangaka. Umoya wokuphila ovela ezulwini kwakungathi wawu phefumulelwa ebantwini. Ukuzithiba, lokulunga, njalo lokusebenza, kwathatha indawo yokudakwa, lobuvila, njalo lokuganga. {GC 222.2}IEP 222.2

Kodwa abaphathi bebandla babengalalanga. Inkosi yala ukwenqabela ukutshunyayelwa kwevangeli, njalo bazama ukusebenzisa abantu. Benza yonke imizamo yokwethusela abantu, lokuhlanyela inzondo, njalo lokwenza ukuthi abantu bahlamuke. Ngokulalela abaphathi bebandla, idolobho laseParis njengedolobho laseJerusalema endulo, alizange lazi isikhathi salo sokuvakatshelwa, kumbe izinto ezazizaletha ukuthula ebantwini. Okweminyaka emibili ilizwi likaNkulunkulu latshunyayelwa edolobheni laseParis, loba nje babebanengi abalamukelayo, kodwa inengi labantu lavala indlebe. UFrancis wayebonisile ukuthi wayengafuni ukwenqabela ivangeli, ngoba wayefuna ukukhulisa amandla wakhe, kodwa abaphathi bebandla baphumelela ukwengeza amandla wabo. Ngokwesibili amabandla avalwa futhi, baqala ukutshisa abantu emlilweni. {GC 223.1}IEP 223.1

UCalvin wayelokhu eseParis, ezilungiselela ngokufunda langokuthandaza, njalo wayelokhe eqhubeka ehambisa ukukhanya. Ekucineni kodwa, baqala ukumsola. Abaphathi bebandla bazimisela ukuthi babezamletha emlilweni laye. Wayelokhu ecabanga ukuthi uphephile endaweni yakhe ecatshileyo, lapho abangane bakhe abeza begijima bezomazisa ukuthi abomthetho babesendleleni bezombopha. Ngaleso isikhathi kwezwakala ukuqoqoda esangweni elalingaphandle. Kazange achithe isikhathi. Abanye abangane bakhe bahamba bayakhuluma labomthehto esangweni, abanye benza imizamo yokumkhipha ngewindi wagijima esiya ngaphandle kwedolobho. Wathola indawo yokulala endlini yomunye owayengumngane weMvuselelo, wazifihla ngezigqoko zomuntu lowu, njalo wafaka ikhuba ehlombe waqala uhambo lwakhe. Wahamba elubhekise entshonalanga, wathola ukuphepha ngaphansi kombuso kaMargaret. - (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Tme of Calvin, b. 2, ch. 30). {GC 223.2}IEP 223.2

Kule indawo wahlala okwenyanga ezimbalwa, evikelwe ngabangane ababelamandla amakhulu kwezombusazwe, waqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe wokufunda njengenhlalayenza. Kodwa inhliziyo yakhe yayisekuvangeleni ilizwe laseFrance, kwabanzima kuye ukuthi ahlale nje engayenzi lutho. Isiphepho sathi siqala ukwehla, waqala ukudinga eyinye insimu ayezasebenza kuyo, edolobheni lasePoitiers, lapho okwakulesikolo esiphezulu njalo basebeyitholile imfundiso yevangeli bayamukela ngentokozo. Abantu abanengi bajabulela ukulalela imfundiso yevangeli. Kwakungekho ukutshumayela okwakusenziwa egcekeni, kodwa kwakusenziwa endlini kamehluleli omkhulu, lalapho uCalvini ayehlala khona, njalo kwezinye izikhathi kweyinye ingadi eyayivulekile, uCalvin wayevula ilizwi lokuphila phambi kwalabo ababethokozelela ukulizwa. Ngemva kwesikhathi nxa inani labalaleli lalikhula, kwahlelwa ukuthi kwakuphephile ukuthi inkonzo lezi zenziwe ngaphandle kwedolobho. Kwakhethwa ubhalu olwaluvulekile njalo olwaluvalelwe yizihlahla kanye lamadwala ayesenza ukuthi indawo yakhona isithele. Abantu ngamaqula amancane, babethatha indlela ezehlukeneyo basiyahlangana khona. Kule indawo esitheleyo iBhayibhili lalifundwa njalo lichazelwe abalaleli ababekhona. Kuleyi indawo inkonzo yesidlo yenziwa ngokokuqala ngamakholwa ayeselizweni laseFrance. Kusukela kulelibandla elincane abatshumayeli babethunyelwa endaweni ezitshiyeneyo. {GC 224.1}IEP 224.1

UCalvin waphinda njalo wabuyela edolobheni laseParis. Kwakunzima kuye ukuthi alahle ithemba lokuthi ilizwe laseFrance lalizamukela inkolo yeMvuselelo. Kodwa wathola ukuthi phose yonke imnyango yokusebenza yayivaliwe. Ukutshumayela ivangeli kwakusitsho ukuthatha indlela eya emlilweni, njalo ekucineni wakhetha ukuthi alubhekise elizweni laseGermany. Ngemva kwensukwana esukile, kwaqala njalo ukubulawa kwamaKrestu okukhulu, okokuthi ngabe wayehlalile kule indawo laye wayezabanjwa. {GC 224.2}IEP 224.2

