A critical account of the life, character, and discourses of Mr. Alexander Morus ...

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«^ 'I'^rchlball 1746-1816
^''"^tkcal account of the
A critical ^
life, charactei ,

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A

CRITICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

I. I F E,

CHARACTER, AND DISCOURSES

OF . '^

Mr, ALEXANDER MORUS,

A CELEBRATED "
PREACHER, AND PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY, &C. IN GENF--
VA AND HOLLAND; AFTERWARDS MINISTER OF THE
CHURCH OF PARIS.

INWHICH

The attack made upon him in the writings oF MiLTON,
is particularly considered.

«ONTAINING ALSO

Incidental Notices of feveral Divinfs

And Literary Characters, and of fome memorable

transactions of that Age.

TO WHICH ARE SUBJOINED,

Specimens of his Discourses, original and Translated.

BT ARCHIBALD BRUCE,

MINISTER, WHITBURS.

f^OLD by J. Ogle, W. Blackwood, Dickson &: Eastos',
Eil'inbur^h ; M. Ogle, Brash & Reib, Glasg'.'iu ; D.
Peat, Perth; W. Knight, AùaJeen ; J. Mc-
Laren, Stirling; R. 0<^le, T. Hamilton, Gale
^ Co., Paternoller Row, London,

1813.

C* 0 N T E N T .s.

SeBicn,

Page.

I. Introduftoigr obfervations
II. MoRus's birth and education ; fettlcmcnt in Ge-
; tranfaftions there to the time of his call to

neva

Middleburgh - i *"

III. Tellimoniala to the charader of Moru|^ remarks
on Senebicr and Baylc ; manner of his departure
from Geneva, and reception in Holland 37

IV. From his fettlement in Middleburg to the time
of his departure to Amfterdam ; account of the
Walloon Synod; his proccfs before the Synod,
and the fupreme court of Holland oi

V. The controverfy between Salmasiu» and Milton,

occasioned by the execution of Charles I. The
Cry of Royal Blood ; Milton's Second Defence
of the People of England, in anfwer to it ; his at-
tack upon Morus in it ; Morus's vindication in
his Pubica Fides °^

VI. Morus's Journey to Italy ; the honour conferred

on him at Venice ; Milton's virulent attack re-
newed in his Defence of himself; fummary of
its contents, and fpecimens of its fpirit, with re-
marks; inftances of his vindidive difposition, and
defamatory ufage of other worthy charaders ;
animadversions on fome verfes ia his fonnets 142

y II. Morus called to Paris ; cited to the Walloon Sy-
nod ; declines anfwering ; is cenfured by them ;
proceedings at Charenton and in the Synods of
France as to his admission ; his caufe by appeal
before the National Synod of Loudun ; he is ac-
quitted , 204

yill.Of the church of Charenton; Morus's situation
there ; new troubles ; his journey to England ;
is fufpended by the consistory of Paris ; violent
diforders in confequence ; the interposition of the
civil power; a petition in his favour to the Cham-
ber of the Edid ; their determination uponjt ;
his caufe before a Colloquy and Provincial Sy-
nod ; and finally decided by the Synod of Bcny ;
Merus re-eftabli(hed, and peace rcilored 253

Contents.'
Seaion. Pagtl

IX, Frona liis acquittal by the Synod to hîs death ; in-
creasing liardfhips aud dangers of the Reformed ;
Morus's fteadfallncfs in his rehgion ; hissickncfs,
laft convcrfations and edifying death, taken from
Z^et D.^niiers Ditrours, &c. 264

X. Conchiding remarks on the charaflcr of Morus ;

catalogue of liis writings ; eftimatc of his fermons 301

APPENDIX.

N** I. Letter of D'lociati . ." 334

2 . of Sartorls ' • 337

3. Teflimon'ial of the Curators of the H'ifïonc School in
ylmfttnlam. . . . 339

4. Ijûtin verses on Genrva • . 340

5. 6. 7. 8. Original Extracts from Morus^s Sermons 343

Cj* Seled Sermons and ExtraBs translated, lulth an
account of the Scalaile of Genevay separately print-
edt pases 1 — 1-4

E R R ji T À.
Page 7, line S, for de Lolme read Peter Loumeati du Pont.
page 46, line 1 8, for orna read ormvmnt. page 59, line 4, lov
was read auere. page 60, line 16, delete they, page 84, line
19, fur 164S read 1649. page 91, line i,for condem-iing the
king, rcad//'f execution of the king, page 92, line 3 from the
foot, for aud read u/ leafl page 93, line 1 3, read atrocity, page
94, line 6, read protefianl. line 6 from the foot, for tlie read
ihty. page 106, line 5, ix^d Pnjlon. page 114, line 3 from
the foot, for and fiich, read and of such, page 115, line 11
from tl'.e foot, for wiio, read /wo of tvhom. page 133, line 18,
blot out he before that, page I ç I, line 11, read Ir/fuinum.
page IÇ2, lafl line, for high or dignified, read mo/l exceifcnt.
p;ige 188, lall line, after ufe add of. page 193, line 8, delete
ihe mark of ((notation, page 2 14, line 15, after full, add of.
page 232, line t, inllead of before reid by a public letter tir.
page 237, line j from the foot, read refpeds. page 270, laft
line, before the, read of page 290, kne 23, xe^id innocence :
line 26, read contre, page 318, liwe 6, and line 4, from the
foot, in fome copies, for 65, read 64, and for 1627, read 1629.
page 330, line l, read consideratiooa. page 33U, line 7,^or

auncfe, icad années. 'Tliere arc'fereral niillakes in letters, r

for <•, s for f &c. wh'ich will not affcft the fcnfc.— The Treuch
is priiited without aceenti.

CRITICAL ACCOUNT, &c.

SECTION FIRST.

Itttroduâory Obfervatlons,

I NT the extcnfive range of 'iioj;r ,)liy there m^y be
fouiul fufficitnt iood for gratifying every tafte, .ind
enough to f.itisfy the almoit insatiable thirll for nov hy.
Perfons of every chara£ler and profelFiOii, and in every
cor.dirion o Hfe, may in their •■urn be exhibited : and
if, even the lives of thofe pcrfons who have moved in
thf more ordinary fphert, and in the obfcurer walk of
life, may be fo written at> to afford fome inihuclion and
ainufcment, much more thofc of men eminent for abi-
lities, who have been placed in cunfpicuous ftations, cn-
ga^-^d in pu lie and a£live fceiies, whofc couife has
been marked by fome uncommon incidc-nts and o^ cur-
rences, which may fcrve at the fame time to «lifnlay
their own charadler, and that of other men and pirti.'s,
and the fpirit and hiftoiy of tlie times in which t'ley li-
ved This may. in a fpccial manner, be faid of men w hofe
vritinjj;., as well as examples, may (till afford ufcful lef-
fons to thofe wiio fuccted them,

A

2

For fome timr pafl, n tafle for what 15 antiquated and
rare, in every kind, and of coiirfc a fpiric of refearch in-
to certain portions of the hiftory, and the iii<^rarv re-
mains, prinfd or mnnufcript, of fomt former eras, fias
greatly prevailed in Britviin. This, likf every thing ,dj-
pencïinc; on the caprice of fafln'on, is no doubt \nh\t to
be carried to a ridiculous excefs: but though it oft leadt
thofe who are influenced by it, to beHow much labour
to little purpofe, and to die up niucli rubbifli, yet it
alfo brings to light fome treafure, and tends to preferve
valuable relics. It were to be wifhcd, that this propen-
fity were more often dire6\ed to purpofes of ufefulnefs
and inftruflion, rather than to gratify mere idle curiofi-
ty : particularly, it nny appear an objccft to intereft dill
move tli: attention of the literati, cfpecially of church-
men, to hive the chara£Vero, ff.ntiments and aflions of
"many worthy men brought into clearer view, which have
been gradually obfcurf d by the A\\{\. and shades of inter-
V'-iiing years, or have fuflercd injury trom the mifre-
prtfention and partiality of enemies, or the prejudics and
Varyinp: modes of thinking, in their own or fucceeding
ages. The writer of this h.as long wiihed to fee the hif-
tory and memorable tranf<i£^io!is of the reformed church-
es, or fuch as nearly aifcdled thtir intereft at home or a-
broad, mere fully elucidated ; the memory of many great
and good, and not a few calumniated names, revived
?nd vindicated ; and the literary produiflions of a num-
b' r wl'iO diflinguifhcd thcmfelves in the caufe of true reli-
gion, in circumft uices of dilTiculty, and in times of great
danger, whether in ecclcfiaRical or other ffheres of life,
.; diflinterrf d, and broitglit to the acquaintance of modern
readrrs if not in bulk, yet, at leaft, by jufl (ketches,
candid accounts, or f*iir fpecimcns. This has become

tnore tlian ever neci^ful, in an age \v\\^n t^ev.'or'vs of
tlie more early Proteftaiit writers, whetlK-r oi ilit prima-
ry or fubordinate claf», efp ci.iliy thofc in otlicr lau-
guages> are now, in a grrat mevifure, almoll totally un-
known, even to the learned, and in danj^cr of bcnig al-
together loll, by being buried under the ovcrwlielming
load and endlcfs. divcrfity of modern publications of x
very different ilamp and tendency, — or iiyept away by
the current of fordid mercenary traOac, or by the nior<;
dtvouring mge of relentlefb war and revolutions ; more
efpecially, fuch an event, once fo unlikely to happen,
may be accelerated, on the continent of Euçppe, if tnc
plan of which we hare (o recently heard, of fui-^jetSli:';^
all books to be printed, to the coniroul and imprimatur of
an imperial defpot or his council, and of rellricting thenj
to a certain number to be prefcribed according lo th.ir
tafle or capricious views, fliall, be realiztd. Not a few
materials of tlie kind referred to, may ytt be found ia
Britain i and dill more difptrfed thruugiout the ditTcrcnt
depaijlmcnts of Proteftant Europe. In the annals of tac
French churches alone, whether in tneir advancing,
fiourifiiing, or declining (lute, or. after their difperfion,
thefc may be found in great- abundance to engage ihx
fchoiar, the divine and the Chriilian.

The reformed churches were engaged m one commoit
eaufe and contcll, however diverfified in iheir cir.um-
ftances, tlieir trials, and their fuccefs. In better times,
their interells, their efforts, their proiperity and advcrfi-
ty, were confidered as fo intimately connected, as in-
deed they ought ûill to be, that nothing pertaining to
the fame great body, was accounted foreign. The .illi-
nlty arifing from religion, formed a bond of afllc.ioM and
friendfliip, more ftrong, th;in that whieh ariies from n,\«

A 2

4

rional t-Ticuape, cuftortTi. jr, v rtjmenta, arx^ politic 1 and
f( ci. ir itiureU^. T r union nd lutet . ur-e. i u ti
TifVcr cftiahlifticd oi luil a ftttltO ard ifgular pi : , ag
Chrillianity and iheir com n on good require- d, was lorm-
crly irorc carefully cultivât d, fo iar i> the jt iloufi-.s
and rcOraints laid upon tiicni [>) civil rulers permitrtd,
than hit. been thf calV in iar r timt-s. I he Gcnev.in
church, though confined within narrow limits, lone oc-
cumed a principal place, a. it prefented i prominent ob*
yd among rholr denoniii ated Calviniftiv.i' ill the
hiltory and rtvokuu-ns of tbe French Protf(ta;ii riiurchj
fornud a'tcr tJ e tarn model, there is foi.iethii.t^ pt cu-
liai tminently c.ilcui w d to afford warning and inilTuc»
tion to all around her, nd fc r ag s after ; — som fhing
dc'ply mtrr' fling and afF-éling not Icfs fo ni i relipi-m»
vie« , than in thole iti^nge . nd alarming chiiige-- ot an-
Otlici kiiid, that lately have filled the wor!d with al'onish»
nitnt. and of wnich the former may be viewed s a
remoter aoral caule and prelude, and a k'v to cp.ii u > a
great part of the myftery ot them. 1 here was a . i ne
Vhen thar church Ihom* '' loith as the morn, fair a the
moon, «'kar as the fun, ami ttrnble as an army v ith
banners i" and tven in l)t r fall ano ruins fhr exhibited
a fpcttaclc worthy of conttiiiplation ; and the id Icfiaf»
tical antiquary m?y yet, with a melancholy plcafure,
iurv< y the rubbifh and Itones, itul mav find amoni/ them,
remains more gr?nd and pieciuus than in Antichiiiliaii
Ron L- with all her magnificence and fplendor ; ui.ofc
turn is now conie to fall, and to fink into the abyfs of
total and irrttricvablc ruii> i whiii the lovers of Zion
may vonfidcntly wait ii r a tme of rcturniîig t ivour to"
h' I, \vl . • |>. r wailcs ami dcfolaied palac»S llvati be glo*
riuuliy rebuilt*

Th-» compiler of ^his (Pcinoir, for Tiis part, reckons î^
the chief advanta;re and pleafuic derived from a little
icqu.iintance with the irench lan^^uige, that it nai. ad-
mitr^d hiin to tlie pcrufal of a v iritty of writing's, cfpc«
cialiy thofe publi^lied by ProtrllaiiLs, in it; to nidi of
wiucl» he would other wile have remained a Urangcr»
Bcfide^ tiie attradive mann;^r, the cLar, eafv, lively»
and ofttn elegant, llyle oi compodtion, Éer whicii th*
writers of that naiiori luve ufu lly been diilinguilhtd)
tht y afford a rich fund of inf>;rmation and entertainment,
whether on luojcd^ hutorical, critical, coniroverfi il, or
div'jtional. Our prejudice in favour ot lirit'lh produce,
fliouul noi hinder Ub tVoni perceiv iig and acknowictlging,
■that m the poiiihingot inoii'rn languai^e, the cuhiv tion
of the bcUe> Lettres, in natural peifpicuous method, and
in il lluont animated liyleoi difeourle.s, particuiany from
thr pulpit, tliey preceded, in tluir improvemtnts, the
biitilh. Ev^n before the rehnemcnt and fixing the
fljndaid of their language by a Royal Academy, not t
few of tile Kcfornicd, (i. a ili anger may be allowed to
.judge, dffbrded exampleb both of purity and elegance,
not inteiior at lead to any or their co».vali> in the kifig-
dum : thty ^oiunbuce their fliavc in promoting tne
Hudy of phi'Ology and otiier branches o) literature, in
the early part of L. wis XiV ; fome o< them were often
confultcd as among the moft competent juif^cs. Of thfc
i>rin' ;pal promoters of thcle iluaitt., fonv. tiad i>ccn edu-
■cated prott Hants, and other- were mixed with them in
literary focictics, or maintained an intimate correfpon-
denee witn them. Fht y had preachers who could at
any time be compared with tiie moit celebrated among
th. vatholic clergy m all t'l^ chi. t rqa. fîtes u. palpit
Oratory, as ail of them dia exceed liiem m the i'criptural

Viattrr and the evangelical and edifying drain of their
fcrirons.

I he fubjeô of the prefent memoir, was one among
the many karned men and pteachcrs, that adorned
the ftventet-nth century. He had acquaintance und
ConnedVions with fome of the firft chav;ic\crs of tl:at
tge, and was no Icfs efteemed in the fchool^ of learning-,
than he was admired in the pulpii by both the higher
«nd lower clafles of people ; though in Britain he was
Jefb known than he was abroad. If we except fornc of
the early reformers, there are few lives of mere literary
wen or divines, that prefent fu^h viciflitudcs, fuch a
variety of uncommon incidents, or have been fo thec-
■qucred with divtrfity. Having been fucccflivcly placed
in different confpicuout. llations, neither his excellencies
or faults could tfcape obfcrvation ; and both were cx-
pofcd to frequent and free animadverfion. Few have
experienced, in a more ftnfible manner, the extremes
of praife and of cenfure, of fritndfliip and refentmenF,
of rcfpcft and of obloquy. As hi;, talents were not of
the ordinary fort, and js he himfelf did not keep within
the line of cold mediocrity in his kind or irafcible affec-
tions toward others, fo they, in their turn, obferved no
medium toward him. He was puifued wherever he
went by the virulcncr of party, or the clamour of envy i
fo that his life and conduit were fubjeded to a fiery
ordeal, at the bar of the public, and before both civii
and ecclefiaftical courts. Hi nee fomc, who have not
been at pains to obtain a juit itatc of facts ; who relied
in vague reports, or have borrowed their informatioa
from his enemies, have taken occafion to reprefcnt hi<B
to pollcrity, not in the r.ioll favourable light. This has
particularly been the calc in Jirituin, where he wa^ ncl

«nîrpwvîouffy +rnduced by the pen of Milton, but it
later occafional notices of him, and in the accounts given
inTthe biopriphical colleflion^, moR commonly current
amonp Englifli readers, often both meagre and p;irtial^
entire juftice hastnot been done him. Thib has render»
ed further inquiry, and feme more particular and fati«*
fa(5>ory account necefTary.

