, minister of the Calvinist church of Paris, was born July 1595, at Sedan;
, minister of the Calvinist
church of Paris, was born July 1595, at Sedan; where
his father had a considerable post. He passed through
the study of polite literature and divinity at Sedan, but
was sent to Saumur, to go through a course of philosophy
there under professor Duncan. He was admitted minister
in 1618, and discharged his function near Langres, till he
was called by the church of Paris in 1620. He had all the
qualifications requisite to a great minister. His sermons
were very edifying; he was assiduous and successful in
comforting the sick; and he managed the atTairs of the
church with such skill, that he never failed of being consulted upon every important occasion. His first essay
was a “Treatise of Preparation for the Lord’s Supper.
”
This, and his “Catechism,
” the “Short View of Controversies,
” and “Consolations against the fears of Death,
”
have, of all his works, been the most frequently reprinted.
Some of them, his book upon death in particular, have
passed through above forty editions; and have been translated into several languages, as German, Dutch, Italian,
and English. His “Charitable Visits,
” in 5 volumes, have
served for a continual consolation to private persons, and
for a source of materials and models to ministers. He
published three volumes of sermons, in which, as in all
the forementioned pieces, there is a vein of piety very
affecting to religious minds. His controversial works are
1. “The Jubilee
” 2. “The Roman Combat
” 3. “The
Jesuit’s Owl
” 4. “An Answer to father Coussin
” 5.
“Disputes with the bishop of Bellai, concerning the honour due to the Holy Virgin
” 6. “An answer to La Milletierre
” 7. “Dialogues, against the Missionaries,
” in
several volumes 8. “The False Pastor Convicted,
” 9.
; 'The False Face of Antiquity;“10.
” The Pretended
Nullities of the Reformation;“11.
” An Answer to prince
Ernest of Hesse;“12.
” An Answer to the speech of the
clergy spoken by the archbishop of Sens;“13.
” A Defence of Calvin." He wrote some letters, which have been
printed; one to the duchess of Tremouille, upon her husband’s departure from the protestant religion; one of consolation, addressed to Madam de la Tabariere; one upon
the restoration of Charles II. king of Great Britain; some
upon the English episcopacy, &c. He published also certain prayers, some of which were made for the king, others
for the queen, and others for the dauphin. Bayle tells us,
that what he wrote against the church of Rome, confirmed
the protestants more than can be expressed; for with the
arms with which he furnished them, such as wanted the
advantage of learning, were enabled to oppose the monks
and parish priests, and to contend with the missionaries.
His writings made him considered as the scourge of the
papists; yet, like mons. Claude, he was much esteemed,
and even beloved by them. For it was well known that he
had an easy access to the secretaries of state, the first
president, the king’s advocate, and the civil lieutenant; though
he never made any other use of his interest with them than
to assist the afflicted churches. He was highly esteemed
by the great persons of his own religion; by the duke de
la Force, the marshals Chatillon, Gascon, Turenne, and
by the duchess of Tremouille. They sent for him to their
palaces, and honoured him from time to time with their
visits. Foreign princes and noblemen, the ambassadors
of England and France, did the same; and he was particularly esteemed by the house of Hesse, as appears from the
books he dedicated to the princes and princesses of that
name. He died Nov. 3, 1669.