Abavuseleli baselizweni laseFrance, ngenxa yesifiso ababelaso esokuba ilizwe labo lalo libesezingeni lamazwe waseGermany laseSwitzerland, benza imizamo eyayizalwisa imfundiso yebandla leRoma, okwakuzabangela ukuthi ilizwe lonke liphaphame. Ngokunjalo amabhakane ayelwisana lenkonzo okwakukholwa ukuthi iguqula iwayini ibe ligazi likaJesu lesinkwa sibe ngumzimba kaJesu weqiniso eyayisenziwa libandla leRoma, bawafaka elizweni lonke ngobusuku obubodwa. Isenzo lesi kulokuthi silethe ukunqoba kulabo ababesihlelile, sabangela ukuchitheka kwegazi lalabo ababesenzile kanye labangane bemvuselelo elizweni lonke laseFrance. Isenzo lesi sanika ibandla leRoma lokho ababekulindele okwesikhathi eside, isizatho sokufuna ukubhujiswa kwabahlamuki njengabantu ababehlukumeza ukuthula emphakathini njalo ababefuna ukuthatha umbuso. {GC 224.3}IEP 224.3

Ngokusebenzisa isandla esifihlakeleyo, akwazakalanga ukuthi kwenziwa ngumngane wemvuselelo kumbe yisitha, elinye lamabhakane lawa lafakwa phambi komyango wendlu yenkosi. Lokhu kwazondisa inkosi kakhulu. Umbhalo wakhona wawuhlasela ngamazwi alukhuni inkonzo njalo lenkolo eyayibekhona ebandleni okweminyaka eminengi. Njalo isibindi sokufaka elinye lakhona esigodlweni senkosi kwabangela ukuthi inkosi ithukuthele kakhulu. Ekumangaleni kwakhe wama okwesikhatshana eqhuqha njalo etshe amathe. Ulaka lwakhe lwathola amazwi wakhuluma amazwi alukhuni athi: “Bonke ababanjwe kungela kubandlulula abakholwa imfundiso kaLuther. Ngizababulala bonke.” (Ibid, b. 4, ch. 10). Isinqumo sasesiyenziwe. Inkosi yaseyizimisele ukuba sehlangothini lwebandla leRoma. {GC 225.1}IEP 225.1

Imizamo yenziwa eyokuthi kubotshwe bonke abalandeli bemfundiso kaLuther edolobheni laseParis. Omunye wezisebenzi owayesazi amakhaya walabo abakholwayo ngoba wayejwayele ukubabizela endaweni zabo zokukhonza ezifihlakeleyo, wabanjwa bamethusela ngokufa, bathi ehambe labo ebatshengisa zonke izindlu zamakholwa edolobheni lonke. Wathuka kakhulu ecabanga isenzo lesi, kodwa ngenxa yokwesaba ukubulawa wabangumthengisi wabazalwane bakhe. UMorin owayengumkhulu wamapholisa wahamba lamapristi njalo labaphathi bebandla, behamba betshisa impepha njalo bethwele lesinkwa senkonzo leyi eyayihlaselwe ngabavuseleli ngoba besithi uNkulunkulu wayethethisiwe ngesenzo ababesenzile. Kodwa ngaphakathi babegcwele inzondo enkulu ababeyifihlile. Nxa babefika endlini yomuntu owayelandela imfundiso kaLuther, umthengisi wayebakhomba kuphela engakhulamanga lelilodwa ilizwe. Umthimba lowu wawusima, bengene endlini leyo, imuli yonke yayibanjwa idonselwe phandle njalo babotshwe ngamaketane, ngemva kwalokho umthimba lowu wawuqhubekela emizini elandelayo. “Abatshiyanga indlu eyodwa, enkulu loba encane, hatshi lesikolo esiphezulu esaseParis...UMorin wenza ukuthi idolobho lonke liqhaqhazele... lesi kwakuyisikhathi sochuku.”- (Ibid, b. 4, ch. 10). {GC 225.2}IEP 225.2

Inceku zikaNkulunkulu zabulawa ngochuku olukhulu, kwenziwa isinqumo sokuthi umlilo wakhona ungakhwezelwa kakhulu ukwenzela ukuthi batshe okwesikhathi eside bengaphelanga. Kodwa loba kwakunjalo bafa bengabanqobi. Ukubambelela kwabo akuzange kunyikinyeke, njalo lukuthula kwabo akuzange kutshintshe. Ababulali babo, ngokuba babengela mandla wokususa isibindi sabo, banenzelela ukuthi babehluliwe. “Indawo zokulengisa abantu zahanjiswa endaweni zonke edolobheni laseParis, lomlilo wawuhlala uvutha nsukuzonke, injongo kwakuyikuthi bethusele abanye ngokubulala labo ababekhethe ukwamukela iqiniso. Loba kwakunjalo ivangeli yilo elathola umfutho ngenxa yesenzo sabo esibi. Idolobho lonke lathola ithuba lokubona ukuthi ivangeli lalibumba isimilo esinjani kulabo ababelikhethile. Kwakungekho intshumayelo edlula ukufa kwenceku zikaNkulunkulu. Intokozo eyayibonakala ebusweni babantu laba ababefela iqiniso...endaweni lapho ababebulawelwa khona, babelesibindi esimangalisayo loba babephakathi kwamalangabi, babonisa uxolo, njalo abanengi babelokhe bencenga ababulali babo ukuthi bamukele ivangeli ngothando ekubulaweni kwabo.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 20). {GC 226.1}IEP 226.1