Ai the death of Mr d,- Lolme, minifter of the French
church, confifting of Proteflanr Refugees, chiefly from
Pic^rdy, that had been fettled and fubfifted at Edinburgh,
till their congregational ftate was diflolved at his death,
and the buildings that had been appropriated to their ufe,
were pulled down for carrying on the building of the
New Town, among other books that had belonged to
his library, the poflhumous volumes of Morus' Sermons^
which are very feldom to be met with, came into the
pofleflion of the compiler of this account. He found in
•them an original turn o* thinking, great livelinefs of
fancy, and animation. Having employed fome leifur»
iiours in rendfiring a few of them into Engliib, in which
nothing of that author, fo far as he know;, had ever
appeared, he was led to look a little more narrowly than
he had done before, into the particulars of his life and
chaTa£\er, to fatisfy at leaft his own mind upon the fub-
j( 61, fo far as any remaining fources of information, to
which he had ace -fs, could enable him. And while he
found in the r-^fearch, a good deal to prompt curiofity,
fo alfo not a little, in fome ftages of progrefs, to perplex
and embarrafs the inquiry, and to render a decided opi«
nion difficuU upon matters about which the public mind
and voice had been, for a time, fo much divided, and
may yet in fome degree continue divided. The refult,
fuch as he reckoned due to truth, and to a public and

ftluÀ dchmed Aaraiftrr. Co note A In the" reformed

chiirtlirs, hi lir.s lirlv ^iven .ind fubmiriccl to t' r • ^d■.t»
Bffules the intrt-fl^ arifin^r from the tcl-tion tha* lub-
fift.s nmong the diff rmu d^partmcnis of tht txttr.nve
connion- wealth of |ptti-rs, anttthc more (Iritt and f crcd
ties, in this caiff, of a common religion t^e Coffifra-
tion of thi-. aut^'or havin^j ori'jfinat 'd hi-.v this couii^ry,
(his f.innlv fv4vint{ jjfone ovtr Trnm Scoil ind and ficled
in the fouih of rT.vrcc- where hv wa"^ bom ) may ii\- h^d
fome influence to draw hin attention more par'icu; rlf
to his characler anil writinsis; and it m.iy. p^rhap , have
the fume eiTeft upon feme others of his countrymen.
The 8 01« haw been often noted tor a pei uliar fpirit of
Bat'onahty ; and from this vrry cXi ufnble, if not laudable,
propenfity, the conr.iil'-r will not pretend that h'- is nlto-
gether free. He only wiflies th.t even this might excite
fhcm yet more to j>aloufy for the honour of tluir i^oun-
try, and of a number of tlieii formerly expatriated citi-
zens, who wer;' lither unjuftly cxncllrd, or had willirgly
abandoned their native land, in quifl cf aftive employ-
ment, and a fcn^e of greater ufcfulncf^;, of whidi the
number was not few ; feveral of whom found prr.iter en-
couragement, wef ''eld in liivhcr r Qimation, and hive
had tlifir memory more refpecflf-d, .nnong forcipncrs,
than rvcr they h;ul at home. Bifides the inll^nc -^ of
tin-: in other lc3Tntd or Iionorary prorrAîon-î, or in pre-
ceding periods, were there not fomc in the age pnrtieu-
Jarly referred to, who were not only eminent for piety,
but accounted ornaments »'ithcr in the proreOant :ica-
demies or pulpits on tl\e continem, whofir names arp « i.
ther not yt't regtl^cred n any S.ottifti or I'ritdh Bioura-
phv, cT .\t lealt not i'l f' c' a ri.TV' r .s th'v (\ ferved.
The compilers, indeed, of ilie numerous and inilcellAHC»

9

ôiH ^rhc'es of wMch work'^ of thislcin^ ufually '^on^'ï,
co.uciu themfelves for t'ie mod part ^vith firvilely copy»
înç whit t'î^ir pr-dicefTir'! hi l prepared to their hand,
without havini^ either inclinatio'i, l.nfure, or competrnt
^l^atl^, for ex iinining parti 'ul.ir chara^ers and lives
a-ne\v for the-nfelvcs : and when, from thi nature of
their defign, they are under the nec-ffiry of abrid-^in^,
th-y more readily fall into error, or commit^njuflice, by
mentioning certain facls, and giving only mutil.ited
accounts, while others are conrealed which may be
neceflTiry for giving a clear and correct ft^tement oa
controverted fuSje£ls, or for vindicating accuf^d cha-
racters : or, what is dill worfe, they will fo metimes
prefent the reader with bare general charafters, or
feme traits of charader, drawn or coloured accord-
ing to the conceptions and prejudices of others, or
their own, unaccompanied with fa£ls or evidencp on
which to found a judgment : and thus they would fuf-
tain themfelves the lordly arbiters of fame or infamy.
Hence, it not feldom happens, that by a (ingle touch of
their pen, by one or a few fummary ftnrences inf.rted
through ignorance, inadvertence, or d^figni worthy
characters have been publicly, fometimes irreparably
wounded ; and innocent or praife worthy actions, or va-'
luable literary produ(ftion-, hav been ro-ifigned to pof-
tcrity under forae rafli and unmerited ftigma.

SECTION

SECTION II.

Mo R US' S llrlh anil eiluaiilon -His fettJement in Geneva-^
Tranfadlons there to the time of his call to MiJJleburgh.

J-N the age in which our Author lived, it M'as cuflomarf
for the learned, who wrote ufually in lutin, to afTume
latin names, fome of wlilch liad no relation to their pa-
ternal name, or fo tranfmuted as to retain no appar-^nt
refemblance. MoRUs is only the family name, with tlie
latin termination: As it is that by which he was com-
monly known wherever he refuled, that wliich has beeti
allixed to all his writiii<;s, and by which he has fince
even in Britain been ordinarily mentioned, we fhall, in
compliance M-ith cuflom, generally retain it, though
Moke would be more familiar to a Britifli ear, and more
agreeable to the Englifli idiom.

This divine was born at Caftres, in Languedoc, ia
in 1616. In that city there was a college for the Re-
formed, of which his father, at this time, was Principal,
and alfo a paftor of the proteftant church there. This
was one of the cities in wliich there was alfo one of the
Mixed Chambers (Mi[>artie)y tftublinicd by the edict of
Nantes, wlierfin the caufcs particularly relating to the
Reformed were to be judged ; tlu- court being compofed
of an C(|u.d number of catholics and proteflaiits. Some
fav, the college was formed upon the fame plan with the
INIixcd Chambers, part of the teachers b^ing of the one
religion, anti part of the other (a). It does not appear,

{a) Mofcri, Diilion. Hijlor. Art. PclifTon. eSu. I 740.

at what time or from what motiv?, Mr More the father-
had emigrated from Scotland" But it was no unufudL
thing, as has been already obferved, to find a nini ben
from that land,, about this period, olhciating either in-
the academies or \:hurches in France, while they were
yet enjoying the liberties fecured to them in the reign
of Henry IV. at leaft, while they were not yet fo fignally
viol ited and abridged, as they afterwards wefè. Several
worthy Prcfbyterian minifters, it is well known, incur-
iied the difpl.afure of K. James VI. for oppofing the.
fooljfli and dcfpotic meafures adopted by him, for
changing the ecclefiadical government and worfliip o£
the church of Scotland. Some of them, for no other
crime, had been fentenced to death, but were after.vards
Cent into exile ; among whom was the eminently pious
Mr Welfli, Ion in-law to Mr J. Kiiox, who found an
afylum and favourable reception in France ; where he,
in a few months acquired fo much of the language,'
as to adventure to preach in it, and even within a few.
years to write in it a book (L'Armngeddon), dedicated
to the pallors in the province of Xviiiitogne, among
whom, for a considerable time, he excrciftd his mi-
nidry with reputation : even * the very popifli priefts
and foldiers,' fays Principal Baillie, ' yta, the profaned
of the court, and K, Lewis himfelf, at the very hoitclt
time of his perfecutlons, ditl much prize and reverence
him.' H'tf.or. F'mclicai'ton, f f. Mr And. Mtlvil was alfo
forced, in his old age, to become an exile in Sedan.
Some others who fcrupled the ntw terms of conforniity
when rigidly impofcd, might voluntarily \\ithilrnw thi-
ther i as of all the reformed churches abroad, nonç
approached nearer to the original confîïkttion of the
Pr fbyterian church of Scotland t!:an that of Fraiitq*

B z

Ot^pr<;, from a profpefl of more rea^'y emrloymrnf,
in tliat niorc .x.cnlivc fitld for l.ii Ou , troii toi <.c-
ticiib rcoiding thcrci or from a varie, y of conllileraion;,
may have bten induced to remove, a:ul to Icttlr ..ere
for a time, or lor liic **. But that tioor w at. d laft

• In the former half of that cciUiiry, besides the ahove,
we ntiLCt with the following ijcotchincii. in the ro.ls (>f U i ir
in -.lilters and proicfTors ; Gilbert and Dav d Primrolt ; J.
Hniiiton and fon , Adamfon, in Poit cu; Duncan in <S.iu-
mur • Mcff. J Sharp, minillcr of Lt Mote Fergulon. biii.p-
fo... G. I'homlon, Hiin:ie, hoitias Hog, W Liind\ ; 1ji.)(1
of '' rochrig, minii'troi Vertueil afttl\\.ird^ profcffji cf divi-
T»it in Saumiir, and fometiine principal of the college of
Gi Igow ; fomc account of whole .ifc is. prcâxed>to his lean.cd
Commentary on the Ephesians, in atin to ; Cam on,
vliom Bp. Kail lUled, " the mol*, learned man Scutln.div r
pVL'd iCed, ' wiiofe hiftor is more general) known He was
XJv.d.' profcffov of Theology, in llic Univevfity of Glaigow,
\):X loon returned back to Franct but livtd not K.ng aittr

Gilb Prinirole hid for fomc time been n:iniltcr in Edin-
burgh, and was fettled firft in thc'eliiireh if Mirambeau, and
afurwards minirtei anci profeflbr of Divin. ly in Bourdeaux,
but relcrviiig a liberty to return. He was dvmai.di.d again by
tl c cit^ of Edinb. and K James, but at tht eainell dti re of
his church, and the Synod of Rochelle, in 1607 he was pre-
vailed upon to Hay. But having oppoled Arnoux, a Jtluit,
an edidl was obtained againll him, whereby both he and his
colleague. Cameron, were interd éted, either from preaching
or teaching in college,-, not onl} btcaufc thty were toiei^ntrs,
but under the pretext of their meddling with affairs of ilate.
1 il. s lentence the Syiiods who mlerclUd thimfclvts in their
behalf, never could prevail on the king to revoke, though it
Uas relaxed a little in favour of Cameron. P. having return-
ed 10 England, in lt)23, was made chaplain to K. James ;iiid
Ciiarles his fon, and piiblirtied lome fermons in Eni^lilh which
he had delivered at court : as he had Icfore pubhilud ^ vols,
of Sermons in French, wi h fome other volumes againil the
monks» He was admitted that year a paftor in the ancitnt
French church in London, that hnd been ft.unded in the
reign of Edward VI. by a patent obtained by the noble John
a >.afco: In which flat ion he continued until! his death, in
J 64 2. Six other iermous, in French, were pubuftud b) hinj

»3

fhut upon any from tfnt quarreti or 'from anv othrt of
the rctoriiicd cnurciu^, through the jealuuiy, and je-
fuitical influence, prevaihng in that tyrannical court.

Mr M's f\theï having been ffctiled there previous
to his birth, the Tan, in confequence of being a native
of that kingdom, vva:, not a{F<;é\ed by the edicls that
wtn- afterwards eniitted, excluding ftrangtrj» from ec-
clcfiaftical oiiives: he had farther the advantage above
thofe who went over when come to age, in a quiring
the langu;ige from hib infancy, fo as to enable him to
fpeak it with greater puvitv, than can ufually be at-
tained by foreigners, whatever their application ini^ht
be. A deeift in this refpetl would not, indeed, be
fo greatly felt in officiating in academics, when prac-
Jttlions were eommonly given in latin, a^ in the puipst.
But provincial dialers or ai cents, parti», ulariy in p!.;ee3
inore remote from the capital, fueh as t at in winch
îtir M. was horn, often caufe a conlideiabltr différente
even an\ong the natives, and as h<. iiaci for a great
p;!rt of his life, refjded without the limits of that
kingdoin, perhaps hi:, fpt-ecli did nottxactly accord with
the ftandard of Paris, when he wa^ trantported thither.

in London. Dav d P., his fon, as I fuppofe, was miniiler in
Rouen, in 1637

His grandfon, Davi P., was ordained a pallor in the fame
congregation, in London in 16 c where he Hill cont.niitd
to v^lficTate in the reign ot Q^ Anne In fi i, he publdhcd
three Si."rmons ; the full in comn-ven;oration ot the l.rll eila-
blifl-iinent of the church 150 years before : tb.e iVeona in 1710,
Wticn the Author had arr vcd at the 5Cth year oi h.s mr.iirtryr
in it : Uie third preached in the following )car. at tli^ l;:ttle.
mtnt of Meff. de S;.iiite Colonie and Ciaudc Uie ion o"^ t.ie
celebrated Claude; tJ be his e. Ilea ues in it j.imcs Si'n.n
had for fomc time been his affociate in th.u c4ur-e lo ttis
year 1706, with nnan others, 9 ot whom h< had oui. '.1 vcd.

Quick's Synodic, v. li. p. 102. '2io:j ùerm, &c.

To tills Mr Chevreau fecms to allude, in on^ of lii*
letters to Fabcr, after M. had preached before a fynod
that met at Loudun, where he fays, that the people
ill that province could not he proper judj^cs of his dif-
courfe, " becaufe they do not fpcik Gafcon in Tou-
raiiit." {j}

The Principal, befides the fubje6l of this memoir, had
another fon named Aaron, who was alfo educated for
the miniRry, and became a paftor to the numerous
congrc<jation of Lyons ; after whofe deith, the cele-
brated Francis Turretine was called to take the charge
of that people, who, with the confent of the fcnatc
and church of Geneva, exercifcd his miniflry an ung
them about the fpace of a year, and was ufeful ia
compofing fome differences that had been prevailing
among them : but he was foon recalled to his native
city, to fucceed the venerable Tronchin, now difabletl
by age, in the theological chair, and to refumc a paf-
torp.l charge there, ati. 16^-^. (/').

Alexander, having gone througli the previous brandies
of education, and having been only initiated in divinity,
in his native city, and the college in which his father
prefidcd, went over to Geneva, with a view to en-
gage in theological fludies. As Athens, of old, had
been the principal place of refort for philofophers, fo
Geneva continued to be, for a long time, the moft
celebrated feat among the Reformers, for cultivating

(/7^ *• Votre mini-ftre a prcchc ici. et a mal proche quoique
les gens, de cette province n* en pu iffent juger, parce que 1 on
ne parle point Galcou en 'l'ouraine."

Ueuvm MeUrst torn. i. p. 60.

(b^ Bcned. Mcmor, F. Tiirr. Or«t. a Ben. PitUio ^raf,
Jrjl. Tbcol. Tur,

ï5

thefe ftudies, and was much frequented by pprTona
from all the neighbouring countries. Havino; been en-
dowed with a lively genius, young Morus had made
early and rapid progrefs in claflîcal learning : his pro-
ficiency in this »:fpecl: he foon made appear, in the
the competition in which he engaged and fucceeded,
for the profeflion of the Greek language, in tliat uni-
verfity, when he was not much above lo-^^^ars of age.
The maiHier in which he acquitted himfelf on that
occafion, was much admired, and generally acknow-
ledged. " Finding," fays Bayle, " that the vacant
profeflbrfhip, was going to be difputed for, and that
the curators of the academy h d by their public bills
invited foreigners as well as their own countrymen to
enter the lifts, he put in for one among a great number
of other competitors, minifters, advocates, and phyfi-
cians, every one of whom were almoft one half older
than himfelf, and he was fo much admired for his
beautiful and elegant manner of turning things, in all
the fpecimens of erudition which he was obliged to give,
that he carried the prize f." Early, and efpecially too

f Diélion. Hift. &c. For this, that author refer- to the
account given in tlie Life of Stephen le Clerc one of the com-
petitors ; prefixed to the ^ejiiones Sacra of Dav. le Clerc,
printed at Amilerd. in 1685.

