November 23, 2022

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Following the few years of relative peace in France, the papists regained the upper hand. The stake was set up once again. Suddenly, a group of friends hurried to Calvin’s room to warn him that officers were enroute to arrest him. At that moment loud knocking was heard at the outer entrance. Some of the friends detained the officers at the entrance while others helped Calvin out a window. He traveled on foot to the cabin of a believer on the outskirts of the city. From there, wearing his friend’s clothes and shouldering a hoe, Calvin headed south to a provincial area in the dominions of Margaret. For a short time he remained safe under the protection of powerful friends. But, having a heart for the evangelization of France, he moved to Poitiers. Public preaching was not allowed, but he drew listeners in private homes and public gardens. As the numbers of listeners continued to grow, it was deemed safer to meet outside the city. A secluded cave was chosen, and they would travel to it in small companies, by various routes. The Bible was read aloud and it was here that the Lord’s Supper was celebrated for the first time by the Protestants of France.

Then [Jesus] said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say unto you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  Luke 22:15-18