Abapristi ngenxa yokuba babezimisele ukugcina ulaka lwabo lusezingeni eliphezulu, bahambisa amanga asabekayo ngabaVuseleli. Babekwa icala lokuhlela amacebo wokubulala bonke abantu ababekhonza inkolo yebandla leRoma, njalo lelokuthi babefuna ukuthatha umbuso kanye lesihlalo senkosi. Kwakungela ubufakazi ababelabo ukusekela wonke amacala ababewabeka phezu kwabo. Loba kwakunjalo amazwi lawa obubi ayezagcwaliseka, ngaphansi kwezehlakalo ezehlukeneyo, njalo ngaphansi kwembangela ehlukeneyo. Uchuku olwenziwa phezu kwabaVuseleli libandla leRoma lwangezelelwa lweza ngokuphindisela okwengeziweyo, njalo eminyakeni eyalandelayo, lwabangela ukulahlekelwa ngamandla ababekwesaba, phezu kwenkosi, lombuso, njalo lezinceku zakhe, kodwa kwalethwa ngabantu ababengasiwo amakrestu njalo labaphathi bebandla ngokwabo. Isizatho sakhona sasingasiso sokuqalwa kweMvuselelo, kodwa kwakuyimizamo yokuyinyathezela phansi, ngemva kweminyaka engamakhulu amathathu okwaletha inhlupheko enkulu elizweni laseFrance. {GC 226.2}IEP 226.2

Abantu babengasathembani, njalo kwabakhona ukulwisana okukhulu ebantwini bonke. Phakathi kwesiphithiphithi lesi kwabasobala ukuthi imfundiso kaLuther, yayithinte inhliziyo lempilo zabantu ababephezulu kwezemfundo, lezombusazwe, njalo labantu ababelezimo ezilungileyo. Izikhundla ezazidinga abantu abathembekileyo labalesithunzi zaqala ukuvuleka kungasela muntu kizo. Izisebenzi ezinengi, kusukela ebantwini ababesebenza ngezandla, lababalisi ezikolo eziphezulu basebengasekho. Amakhulu abantu abaleka esuka edolobheni laseParis, abantu bakhetha ukudela imizi yabo babonisa ukuthi babekhethe ukumela iqiniso kulenotho yomhlaba. Abaphathi bebandla bakhangelana ngokumangala nxa babecabanga ukuthi kwakulabahlamuki ababehlala phakathi kwabo ababengabacabangeli. Ulaka lwabo lwehliselwa phezu kwalabo ababelokhe bengaphansi kwamandla abo. Amajele ayegcwele abantu njalo lomoya esibhakabhakeni wawugcwele intuthu yemlilo eyayibaselwe inceku zikaNkulunkulu. {GC 227.1}IEP 227.1

UFrancis wayeziqhenya ngokuthi wayebengumbusi owayebangele ukuvuselelwa kwemfundo ebantwini bonke. Wayejabulele ukuletha abantu ababevela endaweni zonke elizweni ababelolwazi. Isifiso sakhe sokuthi abantu bathole ulwazi sasibangele ukuthi ekuqaleni imfundiso yemvuselelo ikhule ngoba abantu babesenelisa ukuzibalela. Kodwa ngenxa yomoya owawumfuqa wokuqeda bonke abahlamuki, wabeka umthetho wokuthi kungasayenziwa ingwalo elizweni lonke. UFrancis umi njengomunye wemzekeliso ebonisayo ukuthi ukwanda kolwazi elizweni akusilo thango oluvikela ukuthi abantu behlukunyezwe ngenxa yenkolo yabo. {GC 227.2}IEP 227.2

Ilizwe laseFrance ngenxa yokwenziwa kwenkonzo ethile phambi komuntu wonke laselizazimisela ukubhidliza imfundiso yeMvuselelo. Abaphathi bebandla batshela inkosi ukuthi ukuhlamuka lokukhuluma kabi ngenkonzo yokudliwa komzimba kaJesu kwakuyisono esikhulu phambi kwezulu ngakho kwakumele kuhlatshwe umnikelo, njalo inkosi yayimele imemezele phambi kwabantu ukuthi umsebenzi lowu omubi wenziwe. {GC 227.3}IEP 227.3

Mhlaka 21 kunyanga kaZibandlela ngomnyaka ka1535, kwabekwa ukuthi kube lusuku lwenkonzo leyi embi. Abantu basebethuselwe ngalokho okwakuzakwenzakala nxa inkonzo leyi ingenziwanga. Idolobho laseParis lagcwala abantu ababevela endaweni zonke. Usuku lolu lwaluzasungulwa ngumthimba omkhulu ngabaphathi bebandla. “Izindlu zonke ezazisendleleni yomthimba lowu zazicecisiswe ngemfanekiso yosizi, njalo kwakuleziduli zomnikelo endaweni ezitshiyeneyo.” Phambi kwemnyango yonke kwakulayithwe izibane ezazihlonipha inkonzo leyi. Emadabukakusa umthimba lowu waqala esigodlweni. “Phambili kwakulamabhakane ebandla leziphambano, kwalandela abantu ababehamba ngambili ngambili bethwele izibani.” Amaqembu abaphathi bebandla amane alandelena ngezembatho zabo ezehlukeneyo. Kwalandela abaphathi abaphakemeyo ababegqoke izembatho ezibizayo njalo ezicwebezelayo. {GC 228.1}IEP 228.1