To which may be added M's own words, after he was oblig*
«d to publifh a vindication of himfelf againll the invedlives of
Milton: ' Juvenis admodum et vix plurcs viginti natus

* annos, et in prima tantum facrx Theologix initia imbu-

* tu3 Genevam appuii : Programmate invitantur cives, pe-

* regrini. Tros, Tyriusve fuat, nullo difcrimine. De-fctn-

* dunt in campum petitores cruditissimi comnlures, ecclc-

* fiallx, jurifconfuiti, medici, quos fuse minus necessitu-

* dines, quam virtus, eî doclrina commendabant, qu.im-

* quam vero vix ullus in medium candidatus prodijt, qui

s6

librral applaufc, while it tends to animate, yet reVlonu
fails to produce fomc hunful tff-fl on the yourliful,
p.irticuLrly, the ambitious mind. This flattering; fucc'-fs,
attended with the dif.ippnintment of a number of rivnls»
may p/rhap^ in pirt ac'.ou'it for t!i;it fpirit of aninuifity
and virulence that foon manifcfted itfeK againfl. his
pcrfon and reputation, and which gave him fuch un-
cafricfs in his future life ; and this too, with other
fuhfequent inft-mces of uncommon applaufe which he
received, would naturally cheri(h, though it might not
produce, a difpofition to hauuhtinefs and felf eftima-
tion, of whicli he was 'afterwards accufcd. He gave»
however, a ftrilcing inflance of his candour, and did
ample juflice to the merits of one of the unfuccefsful
competitor»;, Stephen le Clerc, father of J. Le Clerc, the
eminent Holland critic. He afterwards acknowledged,
that he deferved to have had the prize awarded to him,
in preference to himfelf: and when he left that cliair,
tliroueh his influence and that of Godefroy, profrf-
for of law. Le Clerc was chofcn to be his fucccflbr in
it. Le Clerc had oflrred before the judges to recite on
the fpot, a difcourfe from 30 Greek authors, — hiftorians,
philofoplitrs or poetc,an<l to make a difTertation upon ench
of them: hut the propofal was not accepted. He hid
diflinguiflicd himfelf on the examination ; but. fays Sc-
ncbier, * 1' eloquence de Morus, 1' emporta fur le favoir

* mc ron effft altoro tanto grandior, quod praefifce dix-

* erim, ea luit ingenij lunc primum idloref entis gratia^

* ut omnihu-^ pun(ftis palmnm tulerim. Alio me parens,

* ali.\ p.nri.i vira!),it. fed obniti non potui i^roniflin^x •m-

* nium oT'linum vo^mtati, quin triennium aut eircfcr

* ill eo muner-- P<»lvbium el Arilloti iein pu'lice interpre-

* l^rer, douce,' &c. M. Fnks Publ. p. 225.

»7

Ûe Le Clerc ;' — * the eloqut^nce of Morus carried it over
the learning of Le Clerc' f When Moru^ in conjuTic-
tion with Godefroy, publiflied fome harangues of Liha-
nius the fophift, Le Clerc wrote critical notes upon
them, reckoned Uarned and curious, in which he had
taken the freedom of cenfuring the work of thefe learn-
ed editors ; but he was fo touched with their gener-
ous procedure in procuring for him the profeiforial chair,
that he fupprefled his notes uporl Libanius, and livtd
>frith Godefroy and Morus as with colleagues and friend?.
Morub continued here for about three years to tench
the Belles Lettres, though his f.uher, and liis compa-
triots rather wiflied his return to PVance. H^ was foon
embroiled with fome of his colleagues, and upon Lis
propofing to enter into the miniitry, he had a new con-
teft to undergo, with fome, who had raifed fufpicions
of his orthodoxy on certain points of divinity, which had
become matter of much controverfv in the churcli of
France, and in that univerfity. It will be proper here to'
be a little more particular, both as to the nature of the
charges brought againfi; him, the procedure that took
place upon them, and the manner in which it terminated,
efpecially as thefe were aftt rwards revived to his difad-
vaniage, and circulated by his detraftoro throughout all
Europe, and as Bayle and others who have mentioned
the accufation, have left the readers greatly in the dark,
and to tlieir own conjedtures on the fuhjrcft. In this
we fliall chiefly follow Senebier, who hid accefs to tlîe
befl information, not only from ihe various jjiinud re-
lations that appeared on the contiuciu, but alfo from the
opportunity that he had, in tl>e flafion of the keeper of

t Seneb. Hi/l. Liter, torn. ii. p. 157.
C

.i8

the public library In Geneva, to coiifult the Reconls of
the Company of r.idors pveft-jrvcd tlnire.

Mofes Air.yrault, the noted I'ninlller and profcflbr at
Saumur, had ftudicd under Cameron, and from him was
fuppofcd to have imbibed certain opinions upon predef-
tination, grace, original fm, and other topics connciElcd
U'lth ihem, which fccmeil to approach too near to the Ar-
minian fcheme that had been fo publicly condemneil.
Amyrault, in 1637, a little before our author came to
Geneva, having publilhed his treatife upon praedeftina-
tion and grace, excited great coniplaints againfl him on
that account, by fome eminent divines both in France
and elfewhere, which occaGoned a number of writings
afterwards on both fides, and much contention in lome
fynods. The celebrated Du Moulin, Frcdr. Spanhcim,
'and Rivet, became his principal antagonills : while he
had colleagues in Saumur, which were on his fide, fcve-
ral other minifters were difpofcd to put a favourable
conftruclion on his opinions, and endeavoured to fup-
prefs the difputes, and to conciliate the parties, though
for a time not with the dcfircd fuccefs. An attempt
was made in the National Synod of Alencon to compofe
the diilerenccs, but they broke out again.

It was objected to Morus, that he entertained the
new opinions, thofe of the Salinuria:i divines : The
council tliercfore ordered an examination : thirteen thefes
were prcfentetl to liim -, he gave anfwers to them in
writing, fubfcribed by him, whitii fatisfied the majori-
ty of the minifters: but fome inlillcil for an explicit
condemnation of tliefe opinions. He confented to de-
clare that he rcjefled whatever was contrary to the re-
ceived doilrine, and particularly the new opinions
comlemned by ilic minifters of Geneva, in their letter

to tliè Synod of Alencon. ** The miniOers however
delayed the trials {ks ■exam€ns)i fays Senebicr, uiuiri the
council 'obliged ihem f ." He was received miniller in
Odobcr 1641 ; and in a few months after, in J.uinary
1642, paflor an4 profeflbr of theology, in the room of
"i^edr. Spanhcim, wlio was that year called to Leyden.
« Morus," fay our author, " had qualities which were
fitted to make him admired , but he did p^nt conciliate
his colleagues. His talents might excite envy ; but all
men are not envious j and he was perfecuted wherevey
lie went. '

The general alarm that had lately been raifed through-
out the fynods and univerfities of France, in GenevL^
and the Netherlands, by the publication and progrefs
of the new opinions, had produced ftritter rules as to
the admiffion of candidates to the miniftry, and excited
"reater watchfulnefs, in teachers in the univerfities, o-
ver young men, as to their fentiments on thefe fubjedls,
in confequence of reprefentations and requifitions from
various quarters that had been prefented to the Na-
tional Synod of Alencon, in 1637, and afterwards to
the third National^Synod of Charenton, in 1645, and
the injundions agreed to in them. The profcfTors of
Geneva in particular, in name of their univerCity and
churches, in a long letter to the former of thefe, above
referred to, after expreffing their apprehenfions and
grief at the rife and progrefs of the new doctrines, their
commendation of the fynods for their former care in
maintaining the truth» and their confidence in the wif-
dom and zeal of that fynod for taking proper meafures,

t Seneb. HiJ. Literaire de Geneve. Tom. ii. p. 196- -^■
Geoeve, 1786.

20

they tlius addreflfed them, ** We bcfecch you to exert
youi lull .lUtLoriiy in ami about theft- m.itters, for fay-
ing all that lieth in your power, rcgaininjj what was
lofl, retaining truth and love, as much as pofTible, with-
out violating your own intcgriix, without degenerating

into any dangerous connivance i'o enjoin all the

churches and univerfnics to be wholly filent, and that
neither from the pulpit nor prefs any of thefe new doc-
trines be broached nor vented \ — and when occafionally
thefe matters fhal) c )mc to be debated, that all perfon8
fliould keep themfelves to the fimplicity of our conlef-
fions, and to the canons comludcd and made in the re-
nowned Synod of Dort, without mingling with them

thefe new hypothefes, phrafes and diflititflions."

** And to prev; nt fuch dangers in time to cone, wc
conceive it very needful, that you eflablifli, if you !;ave
not done it already, an ordinary fuperintendant over
your univerfities ; for ir is in thofe fchools of learning,
where leifurc, and thf pleafurfs of fpeculaticn, variety
of rc"ading, and curious inquiries into matters out of the
common road, and the bait of fmgularity, do carry live-
ly geniufes with too much promptnefs afttr thefe novel-
ties, which however tolerable they may feem to be in
difcourfe and conference with learned and we41 informed
men, yet ought not at any time to be publilhed, nor
thrown into the minds of young (tudents, who are to be

dealt with after another way. Pclagianifm in the Low

Countries," they add, " was the plant of the Spanifli meta-
phyfics producing not pious, painful, and profitable, but
fubtlL- paflors and preachings, an infinite brood oi dif-
putancs, void of undcrllanding and corrupt in points of

f^ith We exhort you to he jc.ilous and fufpicicus of

rew methods, and imaginary hypothefes, and an affedcJ

lingular way of teaching, and to avoid them. Arminiua
took Iii-i walks firll in thefe by-paths, till fuc time as
he had gotten a ilock of credit, and had formed for
Jiiiafelt a party, then he puUetl off" his vizard," &c.

Though the fynod ol Alcncon had taken pains to allay
the contentions that had arifen, by examining particular-
ly the offenfive tenets of i\niyr;;ult and Tcltard, and
partly accepting the explanations and dedarations of
thefe divines, and partly, condemning and prohibiting
the ufe of certain dl{Unél;ions, terms and phrafes, they
had employed, to which they fubmitted, promifing to
abftain from t'lcm for the future, yet the complaints
were foon renewed againft Amyrault and others, on ac-
count of the viol.ition of the canons and teims of peace,
that had been f(.ttled, particularly by the republication
of the oil'enfive tratft on reprobation a.ul fome other
works of that author: upon which tlie National Synod
of Charenton, in compliance with the requtlls of all the
provinces, demanding the confimation and punclual ob-
I'ervation of the forefaid canons, did " n.ofl exprefbly
forbid, on pain of all church cenlure, and being dcpofed
from their offices, all papLors and profeflbrs to go beyond
thofe bounds in writing, preaching or difputing upon
thofe points \ — declaring, that the profeflbr^^ Hiould be
refponfible for all their Icdtures, thefes and difputations -,
and their provincial fynods Ihould be accountable for
them unto the National :--And all ftudents of divinity
were exprefsly enjoined, upon pain of being declared
i-nworthy of ever fcrving in the facred miniftry, to raife
any itirs or debates about unneceffiry que{lions, as about
the order of God's decrees, of univerfal grace by the
preachuig of nature, whicli may lead and bring men
mnto falvation j — and that all examiners of propofants

for the miniftrjr, (îiould proceed In that bufinefs witTi
very much charity, exadling from them nothing but
what was demanded by the canons of their difcipline ;
and providing the fatisfacStion requifite were given, by fign-
îng the confcfhon of faith, the Hturgy of thtir churches,
and the canons of Alez, Charenton, and Alencon, and
their prefent a£l, they fliould be approved and admitted."
In this flate of things, it need not appear ftrange,
that M. fliould be fubje^led to a ftrifter fcrutiny upon
thefe heads, than would have been reckoned nccedary
in other circumftances. It may be partly accounted for,
witliout fuppofing that he had given any juft ground to
fufpe£V, that his fentiments on thcfe points were diffe-
rent from tliofe commonly received. Some through an
fexcefs of zeal might be difpofed to carry their fufpicions
too far ; or if pcrfonal antipathies fubfifted, they could
be conveniently indulged, and covered under the fpeci-
ous |ftetence of regard for orthodoxy. And as he has
been defcribcd as of a difpofition rafli and impetuous, as
well as of a fubtile wit, it is not improbable that he may
have fomeiimes overleaped the cautious boundary, and
broke through the reflraints which canonical ftri(^neft
prefcribed, by touching upon fome of the thorny quef-
tions. However it was, M. was again brought into
trouble on the head of do£\rine. In 1646, the year im-
mediately following that in which the National Synod of
Charenton met, ** he was accufed of teaching, that there
were only temporal promifes under the law, and that
Adam's fm was not imputed to his poflerity. The coun-
cil was always tolerant ; they brought the matter under
their cognifancc ; examined the complaints againlt him,
exhorted him to fimplicity ; and made him repeat hi»

23

adherence to the received do£lrlnef." In 1647, f-iy»
Senebier, ** he added a Corollary to the Theological
thefis againft the Supralapfarians, " Quod objedum
prsedeiliuatioiiis non eft homo ante lapfum j" — that the
obje£l of prxdcftination is man confidered not as before
the fall, but as fallen ; " which was contrary to the opi-
nion of Beza ; but he prevented the objedion, by pro-
feflions of great refped for that divine. Tijf minift;er«
wiftied him not to treat thefe thorny queftions %.'*

But as thefe and fimilar queftions had formerly been
treated, fo they continued to be difcufled in the prjelec-
tions and fyftems of his fucceflbrs in that fchool, and in
nioft other proteft.ant colleges, and controverfial writings
on the fubjeft, down to the prefent times. The Sublap-
farian fcheme in refped to the obje<fl of prxdefttination»
which he maintained in the above thefis, in which man is
confidered in the decree of ele£lion and reprobation, not
as a mere creature, or as to be created and innocent, but
as fallen and miferable, is that which is commonly em-
braced in the moft approven fyftems, and taught in the
Calviniftic churches, though it may not accord with the o-
pinion of Beza, Twifs, Gill, and fome other eminent men.
If Morus was more guilty than his brethren in violating
the injunctions to obferve fdence on fome of thefe con-
troverted fubjeds, or indulged too freely in the fubtilc
inquiries and determinations about the divine decrees,
and other abftrufe points too profound, and infcrutable
for the human mind, he forgot what he often inculcated
in reference to fuch matters. The author Lift quoted,
tells us, that " he frequently told his ftudents, that
there were many things about which a profound filencc

t Scneb. ut fupra, p. 197. ± Ibid. p. 198.

(hould be kept ; that as they were ufelefs for filvation,
fo we oui:rht to allow them to remain in theirt)hfcur:-y,"
&c. — A fentiment, which like many others, th )Uji!i ;îb-
llra£lly rrue, may be either condemnable or admiiTiblc
in practice, according to the nature of the particular
fubjeifls to which it may be applied, and the extent to
which it may be carried. In one of his latin orations,
hititled de Pace, pronounced at Geneva, Mr Bayle favs^
" he (Irongly condemned both Amyrault and Spanheini,
who were at open war wiih one anotlier about univerfal
grace, though without naming them — He told them
their own, as they deferved." This, he adds, " was an
honefl: reprimand, and rejoiced his very heart." This,
if true, might partly have given occafion to that aliena-
tion, that we are told, fubfifted between him and the
elder Spanheim, whofe place he filled after the lafter left
Geneva. Yet the fame author refers to a letter written
by Spanheim to Voflius, (V. Epifl 647.) in which S.
mentions the fa6l, that M. had protefled by an oath,
before the magiflrates of Geneva, that he had not S. at
all in view in that oration.

It appears, then, that the refait of thefe charges and
inquiries produced nothing to criminate M. on the head
of orthodoxy : fo that, if they did not arife from perfcnal
refentmenr and party-fpirit, they may be faiJ to have
been owing, rather to the jealoufies and public living
controverfies ot the times, than to any peculiar or er-
roneous opinions vented by him. And it is a confideration
greatly in his favour, that the venerablr Diodati, who
was the firlt that had fubfcribed the addjefs fent from
the univerfity to the fynod, ag.iinlt the new opinions,"^
continued to be one of his clofeft friends during ^ is re-
fidence at Geneva, and afterwards bore the moft ample

25

teftlmony to the foundiiefs of his faith, as well as the
integrity of his life, as we will hereafter fee : For as
yet we have heard nothing at Geneva of the other fcan-
-dalous tales, which foon were fo afTiduoufly circulated
clfewhere to his difadvarltage. His theological writinsi-s
that remain, mayalfo be appealed to as fufficient vouch-
ers for his theological opinions.

Francis Turretine, whofe praife has long^ been in all
the reformed churches, profecuted his ftudies, for fcve-
tal yearS) under the tuition of Mr M., as he had alfo
done under Diodaii, Tronchin, and Spanheim ; men
whom Piflet, in his oration to the memory of Turretine,
ftyles, " fummos viros, et toto orbe cclebratiffimos."
In 1640, he had defended his public Thefls de felicitate
tnorali et politka ; and in 1644, had difputed his theologi-
cal thefes, de necejfaria Dei gratia-, under the prefidency of
our author ; who entertained a particubr regard for young
Turretine, and compofed fome verfes in his commenda-
tion. In the oration referred to, Piclet, while he gives
each of the others a juft encomium, highly praifes M.
for his eloquence, calling him, " diflertillimum ilium vi-
rum cujus os facundum Pylium fenem vincere potuificr,
et immites ferarum animos lenire ;" — * whofe eloquent
tongue might vanquifli even the aged Pylius, and fof-
ten and tame the ferocious fnirits of the mod favage
beads f .'

Philology, and the critical knowledge of ancient writ-
ers had arrived at great perfeélion, and flourilhed in t!:e
age in which M. lived. His fKill in thefe cannot he
doubted : he feemed fcarcely to have been behind anv
of his co-evals in this refpedl. Several of the moll en.i-

^ Memor. F. Tur. Orat.

