Many times William Farel had tried without success to get an entrance into Lausanne, another great city in Switzerland. The proud old city with its grand church, almost an army of priests, and citizens with ears closed to God’s Word had many times closed its gates to the gospel preachers. But now the victory at Geneva had placed the whole province into Berne’s hand and the council of Berne, ever eager to spread God’s Word, declared that the gospel should be heard.
The council arranged a time for a public discussion to be held between the priests and the gospel preachers. The old religion would have to come face to face with William Farel and Peter Viret.
The great Emperor Charles heard of the plans and issued an order to forbid them to proceed. The little Swiss cities turned a deaf ear to the great Emperor who ruled all of Europe! Since the Emperor at that moment was busy with his invasion of France, he had no time to enforce the small matters of the Swiss cities. These were small matters to the Emperor, but great in the sight of God and soon to be great in the lives of the people of Lausanne.
One morning in October in the beautiful old city which looks down upon the Lake of Geneva, the discussion began. William Farel stood up.
“The Lord Jesus Christ came down into this miserable world in order that by Him we could have salvation and life. For this end He died that He might gather in one the elect people of God. Satan’s work is to scatter the sheep. The work of the Lord Jesus is to gather them.” With many other words and verses from the Bible, William faithfully preached God’s Word.
A priest stood up. “The Scriptures command peace and therefore we cannot have this disputing.” He seemed to have no other answer to give. There is not space to tell you about all that was said, for the discussion continued for several days.
“And now,” said Farel one day, “behold how we are saved — freely, undeservingly and without the works of the law!”
“I do not believe it is written so,” said a religious man who desired to defend the priests.
A Bible was at once handed to the man. The passage was found for him. Yes, the wonderful words were there!
The man was amazed. “Yes,” he said, “it is true. A man is justified by faith.” He sat down unable to say anything more.
But many of Farel’s words fell on deaf ears, just as if you would speak these marvelous words today in the ears of your neighbors.
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At the end of much discussion a monk rose up. “My very dear brethren,” he said, “I do not desire to commit the sin of resisting the truth of God. I here confess that I have been for a long while blind and deceived. I thought I was serving God when I was only serving man. I ask pardon of God for all the evil I have done. I ask your pardon that I have taught you so badly.” With these words, he threw off the religious clothes he had been wearing, never to wear them again.
“Oh how great, how good, how wise is our God,” said Farel as he rose up. “He has had pity on the poor sheep that was straying in the wilderness and has brought him home to His flock. Let us thank our Lord together.”
Many other lost souls came to the Lord Jesus on this occasion and a great work was begun in Lausanne. Idols, altars, robes and jewelry were carried out of the great churches. The images were broken in pieces and other items were given into the treasury of Berne. With this money, a college, the Academy of Lausanne, was begun.
With this victory won, William Farel returned to help the believers in the old city that he loved so much, the city of Geneva.