“Isitsha lesi abafaka kiso isinkwa abakholwa ukuthi siguqula isinkwa sibe ngumzimba kaJesu sasithwelwe ngumbhishopi weParis ngaphansi kwengalane...eyayibanjwe ngababusi abane... ngemva kwabo kwakuhamba inkosi...uFrancis ngalolusuku wayengagqokanga umqhele, kumbe izembatho zobukhosi.” Ngekhanda elalingavalwanga, lamehlo wakhe ekhangele phansi, njalo ethwele isibane esandleni sakhe, “inkosi yaseFrance yabonakala isesimeni zokuzehlisa.”- (Ibid, b. 13, ch. 21). Phambi kwendawo zomnikelo wayekhothama ngokuyangeka, hatshi ngenxa yezono ezazingcolise umphefumulo wakhe, kumbe igazi elaliphezu kwezandla zakhe, kodwa ngenxa yezono zalabo ababephakeme bafundisa abantu ukuthi inkonzo yesidlo ngendlela eyayisenziwa ngayo libandla leRoma yayiphambene lelizwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kwakhe kwalandela indlovukazi yelizwe, labaphathi belizwe labo ababehamba ngambili ngambili, bethwele izibane. {GC 228.2}IEP 228.2

Njengeyinye yenkonzo yosuku, inkosi ngokwayo yakhuluma phambi kwababusi labaphathi bebandla endlini eyayisesigodlweni sombhishopi. Ngobuso obabugcwele usizi wasukuma wakhuluma amazwi ayesola “amacala, lenhlamba, eyenziwa ngosuku lolu olwalulethe usizi lokuyangeka” olwalwehlele isizwe sonke. Njalo watshiya inselela kubo bonke abantu embusweni wakhe ukuthi bancedise ukuqeda bonke abahlamuki ababefuna ukuletha ububi elizweni laseFrance. “Njengenkosi yenu eqotho, ngabe bengisazi ukuthi omunye wegazi lami ungcoliswe yimfundiso leyi ebolileyo, bengizalinika ukuthi limqume...njalo uba bengibonile omunye wabantwababami engcoliswe yimfundiso leyi, bengingeke ngimvikele...bengiza mletha mina ngokwami, njalo ngimnikele phambi kaNkulunkulu.” Inyembezi zazihlengezela ebusweni bakhe, njalo umhlangano wonke waqala ukububula, ngelizwi elilodwa besithi: “Sizaphilela njalo sifele inkolo yebandla laseRoma!”- (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 4, ch. 12). {GC 228.3}IEP 228.3

Ubunyama obasebehlele isizwe lesi esasiphike iqiniso babusesabeka kakhulu. Umusa oletha usindiso wawusunyamalele; kodwa ilizwe laseFrance, ngemva kokubona amandla njalo lobungwele, ngemva kokuthi inkulungwane zabantu zazike zadonselwa ebuhleni beqiniso, ngemva kokuthi amadolobho lamakhaya ayekhanyiswe ngobuhle balo, basebekhethe ukufulathela, bakhetha ubunyama kulokukhanya. Basebesuse kibo isipho sasezulwini ababesiphiwe. Babekhethe ukubiza isono njengobuhle, njalo ubuhle isono, kwazekwabangela ukuthi bazidukise ngamandla. Khathesi loba babekholwa ukuthi babesenza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ngokubulala abantu bakhe, kodwa ukukholwa kwabo lokhu loba kwakulungile emehlweni wabo, kwakungatsho ukuthi babengelacala phambi kaNkulunkulu. Ukukhanya okwakuzabasiza ukuthi bangadukiswa, njalo bangcolise umphefumulo ngecala lokubulala, basebekhethe ukukuphika. {GC 229.1}IEP 229.1

Isifungo esikhulu sokuqeda imfundiso yamanga esenziwa ethempelini lapho ngemva kweminyaka engamakhulu amathathu, okwakuzabekwa esihlalweni unkulunkulukazi wolwazi yisizwe lesi esasesikhohlwe uNkulunkulu ophilayo. Ngemva kwamazwi enkosi umthimba lowu waqhubeka, njalo abameli beFrance balungiselela ukwenza inkonzo leyi ababebuthene ngayo. “Endaweni eziseduzeduze kwakubaswe imlilo lapho amaKrestu eqiniso ayezatshiswa khona bephila, kwahlelwa ukuthi abantu laba babezatshiswa nxa inkosi isiseduze labo, njalo lokuthi umthimba lowu wawuzakuma ukuthi babukele ukubulawa kwabo.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 21). Izenzo zochuku ezenziwa phezu kwenceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyesabeka kakhulu ukuthi zibhalwe phansi, kodwa kwakungekho ukwesaba encekwini zikaJehova. Nxa kwakuthiwa baphike inkolo yabo, omunye waphendula wathi: “Ngikholwa kuphela kulokho okwakutshunyayelwa ngabafundi labaprofethi, njalo lokho okwakukholwa lixuku labangcwele. Ukholo lwami luthembela kuNkulunkulu njalo luzamelana lamandla wonke wobunyama.”- (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 4, ch. 12). {GC 229.2}IEP 229.2

Ngokuphinda phinda umthimba lowu wawusima endaweni zokutshiswa. Bathi befika endaweni lapho ababeqalise khona, abantu baqala ukuphindela emuva, njalo inkosi labaphathi bebandla babuyela emakhaya wabo, besuthisekile ngezehlakalo zosuku njalo betshayelana amahlombe ngomsebenzi ababewuqalile bekholwa ukuthi wawuzaqhubeka ulethe ukubhijiswa kwemfundiso yemvuselelo. {GC 230.1}IEP 230.1