D

nent pîiilologifts atid critics of thofe days were among
his intimate friends or correfpondentç. But intent aS
lie was upon that fpecies of learning, he did not forget
to cultivate an acquaintance with ecclefiaftical hiltory,
the primitive chriftian writers, fyfbematic and polemical
theology» — v/hieh he knew well how to employ, and
readily to apply, in the difcuffion of his fubjeQs, fomc-
times, indeed, in too great profuGon, a common fault
in the literati of the age, which often gave to their pro-
du(ftions an air .of pedantry and laboured obfcurity. E-
ven in his difcourfes from the pulpit, traces of his varied
erudition are vifible, in the frequent allufions and topics
of illuftration wliich he introduces, though not in a dry
and formal manner, but \n a manner peculiarly his own.
He foon became dlftinguiflied as a preacher, and re-
tained that reputation, with the greater part, wherever
he went. Among his poRhumous fermons we- have
fome that were preached at Geneva, in the early period
of his miniftry : one of them, delivered on the occafioii
of the anniverfary thankfgiving for the deliverance of
the city from the Scalade, is written in a drain pathetic
and fublime. The reader may fee it amongft his fele£l
fermons tranflated into Englifli.

He gave further proofs of his oratorial powers, in a
different ftyle of compofition, in his Academical Ora»
tions in latin, pronounced when he was rector, be-
fore the honourable and learned auditory of Magiflrates,
Profeflbrs and Students in the difFer^ent faculties, conven-
ed, according to the cuftom of that univerfity, which
were publiflied. That delivered and printed in 1648,
intitled Calvinus, contains the eulogy of that reformer,
and a vindication of him, particularly from fome afper-
fions of Giotius on the head of Servetus," a topic upo»

27

wîiich he has fo often fuffered abufe fines that time : it wat
dedicatco by fhe author to Archbifliop Uflier, in wliich
he teflifies his efteem of his chara6ler and learned la-
bours, and acknowledges the favour of his Ignatian e-
pifties ju(l publitlied, and a copy of his book on the
creeds of the ancient church, which he had fent him.
In his addirefs at the commencement of the oration, a-
nionsr other refpeclable auditors and (IfSngers from
foreign parts, he fpecifies and compliments by name,
his countryman, the Earl of Lorn, fon to the nobis
Marquis of Argyle, at that time the moll powerful and
popular nobleman in Scotland, and whofe memory is
ftill fo dear to the patriotic and pious in that land. Ihe
young lord, " whofe promifing genius," as M. exprefies
it, " happily blooming in the joyful feafon of you> h, was
arifing as a new light to Scotland, and to fum up all in
one word, gave again the image of the father," was then
profecuting his fludies in that excellent fchool, to fit him
for a£ling his part in future life, which eventually might
have been produdtive of more public benefit and happi-
nefa, had his lot fallen in better times : but both fa-
ther and fon, it is well known, were doomed to lofe
their heads upon fcaffolds, through the iniquity of that
Turco-popifh government with which the BritKh king-
doms were foon after curfcd. The name of this noble^-
man has recently been embalmed, arni his chiradleir
drawn in glowing colours, by the hand, of PtIf Fox, fd
that he has been called by fome, the hero of the hifiory
of this celebrated ftatefman.

Among the friends and correfpondents of our Gencr
van profeflbr, was the learned Tanaquil Faber, or Lç
Fevre, in Saumur, the father and preceptor of the cele-
brated. M»d. Dacier. In the colledion of his critic^ii
D 2

28

epîftles in latin, there are two addrefled to M. but with-
out dates. In one of them, relating to fome propofed
emendations of the Greek tragedian iEfchylus, he takes
notice of fome things contained in a preceding letter
from his correfpondent, in which he had complained
much of the uncafy fituation in which he had found
himftlf i probably referring to the vexations he felt be-
fore he left Geneva, or elfe to the diflentions and troubles
which afterwards arofe when he was in Middleburgh.
Faber praifes him for his early proficiency in claflical
literature ; afligns to him the pre-eminence in this kind
of learning; extols his multifarious erudition, calling
him " virum centum artium," — " a man of an hundred
arts ;" and fcruples not to fay, though under the veil
of Grecian phrafes, that what was the higheft attain-
ment in others, and might be deemed by them his
chief accomplifliment, was among the leafl of the things
which recommended him, and to acquit himfeif well as
a divine, was but the fmallefl; part of his excellence.
The ufage of which his friend had complained, he
imputes folely to envy ; calumnious reports and town-
talk, he accounted mere trifles, and fays, if he allowed
himfeif to be troubled and deje£led by what the lower
clafs might fay, he would a£l a part unworthy of him-
feif : he had other fort of judges who knew how to efti-
mate his merit : he had the approbation of princes and
of the learned I .

J " Me vero felicem, More Prseftantiflime, cui de his Ktcru-
lis tecum agere liceat : tecum, inquam, qui fmgulari illarum
cognitione vix Ephebus inclarueras ; quique in iis hodie longç
princeps es j^fed tu alia videlicet judicafti effe potiora. * * *
Certiflimum eft illud Horatji tui raeique,

Qomperlt invicHatn fupremo Jine domarî ?
Kempe omnem virtutem, praeflantiaraque fingularem, cujug

*9

The literati of thofe days could foraetimes be very
liberal in their praifes of one another, as at other tim<;s
they were of their abufe and fcurrilities, according as
they flood afFected. Faber, in condoling with his friendi
tells him, he was much in ihe fame predicament, being
on bad terms with fome of his colleagues and divines in
Saumur, and was charged with being a follower of the
new opinions ; though he profefled himfelP"rather a la-
litudinarian in refpedl to fome of thefe difputes, than a
partifan on either fide, or one careful about maintaining
a charadler for rigid orthodoxy. In fome of his letters
he inveighed againfl; the cenforious fpirit, and pragma-
tical meddling, as he accounted it, of the ecclefiaftics
and confiftory in that place, with whom, at laft, ic is
known, that he came to an open breach. He could not
fpeak of them but in the language of acrimony, and
of contemptuous learned pride : and animofity was
afterwards carried, on his part, to fuch a pitch, that for
years he would not exchange words with them, when
they occafionally met. This made his fituation very
uncomfortable, fo that he alfo, towards the end of his
life, wiflîed and looked out for one more eligible -, ! ut
though fome meafures were concerted for his removal
and for obtaining for him a royal penfion, yet they were
pever carried into effect.

generis ifta tua eft, Invidia comes fequitur, quod te jam fsepe
alias re ipfa cxpertum efle intelligo. * * * 13e calumniolis et
rumufculis, nugas vero illas funt ; quels û moveare, tui obli-
tus fueris. Id qusfo in te juris habeat popcllus ut animi
tranquillitatem tibi excutiat ? Alios, O More, judices. alios
aeftimatores tuee virtutis babes. Ncque vero te (etiamfi ita
credi poftulas,) miferum et infelicem dicam ; fed virum fortem,
fed virum egregie induftrium, viriim denique centum artiiim^
quique Principibus et Do£tis femper probatus fis," &c

Fabri EpJ. 1. i. ep. 6ê.

se

ïnftanccs of this kind, that have fo frequently occur-
red, do little credit to men of fcience ; they are fpot*
in the focieties and feats of learning, as they too often
«re alfo in the fcllowfliip of the church ; and clearly
<hew, that literature fails in influence to meliorate the
temper, and regulate the paflions ; that " knowledge
pufFeth up, while charity edifieth ;" and that great a-
bilities, and even grace, may be attended with glaring
faults, and practical mifcondufl:. The fupercilious, or
fatirical fpirit, in particular, when indulged, natively
tends to provoke refentment, and create alienation and
variance.

Though our divine does not appear to have been »
man given to contention, or to have been the firft ag-
greflTor in the contefts that arofe, yet it would be
too charitable to fuppofe, that he was wholly exempt
from fome of thefe defe£ls incident to men and to
the learned. He had too great a portion of farcaftic
wit, of irritability, and impatience, for his own peace,
or to fufFer aflailants to go with impunity. Whether
from perceiving the fpirit of faâion unallaycd, or from
too deep a fenfe of the ufage he had received from
fome in Geneva, or whether partly from a fondnefs
for change, he ihewcd himfelf not averfe to comply
with the invitation he got to remove to another charge,
Bayle, without dating the particular proceedings men-
tioned above, gives an infinuation, as if the uneafinefs
and troubles M. found at Geneva, were in great mca-
fure owing to his own fpirit and conduct : " As he was
a great preacher, and withal a man of- great learning,
we need not be furprifed if his colleagues were not
«11 his friends. But it muft be owned, that there were
icYçral other things which created him troubles ; for

s»

ifcot to fpeak of his manners, which in all places where
he lived expofed him to reproach with regard to his
love of women, his beft friends own that he wanted
prudence, and was of a very impatient temper. Hovr-
that be, there were two parties formed at Geneva, the
OMe for him and the other againft him ; and it is not
to be doubted, but the firft of thofe parties confifted
not only of perfons who both loved and ejjeemed Mr
M. but alfo the perfons who neither loved nor efteem-
«d him, but appeared on his fide merely becaufe they
faw their enemies at the head of the oppofite party.
We fee inftances of this every day." What juftice
there is in fome of thefe infinuations, we (hall fee frora
the teftimonies of thofe beft acquainted with him,—
and from marks of efteem and affedion Oiown by all
clafles of the city, at the time of his departure.

It appears from the atteftation of the church of Ge-
neva, that M. had formerly been called to London,
and alfo to Lyons, before he received the call from Hol-
land ; but that the great regard they had for him, made
them ufe their earneft endeavour and influence to de-
tain him among them p

" After many cabals," fays Senebier, »' M. finding his
fituation at Geneva infupportable, liftened to the invita-
tions of the city of Middleburgh and the queen of
Bohemia, who demanded him of the council in 1648,
to occupy the chair of paftor and profefTor of Theolo-
gy." Middleburgh is the capital of the province of Zea-

, . i T^ey ffy» if tbey had entertained the leaft fufpîclon of
his being guilty, " quum honorificentiffimîs yocationibus in-
vitaretur, modo Londinum apud Britannos, modo l.ugdunum
apud Segufianos, non cum tanta cura ac teneri affeftus et amo-
OJ non tralatitij fignificatione eum apud nos detinuiflemus."

M. FUes Publ. p. 85. 8â."

^2

ian(î, in the ifland of "Walcheren, a place but too well
Jcnown of late to thoufands of the Britifli army by the
infeftious efFe£ls of its atmofphere. Here there was a
Walloon church fettled, and ferved by two minifters ;
tipon the deceafe of Jeremie Pours, one of them, M.
was called to be his fucceflbr, and colleague wich Le
Long, the furviving pallor. The queen of Bohemia,
here mentioned, was the princefs Elizabeth, daughter
to James VI. of Scotland, who was married to the Elec-
tor Palatine, afterwards crowned king of Bohemia by
the prateftant party, but expelled foon after by the po-
pifh imperial army, which was followed by the deflruc-
tive war of thirty years, and only terminated this year
by the peace of Weftphalia. The exiled king and queen
had taken up their refidence for fome time, during the
troubles, in the United Provinces, in vain expedting to
be reftored either to their kingdom or Ele£lorate ; yet it
may be noticed, it was in the right of defcent from this
pious princefs, that the Britifh crown came to be entail-
ed upon the princefs Sophia and her heirs being pro-
teftants ; in virtue of which the prefent line of illuf-
trious princes of the houfe of Hanover, at the demifc
©f Q^Anne, came to the throne.

Bayle fays, " I know not how M. gained the good
graces of Salmafius, but it is certain that the latter
was the inftrument of bringing the other into the.U-
nited Provinces. He firfl; endeavoured to procure him
a profeflbrfhip of divinity in Harderwick, in Guelder-
land, which not fucceeding, he procured him an invi-
tation to Middleburgh." Salmafius had contrafted ac-
quaintance and friendfliip with M. when he refided in
Burgundy, before he had been called to Leyden J. Sor-

:j: Moreri,

33

bîere, therefore, whom B. quotes, had no reafon for fay-
ing, that M. was known to hun only by name, to af-
ford a colouring» to the invidious turn that was given to
this tranGi6lionj fo difparaging both to Salmafius and
Spanheiin j to vvljich B. feemed to affix fonic degree of
credit, as it was fo agreeable to his humour of cen-
furing divines. ** Some pretend," fays he, " that it
was to chagrin Mr Spanheim, who had been-embroiled in
fome quarrels with Mr M. at Geneva. I flial! quote Sor-
biere's authority for this, who wrote to Mr Patin as fol-
lows : " I can fend you no news about Mr Spanheim, but
what they have fpread abroad fince his death, which is,
that Salmafius had killed him, and that M. was the dagger.
The (lory is long, and to give it you in a few words, all
I can fciy is, that Salmafius did not like the late Spanheim,
for he was fomewhat jealous of his parts and his reputa-
tion in the fchool ; that in order to mortify him, he had
procured an invitation for M. into Holland, — though he
knev/ him only by name, and as the fcourge and aveifion
of his colleague : that the Do£lor left no ftone unturned
to prevent his coming, and that he died foon after that
he heard his adverfary was on the road." * He adds to
this a fliort encomium upon Spanheim, and afterwards
fpeaks of M. in the following terms : '* I cannot give
you my opinion of him fo as to avoid your fufpicion of
my being partial, becaufe he has been my intimate friend
ever fince we were at the univerfity togetlier, that is to
fay, for thefe five and twenty years and upwards, and
becaufe I have appeared in his caufe againft Father Jar-
lige : but it is certain, and all the world owns it, that
his genius is full of fire, that he has vaft ideas, and &ine3
with uncommon luilre |."

f Soibicre, Let. 64. p. 4 7 2.

E

-34

But fuch an injurious account of tlits tranfa^lion, an3
the allc'dged tragical conft^quence to one of thefe great
men, ought not readily to be admitted upon fuch Infuf-
ficient -evidence as is here produced. Bcfides other ex-
<:eptinnb tliat mij^ht be made to the authority of fuch a
vvrittT as Sor'oiere J, he gives this account only as a ru-

ijl î^îi" Sam. Sorbiere was born of protellant parents in the
foiith of France, received his early edacatioa under his uacle,
the learned Mr S. Petit minillerof Nifmes, — became ftudent
and writer in phyfic, G ijfdnchan philofophy, controverfy, po-
litics and diviuitv, wrote volumes of letters, panegyrics, rela-
tions, memoirs ', was editor, tranflator, particularly of fome
Englifli books, Hobbes"" Civis, More's Utopia, &c. , a ram*
bier from province to province, from kingdom to kingdom»
mingling in all affairs ; and making great oflcntation of hi«
learning and general acqnaintance with learned men. He
reilded a few years in Holland in the neighbourhood of Sal-
ni3i!L;s : in 1650 was made principal of the proteftant colley
in Orange, but was turned out of it in two or three years,
being iuFefted with Socinianifm, which his intimacy witk
Curcclîtns, and his tranflation of Crellius' book on the Death
of Cbnjl tended to confirm. In difguit he went to France, in
1653, abjured his reli^.?;ion and turned papift ; for the fake of
en eccleliaflical penlion, he put on the clerical habit, made a
fliew of zeal for Rome, Hobbift, fceptic, and epicurean as he
was ; became a flatterer of cardinals, courtiers, popes, and
J^ew'is le Grand, who gave him a royal penfion with the title
^ king's hiftonographer : feveral benefices and ecclefiallical
p^nfions aftenvardo were heaped upon him, which yet did not
content his avarice He difcovered little fenfe of religiouj
and in his lalt hours took an opiate to dellroy refieftion.

In 1663, he publiihed \\\s ^* J-^'oya^e to Englandy conta'in'w^
many tl.ùugs relating to thejlr.te oflearningy religion,'" &c. The de-
- dication to JL.ewis, gives a iufHcient fpecimen of his own vanity,
and of fuUome flattery of the king, chiefly for his munificence
in rewarding his merits : the Iwok bears marks of inaccuracy,
rniflake and liaf'cy credulity : great freedorns are taken witk
the charader of individuals and of the nation. /For fome of-
fendvc freedoms in it, even his royal patron thought it pru-
dent to baiîifh hini for a time to Nantes : but another fort of
castigation was given him by the pen of Dr Sprat, afterwards
billiop of lluchctter, by whom he is feverdy lailicd. His

35

Biour, facli as tnsy pafs in private circles on occaftons
like tht'f.', viiere great freedoms are often taken, and
where a fmall portion of truth, efpecially in Cufes of a
defamatory nature, receives great additions and exagger-
ation; Letter-wrirers, fuch as he ana G uy Patin hTs
correfpondent (who alfo left to the public an ample coi'-
ledlio», full of anecdotes of many perfons, and ttie ephe-
meral occurences ot his ruii'.) who take u^on them t®
rehearfc the fa£ls and circulate the news of the day, oftea
upon hearfay, wul ufuaJiy !>e otind to have done it m a
very inaccurate man-ier, is any who has read a number
of thsfe letters will î adily fee. Though v-iffer^nce? and
rival/hip might have fubfifted, it does not appear that
the demeks or hoftility between Spanheim or iNiorus, ot
between Salmafiu'; and Spanhrim, had been carried to
fo great excefs as to produce fuch ferions effe«Els. Span-
htim and Morus had been alTociated together in publie
©flices at Geneva but for a fnort time. ~vVnat has been
particularly fpecified as a matter of quarrel between them,
namely, fome different manner of thinking or fpeakijig
upon fome of the queftions publicly agitated at that time,
and the refie£lions fuppofed to have been. covertly thrown
©ut againfl S., in the oration formerly mentioned, can
hardly account for this. Freedom of fpeech, and difler-
«ice of opinion, upon public conîrovertles, certainly arc
not always productive of open perfonal enmity, muclv

book he calls * an iiifolent libel on the nation ;' ' the grcaieH;-:

* part of which confiUs of iil-grouiiclcd rcpicachcs, oi othtr-

* things whereof It was impoflible he fliould receive an accoiuil»^

* and in it he exemplifies the i haraftcr he be/lows on mai.kuid^-

* that they are niojl pleajed iv'ith trifes, and that lue are ail credu-

* lous and liars.' AtranfiaSion oi the voyage, with Dr Sprat-'â-
ebfervations on it fubjoincdj and memoirs of the iite of 6> h^r-'
©raverel, prefixed, was publiflicd in London, in 17CO.

