Dr. Couch, who were the Huguenots in church history?
ANSWER:
The Huguenots were French Protestants and Calvinists who were also the
leading middle class of that nation for sometime. The name was adopted
from a leading Swiss Calvinist by the name of Hugues. In 1685 the evil
king of France revoked the Edict of Nantes that disallowed religious
persecution against Protestants. The Huguenots became then fair game for
official government and Catholic persecution.
French soldiers could then pillage and torture
them, but mercifully, (supposedly) not kill them. They were scalded with
boiling water down their throats, burned on the arms and legs, forced
to hold burning charcoal. The women could be raped and made to stand
naked in the streets.
Some feigned conversation to Catholicism to avoid
such torture but most held their ground. They escaped to other
countries and many migrated to Canada and America. At one time they
numbered up to a million and a half but were cut down in France to be
but a few thousand in number. However, before they escaped, at the end,
thousands were slaughtered.
I believe God keeps good score. I do not believe
it was an accident as to how France suffered during their Revolution.
They had long ago driven their most spiritual people from the land.
Also, the French suffered terribly during both World War I and World War
II.
I happen to know today several descendants of the
Huguenots in Texas. Their families fled France during this terrible
period and brought strong Christianity to America!
Thanks for asking,
Dr. Mal Couch