Ivangeli lokuthula ilizwe laseFrance elaliyale ukulamukela lalizatshabalala ngokweqiniso, njalo umphumela wakhona wawuzaba mubi kakhulu. Mhlaka 21 ngenyanga kaZibandlela ngomyaka ka1793, ngemva kweminyaka engamakhulu amabili lamatshumi amahlanu lesitshiya galombili, kusukela esukwini lolu lapho ilizwe laseFrance elaliyenze imizamo yokubulala abaVuseleli, omunye umthimba, owawulenjongo ehlukeneyo, wadlula phakathi kwemigwaqo yaseParis. “Futhi kulowu umthimba inkosi yayiphambili; futhi kwakulokumemeza lokuhlokoma; futhi kwezwakala ukukhala kwalabo ababeyizibotshwa; futhi kwakulendawo zokutshiswa; futhi izehlakalo zosuku zavalwa ngokubulawa kwabantu ngochuku olukhulu; uLouis XVI, ebambisane izandla labantu ababembophile, wadonswa wabanjwa ngamandla endaweni yokuqunywa, ihloka lazelabekwa entanyeni yakhe, njalo ikhanda lakhe lagiqikela phansi.” — (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 21). Kwakungasuye yedwa owabulawayo ngalolusuku, abantu abazinkulungwane ezimbili lamakhulu ayisitshiyagalombili, babulawa ngensuku zokuchitheka kwegazi elizweni laseFrance. {GC 230.2}IEP 230.2

Umsebenzi weMvuselelo wawulethe phambi komhlaba iBhayibhili elivuliweyo, kwavulwa imthetho kaNkulunkulu njalo imfundiso yalo yabekwa enhliziyweni zabantu. Uthando lwasezulwini lwaluvulele abantu imfundiso zasezulwini. UNkulunkulu wayekhulume amazwi alandelayo: “Zigcineni, lizenze; ngoba ngokwenza njalo lizatshengisa ukuhlakanipha lolwazi ebantwini abazakuthi besizwa lezizimiso zonke, bathi: Impela isizwe lesi esikhulu ngesabantu abahlakaniphileyo labaziyo.” (Duteronomi 4: 6). Nxa ilizwe laseFrance laseliphike isipho sasezulwini, bahlanyela inhlanyelo yokuzibusa lokubhubha, njalo umphumela wezenzo zabo wabangela umvukela omkhulu njalo lochuku olwalandelayo. {GC 230.3}IEP 230.3

Ebangeni elide ukubulawa kwabantu okwalethwa yikubhalwa kwamabhakane lawa kungakafiki, uFarel wayephoqelwe ukuthi asuke elizweni lokuzalwa kwakhe. Wayesuke wayelizweni laseSwitzerland, njalo ngokusebenza kwakhe, esekela umsebenzi kaZwingle, wasiza laye ukukhulisa umsebenzi weMvuselelo. Imnyaka yakhe yokucina wayichitha kule indawo, loba kunjalo waqhubeka elesandla emsebenzini weMvuselelo owawuqhubeka elizweni laseFrance. Emnyakeni yakhe yokuqala phetsheya, wazimisela ukusebenzela abantu bakibo. Wachitha isikhathi esinengi etshumayeza abantu bakibo ababehlala emngceleni, lapho abona khona impikiswano eyayisungulwe ngamazwi wakhe wokufundisa lokuqondisa. Ngenxa yokusebenzisana labanye, ingwalo ezazibhalwe ngolimi lwaseGermany, zaphendulelwa elimini lwaseFrance, njalo baqala ukwenza iBhayibhili ngolimi lwaseFrance. Zonke lezi ingwalo zanikwa abathengisi bengwalo ngentengo ephansi, ngale indlela imali ababeyithola yabasiza ukuthi umsebenzi wabo uqhubekele phambili. {GC 231.1}IEP 231.1

UFarel waqala umsebenzi wakhe elizweni laseSwitzerland ezifihle ngaphansi kwezembatho zokuba ngumbalisi esikolo. Ngemva kokusuka lapha, waqala umsebenzi wokufundisa abantwana. Ngaphandle kokubafundisa okujwayelekileyo, waqala ukubafundisa ngeBhayibhili, ejonge ukusebenzisa abantwana ukufinyelela abazali babo. Babekhona abanye abaqala ukukholwa, kodwa abapristi babuya bamisa umsebenzi lowu, njalo abantu ababekholwa amasiko baphakama ukuthi baphikise umsebenzi lowu. “Lokhu ngeke kube livangeli likaKrestu,” kwabangamazwi abapristi, “ngoba siyabona ukuthi ukutshumayelwa kwalo akulethi ukuthula, kodwa impi.”- (Wylie, b. 14, ch. 3). Njengabafundi endulo, nxa babehlukunyezwa edolobheni elilodwa, wasuka wayakwelinye. Wayesuka endaweni zonke, ehamba ngenyawo, edlula phakathi kwendlala, lomqando, njalo lokudinwa, njalo endaweni zonke wayesengozini yokulahlekelwa yimpilo yakhe. Wayetshumayela endaweni zokuthenga, emabandleni, kwesinye isikhathi phakathi kwamathempeli amakhulu. Kwesinye isikhathi wayethola ibandla elingelabalaleli, kwesinye isikhathi intshumayelo yakhe yayiphanjaniswa ngabantu ababememeza njalo bemphambanisa, kwesinye isikhathi babemkhipha ngodlame. Kwezinye izikhathi babemdonsela phandle bamtshaye bazebaphose bembulale. Loba kwakunjalo waqhubekela phambili ngomsebenzi wakhe. Lobanje esikhathini esinengi babemalisa ukungena, wayeqhubeka ezama ukungena, njalo ngemva kwesikhathi waqala ukubona indawo lapho okwakuyisigodlo senkolo yeRoma, ziqala ukuvula amasango ukuthi ivangeli lingene. Indawo encane lapho ayeqale khona ukusebenza yamukela imfundiso yeMvuselelo. Amadolobho aseMorat laseEuchatel lawo aqala ukukhipha amasiko ebandla leRoma njalo lezithombe emabandleni wabo. {GC 231.2}IEP 231.2