E 2

36

lefs of deadly feuds, or the republic of letters, academics^
and the church, though rarely enjoying profound peace,
would be in a much worfc ftate than they are. Befides,
the fpirit and language of Spanheim, with refpeiSl to M.
was more moderate and lenient even to his dying day»
than this account would imply ; as i? attefted by one
who had good accefs to know them both. G. Cranrzius»
profeflbr of divinity in Leyden, m a preface prefixed to
the edition of Milton's fécond Apology for the people of
England, printed at the Hague, in 1654, fays, ' that he
never heard Spanheim fay a worfe thing of M. than that
he was Altïer, haughty, or confident %.* Nor is it very
credible, that a man fo venerable for his wifdom and
piety as well as his years, one of fuch eftablilhed reputa-
tion as Spanheim was, (hould, upon the mere apprehen-
fion of another divine coming to his neighbourhood, or
hearing that he was on the way, take it fo much to heart
as to ficken and die of mere chagrin or jealoufy. "Who-
ever but reads the account of the uncommon and unre-
mitting labours he had to fuflain, and the gradual de-
cline ot his health for fome time before, will find obvi-
ous reafons fully fufficient to account for his deceafe at
the time it happened, in a more natural as well as a more
Chriftian way.

Spanheim died in May 1649- at the age of 49 ; where-?
as Morus did not fet out from Geneva till July that year.
The author of the Critical DicSlionary, in his article,
fays, * That his great labours flio'rtened his days :' and
Sorbiere, who retails the above ftory, added in the fame
letter, * I muft do this jullice to that Içarned German,

% " Memini me audivifle D. Spanhemium pis merroriae,
nihil in eo reprehendeiitem quam quod eflet jittkfi ut Galli
<dicunt, hoc eft confidens, quod ego non excufo."

^>

even by Salmafius's confefiion, who was not prodigal of
his praife, * that he had a llrong head, and full of learn-
ing ; that he was fit for buunef?, iteady and dexterous,
zealous and laborious/ He read public leflures of di-
vinity, four times^in a week i^ and befides, made private
ones upon different fubje£ts to his fcholars j he heard
the probation. fermons of the ftudents of divinity; he
preached in two languages, German and ^J^rench ; he
vifitt-d the fick •, he wrote a vaft number of letters ;
he compofed at the fame time, two or three books
ypon quite different fubj'rfts i he affift d every Wed-
îiefday at his highnefs the prince's council, who lent
for him to the Hague,— was obliged alfo to make vifits
to the queen of Bohemia/ (who as we have heard join-
ed in the invitation to M.) * being very much efteemed
in thofe two courts ; — he was redlor of the univerfity;
and notwithftanding fo many occupations, be kept an
account of the expences of his houfe, that was full of
boarders." Was there any wonder, that fuch a man
fliould die before old age, without the aid of a dagger,
(ome hundreds of miles diftant ?

SECTION THIRD,

TeP'imonies fo the good charaEicr of M, — Remarh on SeneVtei'
and Bayle — The manner of M,\ departure from Geneva^ and
his reception in Holland,

JMORUS, before he left Geneva, was furnifhed witk
moft ample teftimonials of his orthodoxy and blamelefs
life, figned by the profeffors and paftorb, the ftnate of
the republic, and corroborated by letters, in his favour

5«

Trom fome eminent individuals addreflcd (o Salmafiu?;
Knowing that clandeftine arts had been ulccl to injure- his
reputation in the Low Countries, when a propofal had
been made for introducing him to a profcfibrlhip of
divinity in Guelderland, he demanded them fonjc time
before his departure, and readily obtained them * Nay,
the public teftimonials both of the church and the ccuncîi
were twice given, in order more fully to flop the moui.'. of
detradlion : the former were dated in the end of January
1648, the latter in the end of March and beginning
©f April the fame year, ihe reafon was this: whta
the firft form of them was fent, thou^ïh they bore the
feals of the academy, church, and council, conin.only
appended to their public a£ïs, yet it feems his advcrfariei
attempted to difcr-dit them, alledging they had been
furreplltioufly obtained, wit) out the approbation of 3|
number, or that they had been given only upon the
condition of M. promifing to continue at Genev? *, which
(hows both the virulence of their fpirit againft him, and
the little arts to which they had recourfe. In vindica-
tion of their own lionour as well as of his, the cum*
pany of paftors, and the fyndics, in the mofl. public
and deliberate manner, confirmed what they had done,
and declared thefe furmifes to be utterly falfe. The
fécond aflembly of paftors was more full, and the fub-
fcriptions to the renewed teftimonial more numerous
than the former, which alfo had pafled without oppofi-
tion as to the fubftance of it, though' fome had obje6led
to tht too florid and encomiaftical ftyle in which it was
drawn up, of which Diodati ttlls us, he was one.
The firft was fubfcribed by fifteen of the profefiors
and paftors, and the feccnd by no fewer than twenty-
three, the whole number belonging to their church^t

39

îhree only excepted. Tnc certificates were printed iti
Holland foon aftc-r, without M's knowledge v and were
afterwards inft^rted in his vindication of himfelf, againft
the envenomed attack of Milton ; though with an apo-
logy for doing fo, asthe confidered fome of their contenti
as exceeding in his praife -, for indeed, as Bayle has ob-
fcrved, they " are fo full of encomiums, that they have
more the air of a panegyric than a fentence 'of abfolu-
tion. M. appeared in them purer than fnow in all re-
fpe£ls, both in his do£lrIne and life. — They maintain
that his mod violent enemies could not reproach him
with any thing that deferved cenfure."

Senebier fays on this fubjed, " He left Geneva with a
•ertificate of his orthodoxy, qu tl eut autant de tort de deman-
der qu* an eut tort de lui donner — • which was as injurious for
him to afk, as it was for them to give :" — but for what
intent or with what reafon this is faid, it is not eafy to fee.
This ftep was not only proper but needful, confidered
either on general grounds, or in the peculiar circum-
ftances of the cafe. It is well known that the canons of
ancient church difcipline injoined the ufe of recommen-
datory letters, when minifters or church-members paf-
fed from one church to another, in order to their being
regularly admitted to communion. And did not the
rules and pratflice of the bed regulated churches — thofe
of France, Holjand, Scotland, &c. among the reformed,
authorize and require this ? and the reafon and utility
of the practice plead for it. Voetius, in his ecclefiafli-
cal polity afilgns ihefe reafons, — that it may ferve in-
ftead of a new examination and trial; — and that churches
may not be impofed upon by the admiflion of the unfit
9Qd Ccandalous.

40

Eut in fucK cafes 3" ' '''rcumftanccs as thofe referred
to, it may appear to i.avv- uten indifpenfably neceffary,
both in juftice for the vindication of the party, when
malignant reproaches were afloat directly tending to
blaft. his name and ufefuhiefs, and for the honour of
the churches with which he ehher had been or in future
might be conncdled. Had he a£led a different part, as
many have done in late times, when thé public union,
order and good difcipline of churches are broken down
by lawlefs fe£larianifin •,—■ had he atbitrarily relinquifhtd
one public charge and afTdmed another at a diftance, as
he and a few might have clandeftinely ragreed, depend-
ing on tlie mere credit of his name, or fome more pri-
vate recommendations, without having or feeking any
authentic document to confront fuch ferious and impu-
dent reproaches, he would have been juftly blamed : and
in the event of the injurious charges being tranfmitted
to diflant parts and future times, as in facl they have
been, had nothing of this kind been found to which an
appeal might be made, the mod dcfirable and efFecSlual
mean of defence would have been wanting ; and how
would his honour together with that of the refpe£lable
men, and the learned and religious bodies, with whom he
was fo intimately allociated, have permanently fuffèred ?

But the particular reafons are affigned in the preambles
©f the ftveral teflimonials he received, fufRcient to juftify
him in demanding, and thofe who gave them in grant-
ing them. If the truth of the matter of them be doubt-
ed or denied, let them be difproved on equal or fuperiot
evidence, by thofe who wifli to invalidante them : which
it does not appear was ever yet done eitlier in his life-
time or fince. If it be alledgcd, that thofe who concur-
red in granting them, lent their names to atteft either

41

'Wila^ thev Vnew not, or knew fo he. falfe, thi^ would be
t • .v.co'v. rat a.ghtt^ blame r,\d infdmy unon t' r ve-
rni a . i aov.>ur,\ble bodies, and to make good fuch a
€•' ■ Zf would prove "i ftill more odious as well as ar-
^'i .■; r^flc. PubW ' faith v/ould hereby b': attacked, md
t àrm. <l bond- tor aflurmce and confidence in fociety
w akmec^, by the vole; of mere furmife or flander.

Hid we inl^ed only thi clear t-^flimonyof on-? Dio-
d-iti, a Le^-^r, or Meflrezat, founded upon intimate know-
fedj;-.', in fav')ur of the chara'£ler in queftlon, it ought,
in rcafon, to outweiiih the clamours of a hundred name-
lefs dc!fraclors, or of twenty Miltons, writing merely
ftom hearfay, from fpl.en, -nd under high irritaiioa
t>f î-nind from abutV- thrown upon himfelf : much more
wfi .1 the united voices of venerable judges met in coun-
cil, i-iS' -ior to none at that time in the world, concur
in tnc noft unequivocal and folemn manner in teftify-
ing the fame thing. The certificate of the ecclefiaflics,
as being the competent and moft proper judges in cafes
of this kind, maybe here inferted, tranflated from the
original latin.

*' Having underftood, not from report and hearfay,
bur from a Variety of letters from men famous through-
out the world for their learning, efpecially from the
Rev. and excellent Conftantine L'Empereur ab Oppyk,
the worthv profeffor of S. Theology in the academy of
Leyden, that Alexander Morus, a moft faithful pafior
in our church, and a moft worthy {/on^e dignhshnum)
profcfTor of S Theology in the college, our moli uear
colleague and brother, when he had been warmly recom-
mended by that illullrious and incomparable man CI.
Salmafius, on account of his rare and fingular endow-
ments, his profound erudition, his great eloqucno'. luch
as becomes a divine, his admirable and incredible fuavity

r

42

of rnnnner? — to vnàcrt-û.e the profefTion of Theoloc^y îiî
Guelilerland, was forthwicll purfued and wounded by
ths envenomed aflaults of a vocrilh malic<; *, being
charged not only wjtli new doclirines which cannot be
approven, namely, that Jefus Chrift, in the divine in-
tention, died equidly for all men, and that the fiift fin
of Adam is not imputed unto us ; but alfo horrid -md
atrocious blafphemies and herefics only to be exoiated
by fire, fuch as, that the Floly Spirit is not God, that
it cannot be proved from fciipture that he is God, or
that i is not neceiTary to falvation to believe that he is ;
with other monftrous and prodigious opinions, which
they fay, he entertains, although he dared not to di-
vulge them here in Geneva, on account of the ftrié^er
difcipline ; therefore they profefs aiid folemnly fwear
before God and men, that it is not from any pri-
vate pretexts, but from duty and confcience, that they
advif*^, that fuch a man fliould not be invited, who, oa
account of bad morals and corrupt opinions in religion,
might be capable of infe£ling and diflurbing not one
only, but all the academies in the vvorld ; not to mention
tlie more trifling and worthlefs dregs of contumely', by
their charging him with infufiiciency and loquacity.

*' Truly we are thiorougldy afic^ted with horror, bitter
grief breaks forth from the bottom of our heart, and
•we deplore, vehemently deplore, the temper of the age,
in whicli party fpirit, animofity and hatred, have fuch
unbounded licence f. Wherefore, not only that fuch a
mm as Salmafius may no; ralhly be difcredited, but tJ.at
we may be vindicated from the odium of knowingly
Gherifliing fuch mondcrs in our bofom, and that fuch a
brand of infamy may not, in all time coming, be unde-
fervedly fixed upon a brother, and efpecially that the
evidence of truth may be made manifell here and in all

* ' Vcnenatis viperel llvoris morabus continuo appetitum
cTe et fai'ciatum.'

'j- ' Sane cohorruimus, toti et corpore et animo cojiorrui-
mus, acerbus ernpit intimis mcdullis gemitiis, doluiinus ac
vditmcnter dol-umiis viccm f^eculi, in quo fludijs, affeCiibus et
Qdio tantum licet.'

4

■y

otlier placer, we have reckoned it a juil, pious, and
boundcn daty to bear tefliniotiy in this matter :

*' We therefore tedify and make known to all wliom it
may concern, and to all to whole ears fucli an atroci-
ous calumny may have come, thit our mod dear and
beloved brother, tjie Rev. and moil learned. A. Moru?,
a faithful minifter of the divine word, and celebrated
profeiTor of Theology, has always given us proofs ol liis
integrity, fidelity, candour, modelly, and of fingular
continence and innocence. The fingle virtues which are
confpicuous in others, in him appear collected and
combined together ; and in fuch an eminent degree, thac
wherever we turn our eyes they all lliine diiHn6l as fo
many bright gems. If you confider hi? integrity of life,
here the fnowy vi'hitenefs of his manners, and there tlie
admirable and uniform innocence will attradl you. 'llie
Apollle requires that a bilhop fliould be blamelcfs : no-
thing accordingly can be laid to his charge even by his
molt malignant enemies, on account of which he can
be juflly fubjedled to blame ; [quodjujis sit rcprehautonit oh-
Tîoxium.)

" in the threefold office wliiclihe has difcharged among
us, there is no diligence wliich any could realonably re-
quire, which he has not fliown to the utmoU, it any
ever did. Induftry accompanies aui iuqus applications
and incredible fuccefs (f:licUas) his indultry ; wliich the
edification of the whole church, the public favour of the
people, the eager inclination and infatlable defire of hear-
ing his difcourfes, abundantly teflify- When he preaches
there is fuch a croud of hearers (tanta au.ditorum freqentia
fubfellia rumpit) as fcarce any could believe, unlels they
had feen it. For by the gteateil and a divine dexte-
rity of genius he ' righdy divides the laiutary word.'
In the fchool, where he now prendes as Rector,
what uncommon erudition has he difplayed, ai:d
daily difplays ? One would fay, that nothing huai:i:i or
divine lay concealed from him : wimefs the proieiuons
he has made, both in Grecian liter >iture and theology :.
in the former he has made it evident to ail iliat lie lias
attained to tlie highefi; eminence iii languages, and belles,
lettres, and in the latter that he has drawn from the
fountains oi facred doclrines and myitcries, and wot,
F2

44

from fhc breams only. Ki c.s ever ftiown h'wC if care-
fu, - •' hold faft the Lir'iful word, b\ .ru\.~\. ;,^ ^. ,ijj
be a. v both by found doclrinp to 'uit'n.i, no ai*.. to
convince g-iiii(ayers, avoiding thofi 'ooluti and uni. ar- d
quc'tion:. which cnly gen.'l.:r ftrife ' ihewing the grea- ft
av. rdoii to al' htterodoxy, not co fuv. to Tuch prodis-:r«s
of h-refies, as the fury ind rag. of thtmairv. : ;.r wouid
fix upon hiin, not only undefc-rvedly, hut b.-youd ■ .d
contrary to all truth. li any fufpicion o certain o- er
heads, had formerly been ent-r-rta-ntd n. the mi., s of
fonie, the mattrr was fo perfpiiioufly, plainly, ai H fho-
roughly difcuflVd, that there could not br even thr fi \U
ell i^round left for duu -«t in lime to come. Th. Gene-
van church, that has been celebrated and cuntj i uous
for ;i long courfe of time, for her incorrupted p . y,
requires in their paftors, v/hat of old was r-^quifite in 'le
thewife of Crefar, to be not only ^'>:r oi crime, bat ro
be above even ihe fufpicion o^ i ; and cert.iinly !■ ,ri we
given vvay to this in the Irait, uiin he rt.rt-iveci i^o-iour-
abk caiis, at one cime to London, and at 'nothr.r to
Ly'->ns, we had not detained him among us witn.iuch
care and figns of tender and unchanging aff Ciion- ''he
churrh and academy in that cafe, could eafily have loovnc

the want of him But we valued him Tt a ^ar higher

rare, aiid will ftill value him a? long as ht (h/.li honcur-
abi'v pfvfevtre in virtue. We account the fanr o a
moil upright, honeft, learned man, who is a fingular or-
nr.' lent of our church and academy, to be our own : he
that hurtr. the one, hurts the other We were thereiore
un villing that he ihould have reafon to complain of usj
in the Ihuggle between a good confcience and advvrfe
fortune» that he had been left deftitute in Inch a juft caufe.
♦' Wherefore we have gr^^nted him thefe atteltations
of liis entire orthodoxy, and teftimonies of his innoc rice
■^v.d biamelefs ititegrity, under the feal of our afltrmbly
for iiill certification, and fubfcribed by us in name of
all, the 25rh of January 1648 J.