UFarel wayefise okwesikhathi eside ukuhlanyela ibandla edolobheni laseGeneva. Nxa kwakungenzeka ukuthi idolobho leli linqotshwe, lalizaba yisigodlo semfundiso yeMvuselelo elizweni laseFrance, laseSwitzerland, njalo laseItaly. Ngenxa yenjongo leyi ayelayo, waqhubeka etshumayeza indawo ezaziseduze lalelidolobho. Ngemva kwalokho wangena edolobheni laseGeneva ehamba lomunye umvangeli bebabili kuphela. Kodwa wavunyelwa ukutshumayela kabili kuphela. Abapristi ngemva kokumangalela kubaphathi bomthetho, bambizela phambi komhlangano wabaphathi bebandla, lapho abezakhona belezikhali ababezifihle ngaphansi kwezembatho zabo, ngoba babezimisele ukuthatha umphefumulo wakhe. Phandle kwendlu leyi yokuhlangana, kwakulexuku labantu elaliphuphuma ngolaka, bethwele inkemba lamahloka, belinde ukuthi bambulale nxa kwakungenzeka ukuthi azame ukubaleka. Ukubakhona kwabahluleli lamabutho ayehlomile yikho okwahlenga umphefumulo wakhe. Emadabukakusa ngelanga elalandelayo, lomunye wakhe, bathathwa bayachatshiswa umfula batshiywa endaweni yokuphepha. Ngale indlela imizamo yakhe yakuqala yokuvangela idolobho laseGeneva yaphela. {GC 232.1}IEP 232.1

Emizameni yesibili kwakhethwa umuntu omutsha owayezaba yisitsha esasizasetshenziswa endaweni leyi, owayekhangeleka njengomuntu oswelayo kakhulu, okwabangela ukuthi abangane bemvuselelo labo ekuqaleni bengamamukeli ngezandla ezifudumalayo. Kambe umuntu ofana laye wayezakwenzani endaweni lapho uFarel ayephikwe khona? Wayezakwenza njani umuntu owayelesibindi esincane ukuthi amele iziphepho lapho okwakuhluleke abantu ababelezibindi? “Ukuphumelela kwakho kakusikho ngempi langamandla, kodwa ngomoya wami, kutsho iNkosi yamabandla.” (Zekariya 4:6). “UNkulunkulu ukhethile izinto zobuthakathaka zomhlaba ukuba ayangise abahlakaniphileyo.” “Ngoba ubuthutha bukaNkulunkulu buhlakaniphile kulokuhlakanipha kwabantu, lobuthakathaka bukaNkulunkulu bulamandla ukwedlula amandla abantu.” (1 Korinte 1: 27, 25). {GC 232.2}IEP 232.2

UFroment waqala umsebenzi wakhe wasebenza njengombalisi. Amaqiniso awafundisa abantwana esikolo ayephindwa phindwa emakhaya wabo. Ngemva kwesikhatshana abazali baqala ukubuya ukuthi bezozizwela iBhayibhili lifundiswa, kwaze kwafika isikhathi lapho indlu yokufundela eyayigcwala khona abalaleli ababefuna ukuqedisisa. Ithestamente elitsha lezinye ingwalo zaqala ukuqhutshelwana, njalo zafinyelela abanengi ababengela sibindi sokuyalalela imfundiso leyi eyayintsha. Ngemva kwesikhatshana isisebenzi lesi laso saphoqelwa ukuthi sibaleke; kodwa iqiniso ayelifundisile laselingene lahlala engqondweni zabantu. Umsebenzi weMvuselelo wasewuhlanyeliwe, njalo waqhubeka ukhula njalo usiba lamandla. Abatshumayeli babuyela futhi endaweni leyi njalo ngenxa yokusebenza kwabo inkolo yeqiniso yasungulwa edolobheni laseGeneva. {GC 232.3}IEP 232.3

Idolobho leli laselamukele imfundiso yeMvuselelo ngesikhathi uCalvin efika kilo ngemva kokuzula okunengi. Ngemva kokuphenduka ehambeni lwakhe lokuvakatshela indawo yokuzalwa kwakhe, wayesendleleni elubhekise edolobheni laseBasel, lapho athola ukuthi indlela eyayisiyakhona yayivalwe ngamabutho kaCharles V, waphoqelwa ukuthi athathe indlela eyayidlula eGeneva. {GC 233.1}IEP 233.1

Ekufikeni kwakhe lapha, uFarel wananzelela ukusebenza kwesandla sikaNkulunkulu. Loba nje idolobho laseGenava laselamukele imfundiso yeMvuselelo, kwakuselomsebenzi omkhulu okwakufanele wenziwe. Umsebenzi wokuphendula abantu awuhambi ngesigaba kodwa ngokuphendulwa kwabantu munye ngamunye, umsebenzi wokuzalwa katsha kumele wenziwe enhliziyweni, ngamandla kaMoya oyiNgcwele, hatshi ngokubekwa kwemithetho emhlanganweni. Loba nje abantu baseGeneva babelahlele khatshana amandla webandla leRoma, babengakafiki ebangeni lokulahla inkolo ababeyamukele ngaphansi kwamandla alo. Ukusungula kule indawo imfundiso yeqiniso njalo lokulungiselela abantu laba ukuthi bathathe indawo uNkulunkulu ayebabizela kiyo kwakungaso msebenzi olula. {GC 233.2}IEP 233.2