X "'"lie fiibfcribt-rs were David Clerc paftor a'nd profeffor pre.
fjdeTit- for the time of the ecclefiaftical aflembly ; Of tlu paf-
tors ind prorl-fTors, J Deodatus, Grosslus., Antor.ius L. get us,
P. Mcitrezatius : Of paftors, Jac. Sartorius, Dan. Chabrœu^

45

Thxit of the Syncb'cs and council wis much of the
fame tenor with the above : it was equally ample and
explicite, being m fubdance as foUovVS ; after taking
notice in the preamble of the fcandalous reports which,
had been Ipread t',i|"oughout the Belgic provinces, to the
difadvantage of Morus, as if he itr;ld erroneous and here-
ticai fentiments, which he would be ready to diffeminate
where he could do it with more freedom,—.' of which,
they fay, * he is, by the grace of God entirely free»
even as alfo his probity and good convcifatiou are known
to all i' and having heard the ceilimonial of the profcflbrs
and pallors read in their pre.encc, they exprefled their
approbation of the whole contents : and in confideratioa
of the forefald faife reports which they conlidered as
tending very much to wound the honour of their Rate
and church s and being alfo tuUy aflured of the falfehood
of thefe rumours and fpeeches to the difcredit of the
refpedlable IM. for his great erudition fo higly efltemed,
and ufcful amoiig them j on whom, on account of the
eminent gifts bellowed on him, in regard to his fingulaïf
learning, and in other refpe£lb, they had conferred, be-
fides tlie charge of pallor and profellor in ordinary of
divinity, that of re£lor of their academy, wi.i.h at that
time he worthily executed, as he did alfo tlie others,
with great approbation and fucccfs : And they cer-
tify and attell to all whom ii may concern, ' that from

P. Baccutiiip, A. Dupanus, Stcph Gerardiis, Gabv. B tinus,
Penotus, D;in. Truiichinus ;- J. r'':pan, proiLlTor ol ph'lo-
foph', Steph. Clericus, profeffbr of Greek and moral philo-
fophy.

To the fecoqd tell monial were tl^e following addtional
fnbl'cribers : Pr'trus a Font , Paftcis S.m. Can erius G.
Floar.icfius. P ChaN'aneus, G bartonus, C. a Furiio, E»
Gautcrius, D. Molanus.

AS

the time of his arrival in that city, he had lived and con-
verfed among them, as became a good and honed man,
one of honour and fingular probity, giving evident marks
of exemplary piety. Further, that he was entirely free
of the herefies or erroneous fentiments above named, and
from every kind of heterodoxy ; and that by his fermonç,
writings, and leisures, he had preached and taught no-
thing but what was conform to the found and pure doc-
trine hitherto maintained in tliat church, to the gene-
ral fatisfa6lion, edification, and confolation of every one,
and the approbation of his hearers j manifefting very
great zeal for the glory of God, and the edification of
his church, making his eminent knowledge to appear
in all the parts pertaining to his ofhce, to the great
honour of their church and academy : and as his worthy
labours,' they add, * have hitherto been followed vvith
abundant fruits, fo we hope they will yet continue to be
diftinguiflied as of a mofl worthy workman, and an orna-
in this place, in the work of the Lord, whofe honour
and reputation, fliall always be highy regarded by us.
In teftimony of which, &c.

Signed in name of the Lords Syndics and
Council,

COLLABON.'

It would appear from the ccnclufion of this certificate,
that Morus had not yet formed his final refolution, or
come under any pofitive engagement to leave Geneva, at
lead he had not made it known ; but that he had obtrdn-
cd the letters in order to obviate the cffeiSt of fornieit
afperfions, at the fame time with a view to prepare for
the removal that foon followed. This might have given
occafion to fome of his adverfarics to fay, that they were

47

granted to him on the condition of his remaining in Ge-
neva. Bar as it is ufually the fate of falfe witnefles to
contradict one another or themfdlves, this account was
altogether Inconfiflent with what fome of them afterwards
circulated, and which Milton had the temerity to propale,
that they were given him only upon his promifing to
leave Geneva, from which he was in a manner driven,
or had fled in difgrace, as the only way to efcape from a
procefs that had been raifed againft him, or with which
he was threatened, for no lefs a crime than that of adul-
tery * : in which, had there been the lead truth, their
teftimonials would have little availed him, and they who.
had granted them, upon fuch a fliameful compromife,
would have been the mod criminal of the two ; nor could
it be credible, that, in fuch a cafe, he could have had
fuch an honourable difmilTion, or have found an equal
honourable reception in the places where he went, as we
fhall fee he had.

It is of importance here to have the point of chara£lei:
as it then flood, afcertained upon the bed evidence re-
maining, not only for confronting the rumours then
current, but alfo by way of anticipation, for obviating
the attack made upon it, by the revival of fome of thefe
afterwards together with others. In addition to the public
teftimonials, deliberately and repeatedly given, we have
letters of recommendation, written by feveral individuals
of note ; fome of thefe were alfo publiflied both in French
and latin, — particularly thofe of Diodati f — of Sertorius,

* Milt. Dcf. pro se.

4- "^''he reputation of Diodati every ecclefiaflical fcholar iS
acquainted with. He tranflàted into French F. Paul's Hif-
tory of the council of Trent, ni;d pubiiflied the Italian bible

mînifler of the French ano lulian church ;— of Gotho-
fride, profeiTor of hw and one of the fenators of th ■ "^y.
The letter of the Theological profeflbr D to Salmafius
is mofl: full and particular ; in which he dates fome fafls,
and delineates, in a candid manner, fome traits of cha-
racler, which could not fo well have been inferted in a
general atteftation. But as it is longj tlie reader is refer-
red lo the Appendix, where he will find the greater parC
of it. The following palfagcs may here only be noci-^ed,
fome of which, with fimilar expreffions in a letter writ-
ten by him about the fame time to L'Empereur, have fur-
iiifhed the critical Bayle with matter for fome declan.ation
and invective. In the former, Diodati, fpeaking of the at-
tacks firft made upon M., on the head of drftrine, fays,
* he fliut all their mouths by his declaration, viva voce^
by writings and fubfcriptions, by affirmations and nega-
tions, affertions, and fermons ; fo that the adverfaries
were the firft to give thanks to God, on that . ccount,
and to teftify their entire fatisfaclion with our f'iend,
and their full acquiefcence. From that time he has *n
nothing contravened his proteftations, eitbTt in his pub-
lic teaching, or in familiar converfe, efpeci.Mly with ne,
in which, through the intimacy and conficu-nce fubfilting
between us, I could perceive the very botfoni of his
heart, that it was thoroughly imbued with and firmly
perfuaded of the pure dodrine of our cliurches, thaf he
had a high efteem of the late Mr C.Jvin (which is . n al-
mofl infallible mark of found divine?) and a mofl flntl

with annotations, by the tranflation of which into our language,
he is not al ogether unknown to Englifh readers. Kc pi'b-
h'flied alfo a French verfion of the b.ble, with other wcks.
He was a deputy from Geneva to th.e f^nod of iJort, and had
& particular fliare in the labours of that aflembly.

49

©br^rvance of the fyno'l ot Oort * ' With regard to

hi? -TijVâner;,' fays he. * I can fpe-ik from the moft inti-
ma ce knowledge, and do it with the grcateft fincerity
of heart. H' is of a good natural difpofition, without
fraud or defign, (rank and noble, fo ao to fit nm for
good agreement with all perfons of honour and vir-
tu^ of whatever condition they may be : haRy and very
fenfible of affronts, but eafily recovering h^mfclt ; one
who never gives provocation, but at the fame time is
furniflied with formidable weapons for defending him-
felf *. I have never known any who had reafon to iioaft
of having attacked him- * Confcia virtus,* and if you
add, ' genus irritabile vatuni/ armed him fulBcieutly
againft. his enemies.'

The letter to L'Empereur was much in the fame
(Irnin, giving a moft ample teftimony in favour of Mo-
rns, a part of which only needs to be quoted. After

juftifying him on the hea^^ of do£lrine, he fays,

" As for his manners, as every one ha-, his own which
are natural to him, and which may not fo well accord
wii-h thofe of others, it was alfo his infelicity not to ac-
quire the favourable opinion and judgment of every one.
Being of a high and generous fpiiit, at the fnme time,
lioni^ll and modci>, and cautious of giving offence, but
(harply repelling thofe who attacked him, he let none of
them carry av/ay a very honourable victory. Bcfides,
he had acquired and enjoyed, without abufing it, the
honour and friendfhip of the moft diftinguiflied perfons

• " J^// ne provogue point, mais aussi qui a de terribles ergots
pour se (hfen'ireS'' Hiis is rendered in the tranflation of Bay le
in the General Diftionary. ' one who never gave the firll
provocation, but at the fame time had a violent impulse to
« defend himfelf ' But the terriH^s tracts denote the means
cf di'fence, not the impulfe, alluding to the Hiarp shun of
cocks or other animaU.

G

50

among ns, ho^h of tlie one anc' die other order, and
or all the peoi)is in general : his growing reputation
]ir\d alio procured the elteem and iavour of the great-
en: men in différent mitions abroad, vvlio admired his
great and divevfi[L:d learning, his jncomp.irabie elo-
quence, and the fertility and promptnefs of his geni-
us ; talents of which he himlelf could not be uncon-
fcious, fo as to fuffer himfelf to be, trampled, upon by
perfons who were far inferior to him. But in all this,
nothing of malignity, or of a bafe mind, or of any re-
prehenfible vice, could ever be obferved.

" Give credit to this true teftimony, which may appear
altogether un'iecell'.iry after the public ones granted by
our Senate, and our whole ecclefiaftical body : but it
will have its own weight with thofe who know me to
be an enemy to flattery and prevarication.

" To conclude, I requeft you co take this as an un-
doubted evidence of the truth of the above, thac our
riiagiliracy and church, always oppofe the designs of
thofe who would wifh to draw him from us ; and
ufe their influence to keep iiim among us as a rare
ornament and moil ufeful inftruraent in the fervicc
of God. I leave it to your prudence to make what
ufe of this letter you think proper except it be for
the purpofe of depriving us of him, which would be
like the conducb reprehended by Nat!i;m in David, in
taking away tlie poor man's lamb, notwithftauding the
abundant wealth of your churches *," &c.

* II a aussi ce malheui- de n'avoir peu eftre bien en l'efprït
et jugement de tens; eftant un eipiit reltve et généreux,
touttlois honncûe et modefte, s' abllenant d' ofFenfer ; mais
relançant vivement ceux qui 1' aggrelîent, aufquels il na jam.ais
iaiffc aucune viôoire fort honorable: au relit- ayant acquis' et
pofiedant fans abus l'honneur et V amitié de plus fignalez d'-
entre neus en l'nn tt en l'autre ordre et de tout le peuple ge-
luralmcnt : Sa reputation croiflante lui a aussi acquis l'cllime
<et bien veuillance des plus grands perfonnages dv.- dehois en
'iclivers nr.tions, sdmirans Ion grand divers fca;voir, et i'oa elo-
quei.ce incompaiabie, et la fertilité tt prcniptitudt de fon cfprit
qui fent des dons qui'! ne peut ignorer lui mtliue, pour per«

51

This candid reprefentation, which this divine g^ave,
not merely as a tribute due to frieiidfhip, but to trutli
and a woTihy chara6ler which he reckoned to be injuri-
ouily'ufed, has drawn from the philofopher above named,
the following refleiSlions, which if juî>, would be little
to the honour either of the attcfior or atteilcd ; wliich
however he fails not to bringforward in a molt ^i cious
and impofijîg drefs> which his vaft reading; and fluent
pen couid abundantly fuppîy him with. After quoiing
fome p-ifiages in the above extraits,

" I muft beg leave," he fays, ' to ma^e a fnort re-
flexion upon trie partiaUty of hiendHi;!). fL re we fee
Diod.iti, who, beca'jfc he had aii affeclion for Mr.
Morus, reckons nothing upon a very capital fau!t, and
one v/hich very ill became a minifter, I m'^an a temper
>iiuiiclive to the lait degree, and an excels of pride and
p Aîion. It is in effect to itrip a minifter of a quality
efllntial to him, to deprive him of that gofpei fpirir,' (or,
to divert iiim entirely of the fpirit of the gofpei,' as
one Engliih verfion of Bayle has it,)' which ought to
be infeparable from his ch.iracter, to confcfs what Mr
Diodati has here faid of him ; and yet he had no notion,
that while he mad- thofe acknowledgments he was de-
tratting greatly from the praifcs which he profufely be-
ftowed upon him. H; excuf-.'s iNiorus's vinmclive temper
the hell way he could. ' The importunate attacks or his
enemici,' f lys he, * feemed to require his peltir;g them
from time to li re, to teach them to be quiet.' I meet
every day with people wlio are fo bliud with refpecc to this

metre d' tftrc foule par des efprits beaucoup inférieurs. Mais
en tout cela l'on n'y a jamais remarq le ni malignité, ni
lafcheie, ni aucune vice reproachable. Croyez a ce veritable
témoignage, qui devroit fctnbler in tile après les publies de
noilre fenat et de no'h-e cor})s Ecclefialfic ; mais ne laifTera d'-
avoir fon poids envers ceux q'ji me connoiiT.-nt ennen\y de
iiaterie et de prevarication. Pour eonelulion, Sec.

Mori PuùL F\chs, p 137, 1 3 8..

G 2

52

or that minifter, in whofe iavour they are prcnofT T-cI/,
un 1 1 pictence of the gT 'cit 'oiHties they ifcrib- u; im,
th^it ihev ipeak of !ii Ismaelum aînoft with ptaiiv -{• • \\x.
fuch a one/ they will lay, :s a daiigrrrius enc.^.y, he i-.as
keen weapons and woe to him u'ho provokes inm,' as if
they were fpeaking of a colonel of drigooi-s, or as if a
miiùiler of the rofp'?! wtre a k-vp-'n of th. T^Miti-, arm-
ed w'fh a ihreatnmg device, A^^mo njf impune lacessit. —Nul
Ht s'y frotte \.

Q^i me commorit, 'melius non tangere, clame) ,
Flcbit et iufignis tota cantabitur urbc

Hor. Sat. I. 1. 2*

Take warning, urge me not. or in lampoon
Your name fliall fh ne, a jelt to all the town.

One cannot eafily relieve, that fm h minifler? are at-
tach d any other Jvay to religion than bv \hç rhaiu'^ of
vanity-, or fro ii any other motive than that it furnilhes
th' m Vi'iih nuaus of fetting up tor petty tyran's.' ' but
further/ co'nrinueohe, ' run over a[\ the defe»Sls (or depra-
vi!;e-) to which human nature iv. I'^ubjccft. and you wdl
not iind one more oppofite to the fpirit of C hriUi;M;-ty
than rhe violence v/hich appear? m fome of thefe ftrv M,t3
of Jtfus Chriil. It Ihews that in every fcuffle they want
to ihew their power, to fuch a heigiit that r'O o?ie for the
future may prcfume to oppofe them. Withouc ever
having read Homer, they praftife the words of Aga-
menvion more religioufly than any text ot fcripture.*
Avid here he quotes Homer in Greek and latin ; ^^[iiad Î.
1. V 184) wliich mod of our readers, however, will
hke better to fee in Pope's Englifli.

But then pi-epare, imperious prince prepare.
Fierce ^stl.ou art to eild the capjtive fair,

■\ Ea' le here refers to a letter which Milton produced In
■which it was faid of Ivlorus, what was told of liniacl, " that
hi' liat'.d would be againft everv man, and every m?n s h- nd
againil him.' Mut- ckf. pro scy p. 134 And ht nuit .hau
once ui the fame note, calls in the aid of Milton, and employ»
fome of his v/eupons

:j: Which was tiic motto of a king of Navarre.

S3

Hence iTialt tlxou prove; my ni'jlit, and curfe the hoUf>
Tho'.i 'lorl ll 1 rival of ;m oeri^i oower !
And h ..oc .0 il' tni' :i.> t : ilii b? k lown,
That kings are fubjecl to the gods alone.