UFarel wayelethemba elikhulu elokuthi wayesethole kuCalvin, omunye ayezabambisana laye emsebenzini lowu. Ngegama likaNkulunkulu wacela umvangeli lowu omncane ukuthi ahlale kule indawo asebenze laye. UCalvin wahlehlela emuva ngokumangala. Yena wayelesimo somuntu othanda ukuthula, njalo wabuna nxa wayecabanga ukuthi wayezasebenza phakathi kwabantu ababeziphakamisa njalo ababelomoya wokulwa edolobheni laseGeneva. Ngenxa yomzimba wakhe owawungaphilanga kahle, kanye lokuthanda kwakhe ukubala, yena wayefisa ukuthola indawo yokuphumula. Wayekholwa ukuthi wayezasebenzisa usiba lwakhe ukusebenzela umsebenzi weMvuselelo, wafisa ukuthola indawo ethuleyo yokuthi abale, njalo kusukela kule indawo, asebenzise incwadi ukuthi ahlanganyele emsebenzini wokuhlanyela amabandla. Kodwa isicelo sikaFarel seza kuye sengathi kwakulubizo lwasezulwini njalo wayengeke ayale. Kwabonakala kuye, “sengathi isandla sikaNkulunkulu selulwa sisuka ezulwini, samthinta, njalo samfaka endaweni ayengalasineke sokusuka kuyo.” (D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 9, ch. 17). {GC 233.3}IEP 233.3

Ngalesi isikhathi kwakulengozi enkulu eyayihanqe umsebenzi weMvuselelo. Incwadi ezivela kupapa zakhwaza eGeneva njalo amazwe amanengi amakhulu ethusela ilizwe leli elincane befuna ukulihlasela. Kwakuzayenzakala njani ukuthi idolobho leli elincani liphikisane lamandla amakhulu kangaka ayebangele ukuthi amakhosi lababusi bazehlise ngaphansi kwawo? Lalizakuma kanjani limelane lamabutho amazwe ayenqobe umhlaba wonke na? {GC 234.1}IEP 234.1

Endaweni ezinengi, inkolo yeMvuselelo yayihanqwe yizitha ezilamandla amakhulu. Ngemva kokudlula kokunqoba okwakutholwe yimfundiso yeMvuselelo, ibandla leRoma laseliqale ukusebenzisa amanye amaqhinga belethemba lokuthi babezayibhidliza iphele. Ngalesi isikhathi kwasungulwa inhlanganiso yamaJesuits, eyayilochuku olukhulu, kwakungabantu abagcwele ububi ababengaphansi kukapapa. Babengabantu ababehlukaniswe labanye abantu njalo lezinto zomhlaba, bengasela thando kumbe umzangedwa phakathi kwabo, umzwangedwa wabo wasewathula kudala, kwakungela mthetho abawulandelayo, lobudlelwane labanye abantu kodwa kuphela obeqembu labo, njalo babengalawo omunye umsebenzi kulokuthi bekhulise amandla weqembu labo. Ivangeli likaKrestu lalinike izisebenzi zakhe isibindi sokumelana lengozi njalo lokudlula enhluphekweni, babengesabi umqando, lendlala, lokusebenza nzima, njalo lokuswela, lokuphakamisa ibhakane leqiniso lasemlilweni wokufa, njalo lasemajele. Ukwenzela ukuthi benelise ukulwisana lenceku zikaNkulunkulu, amaJesuit lawo adonsela abantu enkolweni ehambelana leyeMvuselelo, bafundisa abantu ukuthi labo bengasabi ingozi ezifananayo njalo baphikise iqiniso lonke ngokusebenzisa izikhali zokudukisa. Kwakungela cala elikhulu kakhulu ababengenelisi ukulenza, kungela maqhinga okudukisa ababengenelisi ukuwasebenzisa, njalo lokuzifihla okukhulu abangazange bakwenze. Loba nje babefunga ukuthi babezimisele ukuhlupheka lokuswela, kwakuyinhloso yabo ukuthola inotho lamandla, babezimisele ukuwisa inkolo yeMvuselelo, njalo lokubisela amandla wonke kupapa. {GC 234.2}IEP 234.2