Bat here the critK: evi lently affames premisses, in order
too du f his unfavourable conckifion&, winch neitlier
tl\ word'- of Diodati, nor any other good authority yet
produced, furnilhed him wir' . Tlic fupcrïtruflure he
ra'-r 5 goes far «cyond fh' foundation upon wi-ùch he
prôfeff:;s to build Diod;;ti favs not n w cvd of o vindic-
tive tpirit, mucii lefs of on. vindïHive i9 the Lijl degree ; nei-
thcrr does he fpeuk of an exceifive pnd:f and exsrcme un-
controulcd padion ; why then (hould they be charged, in
fuch an unqualified manner, to the account of te fri'^nd,
fo as to divtd iii'n of ar.y ju'd cl.iim to the charac-
ter of a gofprl miniller, or of a i^enuine Chriltian ?
or, vi'hy fliould Diodati be reprt-fented as an advocate for
fuch m unchriftian fpirit ; as o\ie who, from partial af-
feclion, made no account of luch a c:ipiral f.iult ? what
he vindicites is foniethmg very different, yea, qualitiei
altogether inconfiftent with fueh a fpirit. Whar he
excufcs, is a common human infirmity; a warn-th of
temper, irritability, too great a fenfibiiity and impatience
Xinocr injuries or ifFronts, an impuife -though perh^ips
too eager to defend himfclf, a propeiifity natur.d to men
in fuch circuni (tances, and when there is need for it,
moil warrantable and chriltian ; elpteially w!;en the
public ufefulnels of a pcrfon, and the cn^it of religion
may require it At the fame tin.e, he afTures u^, he
haJ a fund of good natur< , n^vcr gave the firft provo-
cation,— was eafily reconciled ; never took up arms tor
revenge, but nurtlv wi"-!! a vie- to make an ini-'oc nt
defence, though the heat and impeiuofuy ot it {videur i»

the original term) might fometimes Imrt the aggrefîôrs;
as wild beads affaulting other animals will often be gorcd^
or as robbers and aflaffins falling upon peaceable p^f-
fengers fometimes rufli upon (harp weapons, and come
ofF with bloody or mort?! wound?. When a fvvarm
of flies becomes troublcfome, who can be blamed for
ufing a fly-flap to drive them away, wlich is the idea
and word employed by the author ; * qu'ils fufîlnt ainfî
efmouchetes pour leur enfeigntr le repofe.' Is n^^c -f-
fary defence, even though accompanied with warmth
and feverity, to be conhnnided with a vindidive fpirit ?
If fo, then fome of the bed of men, the mod emin-rnt
prophets and apodles, who were * men of like puilions
with others j' and even fome fage philofophers and liter-
ary critics, as well as poets, the author of the cenfure-
not excepted, maybe found guilty. What more vehtmenê
than fome exculpatory fpeeches, or more cutting and
confounding than the retorts and recriminations, which
falfe accufations and grofs injuries have drawn from
perfons mod patient and holy ? Nay, He who was inno-
cence and meeknefs itfelf, was provoked by impertinence
and importunity, and repelled the cavils and calumnies of
captious lawyers and do£lors, in fuch a manner as to fliut
their mouths, and cover them with ccnfufion ; fo that
« ihtj durd not ask him any more qutdions ;' and at
other time?, fo as to inccnfe and irritate them more and
more.

It may again be»asked, what fliould make it unbe-
coming in the Cliridian or the m.inider, to ufe the com-
mon right of felf-defence, or repdl attacks that^duectly
tend to dedroy his reputation and blad his influence in
hh dation, more than in any other clafs of men ? Or is
there any thing in tlic law or gofpel that forbids it -

S5

Has not a mînîfter of the gofpal a warfare appoînted
him, and weapons appropriated to it, though they be not
of the fame kind with thofe of the colonel of dragoons,
or a Icnighc of the rnittle ? Is honour, and often a fpu!
rious kind of it, ^Howed to be every thing in a gentle-
man and man of the world, and a good name and true
honour in the Chriftian world, to be reputed as nothing >
Is it courage to be applauded in a red-coat ^o bear no-
thing, to take fire at every trivial or fuppofed affront by
word or deed, and forthwith to give the deadly chal-
lenge, and facrifice perhaps the undefigning inoffenfivc
acqaintance or bofom- friend, to his idol of honour ; and
muft another, becaufe he wears a black coat, bafely fub-
lîiit to every fpecies of injury, and court new infults,
without daring to open his mouth ? or, if he return a
few forcible words, or a little poignant writing, muft he
forfeit all pretenfions to chriftianity ?

But here may we not fufpeft, or rather deteéï, a covert
attack upon the dodrine and fpirit of the gofpel itfelf,
under the pretence of pleading for it ? Many fuch infidi-
OU6 pleas and eulogies may be met with, in the writings
of open or difgulfed infidels in modern times: While
after the example of tliis author, they may pretend
to be giving a Icfture about meeknefs, patience, and
felf-denial, as taught in the gofpel, they mean nothing
Icfs than to praife It. They would clothe it in the garb
of the Stoic, and would graft upon Its true dodrines the
gofpel of anchoritei, of fanatical Anabaptifts or Quakers,
to render it contemptible : as if it were an enemy to'
courage, felf-defence private or public ; as if the meek-
nefs and humility it taught were nothing cKç than »
bafenefs of fpirit, difregard to honour, property, or
life, totally inconfiaent with repelling injuries and in.

56

fults; antl as if not only tJu- oH Roman virtn**, and
pp.triorifin, muft be deHroyecl by '.t, but ail the princi-
pl. < and com mon maxim? by which civil focieties vire
gov.frned and fubfift, be condepned by its fpirit and
docTirines. Th i$ a Voiture, a M.mdeville, a Hume, have
been accuflomed to declaim -, to whom Jennin-^s may
be joined (though probably without the fame hoflile in-
tent in hih Internal evicitnc>s of Chriftianitv.

The foregoing teflimonialG, with fonie others, having
been circulated through the Low Countries, obviated
cverv reafonahle pretence of oppofition to Moms on the
ground of ch.iraâ:er : the call from Middleburgh having
been infilled upon, he thought proper to accept of it 9
and accordingly foon alter left Geneva, not wit'; ut
fome ftriking marks of regret and unabattd regard on
the part of the inhabitants. With what truth Milton
could afterwards traduce him, as * a fugitive fro'm Gene-
ya, — one expelled from it with difgrace,' — in addition
to what has already been off,aed, the reader may learn
from the following account, more cireumftantial than
otherwife might have been needful, had it not been for
that calumny.

A:-- a very intimate and warm fricndfnip had all along
fubfifted between Diodati and Morn , it appeared par-
ticularly at tins crifis. When our divine, on the morn-
ing of his departure, went to take farewell of him,
the venerahk old m.an, with h'n bofont open 'it being
then the '.varm feafon of the year) tenderly embracing
and leaning upon Moius, poured forth over him a copi-
ous fliower of tears -, and when the lat;ter begged of hrni
a hlelUng, ' May God,* faid he, ' beftow upon you his
blcITing uiifpe.ikably better than mine ! Go, my fou !
wherever God and your virtue call you :^wcrc my iimbs.

57

ts TÎgordUS as yours, you fhould not go alone. All
that my feeble old age allows me, is to accompany
you ftill with my good wi flies and affeclion. During
your refidence here, you have been expofed to fome
arrows on my account : now, alas ! I mul't fuftaln them
alone. But there is one comfort, my remaining days
will be but few. I earneftly recommend to you my

youn^ Philip/ His parting friend coulç^only make

anfwer in melting tears and fobs. But let the learned
reader take the account in his own energetic language
below f .

While this fcene was tranfading, there were fome wha
advertifed him that the post-equipage was in readinefs,
and that he mull haften his departure, the manner o£
of which he' thus continues to defcribe — ' If I fled from
Geneva, I at lead fled very flowly and openly, even at
noon day ; furrounded by a great number of friends,
through the midft of the city, and every where faluted
by crowds in the way. I appeal even to my enemies,
if there be ftill fome, whom neither time, nor the fear

f * Hcerct animo meo, hoerebitque femper ilUus diei
memoria, quo valediclurus ipfi adfui, cum oprimus fe-
nex et meliori feculo dignus, aperto et nudo, ut anni ct
diei tempus erat, petlore me incumbens, largum lachry-
marum imbrem in caput mcum profudit, et roganti ut
benediceret, coslestibus verbis refpondit : * Deus,' inquit.
* benedictionem tibi fuam longe mea meliorem largiatur,
Abi, mi fiîi, quo D^^us et virtus tua te vocat. Mca û
t;mtum genua quantum tua valerent, felus non abires.
Quod folum poflum in hac niifera feneclutc mea, te vo^
tis et afteclu femper eodem profequar. Tu quamdiu
hie fuisti, tela pro me multa excepi^ti, objetlu corpo-
ris tui defendens meum. Hei mihi ! jam omnia in me
unum contorquebantur. Scd bene est, quod pauci lupsr-
iunt dies/ &ç. Fides publ. p- i^S'^-

5«"

of God, nor my patience, have yet appeafed ; — I call
upon thofe to bear witnefs who were farthest from being
favourabiydifpofed to me, whether at my departure frotn
Geneva, tiie whole people did not follow me with their
bell wiflies, and not a few with tears — wiiether my
doors were not befet by a concourfe of people, flowinj^ to-
gether in order to take farewell ? — Whether an incredible
multitude did not attend me without the gates of the
city, as far as the third mile (lone ; and whether among
the numerous crowd, there were not, partly in chariots,
partly on horfebacli, fome nobles, fome fenators, fome
of the military, and of all other orders, officioufly con-
clu6ling me to the fame diftance ? When taking a viev*'
of them all, I could not behold them with dry eyes ; and
havitig turned the reins to face them, when taking the
Lift adieu, with fhaking of hands and ardent fucceffive
embracesj I could not refrain from expreihng myfélf a-
loud in thefc terms; ' God is my witnefs, that I never
could have brought my mind to confent co be drawn a-
\vay from this place, and to feek a fettlement in any-
other, if I could have forefeen this grief, or could pof-
iVuly have formed a conception of the refpe6ls I have
experienced to-day from fo many honourable and emi-
nent men, exceeding all belief, and of that favourable
«lifpofition towards me, which all the citizens have
ill own *.'

'i his was a cavalcade and proceflion of no commo»
nature: while it did honour to the minifter, it reflected
no lef; honour upon the republic. No city or (late, in-
t.leed, ever owed fo much to the labours of their learned
•ïncn, efpccially to the eminent charadlers of their eccle-

* Fides Publ. p. 155. 156.

59

llaflical teachers, as Geneva did» From the tune of their
declared Independence, and the fettlemeat of a free
proteftant conftitution there, this was one prnicipai foiircc
from which its fame, opulence and profperity was deriv-
ed. Nor had it be^n wanting in due acknowledgments
and jrrateful returns. Similar tokens of regard h,id. in
the fame public manner, a little before, been (hewn to
Spanhcim, when he left that city for Leydenj^,

Morus, after this afiecling parting, profecuted his
journey for the Netherlands by Switzerland, wliere he
met with civilities, particularly from tlie minlilers and
profefl(^rs of Bafle^ Proceeding thro' Upper Germanyj.
he dcfcended by the Rhine into Belgium. And as there
was a meeting of the fynod of the minlilers of the W.iU
loon churches in the provinces, then convened at M.ief-»
tricht on the Meufe, he prefented himfelf to it. lie
had not applied for any new public. attcftatiojis when he
left Geneva ; after thofe he had fo lately received, he,
judged it not only unneceffary, but indifcreet to impor-
tune them again fo foon on that head. Yet, he tell us,
fuch recommendatory letters were not wanting to him..
The magiflrates and church of Geneva had, unfolicitcdi
fent thefe by his hand, to the church of Middleburgh
and the fynod ; which he delivered to-, ihcm fealed. His
friend Diodati had alfo on this occafion renewed his re-
commendations. Milcon termed the letters he h.ul re-
ceived from Geneva, fri^'ululas ; but he himfelf confeiics,
• tliey were written in fuch a llraln, îicivping upon hinr
fuch praifes, that if he did not confider them as pro-
ceeding entirely from a fort of overflow or excefs of
^iiiduefs, he would be even a prouder animal ihati

H2

00

Milton himfelf. The efFeâ: fhewcd of what kind they
were,, whether warm or cold -j-.*

They were no fooner read in the fynod than he was call-
ed and defired to take his feat, and in all matters that
came under confideration in fynod, his mind was taken as
a member of the court. All were forward to embrace him ;
they condoled with him, and at the fame time congratu-
lated him on his happy arrival. He was forthwith ap-
pointed to preach before that learned affembly, and be-
fore a very numerous and refpe£lable auditory ; which
he did with general applaufe, in which thofe who were
faid to have been prejudiced againft him, concurred |.

About this time the hiftorical chair of Amfterdam had
become vacant by the death of Ger. Js. Voflius ; the cura-
tors thinking they could not find one more fit to fupply
it than Morus, they defired Salmafius to invite him ; but
not havi;ig received an anfwer, they appointed two, in
their name, to wait upon him when he came to Leyden,
to make an offer of it to him, as he came to fettle in
Mlddlcburgh : but he declined the offer, on account of
the engagements he had entered into with that city, from
which he did not reckon himfclf at liberty to recede. D.
Blondel was therefore called by them from France to
fill that charge. But the magiftrates and regents of the
city of Amfterdam, wrote Morus a refpeftful letter,
dated the 31(1 of Dec. 1649, in which* they acknowledg-

f * Hre profeâ;o fuerunt ejufmodi, ut ijs mc laudibus cumula»
rent, quas ego si aliunde profeftus agnofcerem quam ex abun»
<iantia quadam amoris, animal effem ipfo Miltono fuperbius.
Ills aiitcm qnales fuerint, fervidse an frigidce, perfacilis exiHi-
matio eft ex efFetlu.' Ut Supra, p. 157.

j: Qua perafta, ccrtatim omnes gratulari, collaudare, ij etianj
qui contra me armati, hoc ell non bene animati, fed, ut arbitrer,
falfo, venifsc dicebantur.

6t

«d the force of Kisexcufe, and gave way to the prior cTaîm
of thofe of Middleburgh, who had exprefsly called and
obtained him from C, with dilTiculty ; they declare, that
they entertained the fame opinion of his eminent learning,
aud the fame afFe£l?on and efteem for his perfon -, but for-
fseing that they could not for the prefent obtain their de^
fign without giving great occafion of jealoufy and difplea-
fure to the magiftrates and church of M., in the fervice of
which he had juft newly entered, they thought it moft
prudent to temporize until the way might, through time,
be cleared for attaining their purpofe, with fewer obfta-
cles, and lefs oiFencef.* Thus they fhewed they had
not altogether relinquifhed their view, and accordingly,
ivithin a few years, renewed their application.

SECTIONFOURTH.

^rom MoRUs' settlement m Holland to the time of hit deparluri
from Middleburgh.-'^ Some account of the Walloon Synod,—
His process before the Synod — ^Ind before the Supreme conrt of
Holland. — Manner (f his leaving Middleburgh,

X HE admiflion of our divine into his double charge ia
Middleburgh, foon after the meeting of bynod, appear»
to have been with much apparent hanrony ; and there,
for a time, it would feem, he enjoyed fomc repofe, apply-
ing himfelf to the ftudies fuitable to his fundlion. Some

t * Mais prévoyant qui a celle heure nous ne fcaurions venu*
a bout de notre deflcin fans donner grande jaloufie et degout
au Maglftrat et a l'Eglffe de M. dans laquelle vous reiicz tout
fraifchement d' entrer, nous avons creu eftre la bienfeance de
temporifer, jufques a ce que le temps nous applanira le chtmlit
pour pouvoir parvenir a notre defTein, avec moins d* obftaclc»
et d' ofFenfc,' &c. Fidcs, &c. p. 214.

#2

i»f his latîn works were publiftied, others rcpubliftie^j
during his refuience in this place.

Upon his fettlcment as paftor in the Walloon church
în that city, his colleague in that charge, J. Lc Long,
with the Elders and Overfeers of the church, returned
a letier of thanks to the church of Geneva, dated the
id of November 1649, in anfwer to that which had
been fent to them from thence, in July preceding, where-
in they exprefs their high fatisfa£lion, and their fenfe of
Morus* merit; though, like fome others, rather ia 9.
hyperbolical drain :

" Meflrs. and much honoured Brethren,
** We have received much fatisfaftion from the let-
ter you wrote to us of the 5th of July, by our much
refpected brother, the Sieur A. Morus, 1-ately the cere-
brated paftor and profeflbr in your city, and now both
the one and the other in ours ; by which we fee the
confirmation of the high teftimonies you had formerly
rendered to his miniftry. We have no doubt but that
he will continue to make it appear, that it was not
without good reafon that you honoured him with (uch
fignal commendations ; of which he has (hewn to us
that he was indeed moft deferving. You will hardly
believe with what ardour and concourfe of pt^ople his
fermons are heard ; which feem to tranfport (ravir) thofe
who hear them to the third heaven. The Synod of our
churches met at Maeftrich, heard him expound the myf-
tery of godlinefs with univerfal joy and approbation ;
every one confeihng that he unites together fo ciexter-
oufly thefetwo excellent qualities,^namely, the ufcful ai)d
the agreeable, profound knowledge with confumate elo-
quence, that he cannot poflibly fail to give fati'^fadioq
to his auditors. We are infinitely obliged to you for
fuch a precious prefcnt ; and beg you will believe, that
we ftull never lofe a grateful remembrance of it : — ^re-
volving with all our heart, to remain ever yours, fee.