Nxa babesima phambi kwabantu, babegqoka izembatho zokulunga, bevakatshela amajele lezibhedlela, behambela abagulayo labaswelayo, besithi sebadela umhlaba, njalo betshumayela igama likaJesu, owayehamba indawo zonke esenza okuhle. Kodwa ngaphansi kwesimo lesi esilungileyo, injongo ezimbi kakhulu zazifihliwe ngaphakathi. Kwakuyinkolo ababephila ngayo kule inhlanganiso eyokuthi isiphetho senza ukuthi amanyathelo wonke athethweyo abemahle kungakhathalekile ukuthi abemabi. Ngokusebenzisa imfundiso leyi amanga, lokweba, lobuqili, lokubulala abantu, kwakungaso zenzo ezithethelelekayo kodwa zazivunyelwe, nxa zazibangela ukuthi injongo yebandla ifezeke. Ngaphansi kokuzifihla okwehlukeneyo, amaJesuit asebenzela ukuthi bathole izikhundla ezehlukeneyo elizweni, bakhwela abanye bayakuba ngababusi njalo babalesandla ekubunjweni kwemithetho yelizwe. Benza umsebenzi wokuba ngabathengisi bababusi ababebasebenzela. Baqala izikolo lapho okwakufunda khona indodana zababusi lamakhosi, njalo lezikolo zabantukazana; njalo labantwana babaVuseleli badonselwa ukuthi balandele imfundiso zikapapa. Konke ukuziphakamisa lokuzibonakalisa kokukhonza kweRoma kwalethwa besenzela ukuthi baphice ingqondo zabafundi, ngale indlela inkululeko eyayilwelwe ngabazali babo yathengiswa ngamadodana wabo. AmaJesuit aqhubeka ethumela amalunga wabo emazweni amanengi aseEurope, njalo kuzo zonke indawo ababehamba kuzo kwakusiba lokuvuselelwa kwamandla kapapa. {GC 235.1}IEP 235.1

Ngemizamo yokubanika amandla ayengeziweyo, kwabekwa njalo umthetho wokuthi bonke abahlamuki babulawe. Kungakhathekile ukuthi abantu babengawufuni umthetho lowu, lasemazweni ayelandela inkolo yebandla leRoma, umthetho lowo wabekwa ngabaphathi bebandla, njalo izenzo zochuku ababengeke bazenze emini, zenziwa emgodini yasemajele ebusuku. Emazweni amanengi izinkulungwane zezinkulungwane zabantu ababeligugu emazweni wakibo, ababusi abaqotho kulabo bonke, abantu ababekhaliphe okwedlula bonke, labafundisi abalungileyo, lezakhamizi ezazisebenza ngamandla amakhulu, bonke babebulawa kumbe babephoqelwe ukuthi babalekele kwezinye indawo. {GC 235.2}IEP 235.2

Lezi kwakungezinye indlela ibandla leRoma elalikhethe ukuzisebenzisa ukwenzela ukuthi bacitshe isibane seMvuselelo, lokususa iBhayibhili ebantwini, njalo lokuletha ubunyama bokungabi lolwazi okwakukhona eminyakeni yobunyama eyayedlule. Kodwa ngaphansi kokuthungamela kukaNkulunkulu amadoda lawa alungileyo ayewavusele ukuthi athathe isikhundla sikaLuther, umsebenzi weMvuselelo wawungeke utshabalaliswe. Wawungeke uthole amandla wawo ezikhalini lasemandleni ababusi. Amazwe amancane njalo ayengelamandla, aphenduka abayindawo lapho iMvuselelo eyayiqine khona. Kwakulidolobho elincane laseGeneva, phakathi kwezitha ezilamandla ezazihlela ukubhidlizwa kwalo, njalo kwakuseHolland ekhunjini lolwandle lapho ababelwisana lochuku olwaluseSpain, ilizwe elaliqinile okwedlula amanye ngalesi isikhathi; kwakuselizweni laseSweden njalo, lapho ukunqoba kwemfundiso yeMvuselelo okwaphuma khona. {GC 235.3}IEP 235.3

Phose okweminyaka engamatshumi amathathu uCalvin, wasebenza edolobheni laseGeneva, wabangowokuqala ukusungula ibandla elalilandela imfundiso yeBhayibhili, njalo lokuhanjiswa kweMvuselelo emazweni wonke waseEurope. Umsebenzi wakhe njengomphathi wawulamaphutha wawo, njalo lemfundiso yakhe yayilamaphutha kwezinye izikhathi. Kodwa wabangesinye sezitsha esaletha amaqiniso abalulekileyo esikhathini ababephila kuso, wasebenzela ukugcina imfundiso yeMvuselelo phakathi kwemizamo eyayisenziwa eyokubisela ubunyama bemfundiso kapapa, njalo lokuphakamisa phambi kwebandla imfundiso yokulunga lokuzehlisa empilweni yabantu, endaweni yokuziphakamisa okwakulethwe yimfundiso yeRoma. {GC 236.1}IEP 236.1

Kusukela edolobheni laseGeneva, ingwalo labatshumayeli babethunyelwa ukuyahambisa imfundiso yemvuselelo. Bonke ababehlukunyezwa endaweni zonke babekhangela kule indawo ukuthi bathole amazwi wokuqiniswa njalo lalokho okwakumele bakwenze. Idolobho likaCalvin laba yindawo yokuphepha kubo bonke abaVuseleli ababezingelwa eEurope. Nxa babebalekela iziphepho ezesabakayo ezaqhubeka okweminyaka eminengi, abantu abanengi bathola ukuphepha emasangweni aseGeneva. Abanye babelambile, belimele, belahlwe ngabazali lezihlobo, babeyamukelwa ngezandla ezivulekileyo njalo babenakekelwa ngothando, njalo babethola indawo yokuhlala kule indawo, babusisa idolobho leli ngemisebenzi ababeyifundele njalo langokulunga kwabo. Abanengi ababethole indawo yokuphepha kulelidolobho babebuyela emazweni akibo besiyalwisana lochuku lweRoma. UJohn Knox, uMvuseleli owayelesibindi owayevela elizweni laseScotland, labanye ababevela elizweni laseEngland, laseHolland, abanye elizweni laseSpain, laseFrance, basuka eGeneva bethwele isibane seqiniso besiyakhanyisela indawo zakibo. {GC 236.2}IEP 236.2