The Condu6tors of the Walloon church of
Middleburgh."

|t may be proper here, to g;ive a brief account of thefc

5j

Churches with which Morus wss now incorporated, ancî
of ^hv; Walloon Synod, to whofe jurifdidlion hi- became
fubjeâ:, for the fake of fome readers who may be (Irangert
to their hiilory. Walloon was a denomination or fir-
name ufually given |.o the people who fpoke the French

language in the Low Countries, Flanders, Artois,

Hainault, &c. At an early period of the reformation, pro-
teftant churches were formed confiding of people of thafi
denomination, and the fynod that had the infpe£lion
over them, was more ancient than any other in the
United Provinces. To évite perfecution, they began to
affemble at Tournay and Antwerp, in 1563 ; till, in 15771
t!\ey held their meetings at Embden, having deputies both
from the Walloon and Flemifh churches ; but they after-
wards kept feparate. Their congregations and ecclefiafti-
cal meetings have alfo been held di{lin£lly from thofe oS
the eftabliflied church in Holland ; although there wa»
the greateft agreement between them in refpeft of doc-
trine, and little if any variation among them in theip
forms of public worfliip, or in ecclefiaftical government
and difcipline, which was presbyterian. They confe-
quently differed but little from the Genevan or French
churches, with whom they maintained a clofe correfpon-
dence and fellowflnp, as well as with the Dutch and
Flemifli.

Ths provincial fynods in Holland were reckoned nine-
in whole, in which number the Walloon was included
as one : but as the churches of which the latter was
compofed, were difperfed up and down throughout all
the feven proteftant provinces, they formed among them-
felves a kind of national fynod, having a more extenfivc
and an independent jurifdidion. They met once, or
more ufually twice a- year, fcmetimes in one province

64

fomctimes in another ; though in later times, the greatef
number of their congregations were fituated in the pro-
vince of Holland. No national fynod was called in the
Provinces fince that of Dort. In the interim between
Synods, four or five churches were appointed to meet
as a claflis for decilions when needful, but fubje£l: to the
review of next Synod ; to which fome miniflers and
elders were deputed from the feveral churches. The
acts of the Walloon Synod were annually printed : even
as all the acts of the Dutch provincial Synods were re-
giftered, and copies of them ordered to be fent to all the
other provinces.

The number of the churches and the minifters, at
different times, as may well be fuppofed, has greatly
varied. When the proteftants were much opprefled
in France, and their minifters at laft baniflied, by the
Tcvocaiion of the editl, they received a great accef-
fjon y as the refugees generally joined themfelves to the
congregations formerly eftabiished where their language
was fpoken, or formed new ones, as edification and cir-
circumftances might require j but they remained ftill un-
der one general Synod. Near the beginning of the laft
century the total number of cftabliflied minifters in Hol-
land was faid to be 447 * ; befides thofe maintained
by the fiâtes in Germany, England, and almoft every
nation in Europe, fevcn in America, feventy in the In-
dies fupported by the Indian companies ; and without
reckoning the Englifli churches in all the principal trad-
ing cities, v^hofc minifters v/ere paid by the States, and

* This computation, I am difpofed to tliink, mufl: have in-
eluded only the niinibci- in the province of Hohand, properly
fo called, though ufnally ftatcd to be 331. Janicon, Etai
,fris. de la Rep. torn. i. p. 31, &c.

65

Vere members of the Flemifh Synod. The W-iIloon
churches were fifty, and ferved by about one hundred
miiiiftets. At the time of the hte invafion of the
Xlnited Provinces by the French, we are told, that the
paflors of the Dttch church were 1579*, the Roman
Catholic 800 ; the Walloon 90; the Lutheran 53 ; the
Arminian 43 %. Of the recent flate of religion there,
amidft the wreck of their conllitution, laws, and com-
merce, we hear but little : an exaSt account of the pre-
fent condition of that and other proteftant churches on
the continent, and the efftù. that the grand revolutionary
convulfion has had upon them, is a great defideratum.

But to return to our narrative ; Morus, for a time
lived in good underftanding with his brethren in fynod :
he was fent by the recommendation of his church, as
deputy to the next fynodical meeting, at Campen, in
May 1650. That fynod, in anfwcr to the letters fent
by the paflors and profeflbrs of Geneva to them at their
former meeting, wrote^as follows :—

" Meflrs. and Honourable Brethren,
*< The churches of our language gathered in thefe
free and United Provinces, have always ha*l great rea«
fon to confider yours with veneration, and to account
it an honour and highly to efteem the holy communion
which we have with it in the Lord. And although dif-
tance of places, and the unfrequency of opportunities,
do not allow us to teftify this by letters, or to give proofs
of it in deed, fo often as we would wifh, yet we intreat
you to reft allured, that we fiiall always remain in the
the difpofition and defign to preferve for ever invio-
late, the facred bonds of this religious conjunQion. The
Divine providence of late, has afforded you different oc-
cafions for giving us proofs and inflnnces of your fricnd-
fliip ; and to us for returning thofc tokens of refpect

$ Zimmcrm, p. iSO.
I

66

which are due to you, and which we defire to give*
Xjn^ oF thefe was the calUng of our very dear and hon-
oured brother, Mr. A- Morus, &c., on which otcaiion,
the lèverai letters and teflimonials fent from you, were
received on our part with joy, and all due deference :
and which are now become to us fo much the more valu-
able and certain, as they have been fully confirmed by
the exercife of his great and fingular gitts, and his ap-
prove a good condudl, and the unblameable conv^ ria-
tiou which he has manifefted among usf. W pray
that God may load him more and more with his blef-
•fings ; and we blefs him from our heart for having grant-
ed him to. us, and we thank you mod afFe£lionate.y for
veildinfT him to us. The mournful death of our very
iear and honoured brother, M. Spanheim, is another of
thefe occaiions, See,

May 6. *' Signed by the Moderator and Scribes," &c.

l5ut the peace our divine enjoyed in Middleburgh was
"iilfo of fhort continuance. As he correfponded occafion-
ally with fome of his remaining friends in Geneva.', — •
(for the aged Diodati did not long furvive their parting,)
111 a letter he wrote to Mr. Godefroy, profeflbr and fyn-
dic above mentioned, near the beginning of the year
1 65 1, he had exprefled the uneafinefs he was a-new ex-
pofed to, by factious defigns and calumnious attacks ;
to which his friend refers in his anfwer, a copy of which
is preferved ; and is an evidence that his friends there
retained their former good opinion of him, and that no
r.ew proceedings and difcoveries had there taken place
to ohlige them to alter it. After congratidating him oh
the advantages hepoficfled in his new fituation, for dif-
charping his public duties with fucc<;fs, and for a more
free profecution of Tuerary and profitable fludies, he fays,
* he was happy to hear that he liad laid afide thorny coti-

j * Par r approbation qu'il nous a donne de la bonne con-
liitw- et de fa cuavi;r-/;4t'0u irreprflienliHe au milieu de nous.*

67

troverfîes, and employed himftlfwholly in ecclefiafticaî.
ftuciits :' He tfrils înin, * that the mufes with thtm, .vere
in a deep fiience and afleep, fince the deceafe of Diociati,
and the departure of Mbrus, — ' the men,' he fays, < he
had been wont tO point out to. foreigners as the orna-
ment of their city. Since the death of the former, a!î
honeft men regretted that he had been taken from them.'

" Difregard/ he adds, * envy and ignorance. Ah I

My Morus, what fignify thefe new diabolical eruptions.
My affairs are in much the fame fituation. Milchicvous
woman ! I will take care of the eggs of ferpems f.'

It was about this time, that the new broils began, and
the rum.ours were circulated, that involved him in a
double procefs, and occafioned trouble equal to any
thing he had yet fufFered at Geneva. The ftorm, it
would appear, was chiefly excited by a haughty and re--.

f * * * ' Profpera tua non minus me tangunt quam. v.d-
Tcrfa mea. Hoc fcilicet crat quod' toties tibi occiiicbam :
quidjliic, ml Mori, tuamet gaudia moraris, ubi tanta virta1.ibi:3,
tuis meretifque messis :' O bcatiim tc poll tot exantlatos la-,
bores ! Id nunc demum vivere eft, ubi et folito munerc foluto.
animo fungi licet., inter tot applaufus et acclamationeSj et st
quid inde horarum fpatijque lupcreft, bonis litcris lludijfquc-
impendere fas eft. . Qiia ctiam parte animum mcum ingtuti.
Hietu llberafti, cum afSrmas te ni'ssis fpinosis tiifticis, totum
deinceps ecclesiastico studio immsrgendum. Eoiiuni \e«»-
fadlum; et judicio tuo dignum. Sed irufis noftric hie ahum.
filent ftertuntque, poftea qiinrr. Jo. Detjd. et M. his aditis ex-
ceffcre : quos \iros ego ceu urbis nolcrie decora extcriy oilcu-
taie folebam. Poftquam ille fato. datus eft eo magis lugt-r.t
hie omnes probi te nobis eveptum. Invidiam et imperii iam
noli moravi. Heus ! rni More^ )ii novJssimi Diabck crepitus.
Mese res in codem ftatu funt Pessima muJier, &c- Cavcbo

ab ovis ferpentum. Ccrte noris velini neminem me r/urt^-

îium penitssimo pcdlore magis amare co.lerequs quam tcinL>,
iofum.' Fides. &c, tj. ikz — 3,
'^12

6S

fentful female, ^^ho hag like took pleafure to direcH: and
drive it to the ut.noll poflible fury. T>ms was no other
than the noted Madarii Saumaife, the wife of his pdtron
at Leyden, in whofe houfe he might for a fhort time liave
lefided, after his arrival, or occafionally afterwards It
was no fecret that Salmnfîus. great as he was accounted
in the fchools, was unhappily fubjcfled to a dome file ty-
ranny, and the fcourge of the tongue of a termagant. She
was a woman of Gouda, of a noble family, and of fuch
a fpirit as to vaunt of the rule Ihe bore over her husband.
She would often boafl:, that * fhe had for a husband, but
not for a mafter, the moil learned of all the noble?, and
the m-oll noble of all the learned.' Huetius, who became
intimate with Salmafms, having been an afTociate with
him in the vifit they paid to the capricious Chriftina of
Sweden, and refided fome time with him upon his
return, could not but remark his mild and pacific difpo-
fition in private life, whatever heat and violence appear-
ed in his writings |. In the political conteft that broke
out between Salmafius and Mikon, the latter feems to
dwell upon this topic with malevolent pleafure, having
the^^rudenefs often to reproach him with this domeftic
infelicity, as well as with his want of children-, and for
his tame fubmiflion to his fpoufe's imperious fway ; in-
Head of putting in practice the new Miltonian do6lrinc
and difcipline of divorce.

:}: The author of the Eloge upon Huetius, fays, • Parmi
kvS lavans qu' il connut en Hollande, Saumaife tient le primier
rang D'.roit-on, a Ivmportment qni règne dans les écrits de
Saumaife que c'etoit au fond un homme facile, communica-
tif, et la douceur même ? JufqUe la qu' il fe laiffoit dominer
par une femme hautaine et chag-rine. qui fe vantoit d'avoir
pour mari, mai non pas pour maitre, le plus Savan de tous les
nobles, et le plus noble de tous les Savans.' Huetlana p. xii.

The charader of this lady, Moras fays, was very
notorious, oT whom it was better to be filent, than to
fpeak particularly. Slie hail for fome time before been
incenfed againft him, for fome reafons which he clecUr.es
to menàon, although, he fays, he would not have been
afliamcd, had they been all particularly explained. Slie
exerted herfelf to tlie utmofl to form a party againft
him, and in carrying on this deOgn, flie j«'fpcufed the
caufe of her waiting maid, the fame Pontia that figure»
fo often in Milton's libellous pages ; though her name
Was rot Pontia, but was probably deviled at the plea,
fure of the fatirift, or perhaps, asMorus conjectures, in
allufion to PontiusPilate,by a frigid and more than pueri'e
jeft. They plotted together it fcems to have inveigled
him into an uufuitable and inuufpicious marriage ; on
what ground or pretext we are not told. AVhcn this
defign became matter of talk, Mcrus openly and {lr(;n;:,!y
declared his aveifion j upon which Madam vowed his
deftru£lion, often exprefiing herfelf in thefe terms, * A-
cheronta movebo, et perdam ipfam.' Accordingly, by
the indigation of a certain perfon (F*.i:{Hr.o prsfcrtim in-
ftigante) ftie began to acl in concert with a fa61ion, and
by their emifiaries to fend abroad horrid and thundering
accufatipns, which foon were refounded throughout all
Belgium. She foon difcovcred — * furens quid fxniina pof-
fit :' but flie led herfelf and her afroci:;tes into a trouble-
fome labyrinth rather tJian the object of her refentment,
out of which the parties could only be extricated by an
acl of public jufiiice. Ic was not, however, he avers, till
after (he had babbled up and down in the mofl. intempe-
rate and ofFenfive manner concerning him |, and not till

it * Anferina ingluvie ad rancedinem ufque ita garriret.*

liîs reputation was in danger of fufférîng, în the opînîoa
of thofe who were unacquainted with her Junotuan or
rather Sinonian arts, as he cxprefles it, and who believed
her to have that regard for him that flic itill pretended,
that he proceeded firft to call the fervant to accooni In
law, or more properly the miflrefs, who managed the
plot under her name. He never could have taken fuch
a ftep, he fays, if his mind had not been influenced by a
confcious fenfe of reditude -, more efpccially a.> Salrna-
fius was greatly oppofite to it ; and earneftly requefted
that he (hould defift from fuch a procefs : and it was
reprefented to him, that if he fhould perfift in it, Saî-
mafius could not befriend him in it, at the hazard of
affronting and offending his wife. Some months, therc"-
fore, were fuffered to pafs, while friends on both fides
attempted to bring about a reconciliation, and to provide
fonie remedy for reftraining fuch violent outrages. The
prince of Tarentum himfelf.fays our author,as if forgetful
of his dignity, condefcended to take cognifance of thefe
trifling matters f. How little favourable his judgment
was to his adverfaries, with what diligence and fagacity
he deteâed their ftratagems, how generoufly he applied
his healing hand to the cruel wound, and how juftly, after
he had found out their artifices, and infiduous dealing,
he ordered them to drop their caufe in filcnce, he fays,

f This prince was a fon of the duke and duchefs de
la Trimouille, who bore the name of Prince de Tahnont,
and afterwards known by that of the Prince de Tarcnte.
The duchefs his mother, was the worthy daughter of
Maréchal de Bouillon, zealous for her religion, who had
the refolution to have her fon educated in it, after her
huiiband had abandoned it i and he -vas married to a
princefs of the illulhiouG houfc of Heffe. Benoit, Jtiift.
torn. 3. p. 57.

was well known to all : and what commendations kit
iighnefs the prince drew from the ;aouth of îîalma-
fius himfelf, it did not become him to mention p

When the prince's attempts failed of defired fuccefs,
thofe of others proved equally ineffedual. It became
evident that his opponents wanted nothing more than
to protra6l the time, and throw obftacles in the way o£
obtaining a judicial fentence. This deter-mined him,
not without advice of fome of the higheft rank, and of
the wifeft heads in Belgium, to profecutc his caufe before
the fupreme court in Holland. * What remained for me

* to do,* fays he, * after every other method had been

* tried, and I continued to be abufed by every tongue ;

* —what but to manifeft to thofe who wondered at

* my patience, a confcioufnefs of innocence ? Time was

* fpent in trifling formalities, in perpetual fhifting, ia

* colledling falfe witneffes and teftimonies, leaving no-

* thing unattempted to vex and defame me, tho' without

* hope as they declared, of prevailing in judgment, * but

* we gain our caufe/ they would fay, * if we can blaO:

* his reputation :' — in fuch a general combination againft

* me, in fome by open hoftility, in others by underhand

* methods, I could not have been fupported, unlefs I

* had committed all to the will and providence of him

t * Quam vero minime fecundum adverfarios meos
judicarit celsisfimus princeps, quam fagaci folertia tech-
Tias eorum verfutiafquc detexerit, quam gencrofe tarn ef-
ferato ulceri curando manum fublimium rerum tra£la-
tione dignissimam commodarit, quam jufte poftquani
fjicas olfecit, et dolos atque insidias deprehendit, eos
fuas sibi res habere juiTerlt, norunt omues : quasvero mei
Maudes, qanta encomia ex ipsius Salmasii ore hauferit,
commemorar*: nun «ft pudoris mei.'

Fidesj 3v'C. p. 192-3.

72

* who raifes up the opprellecl, and defends the tec-

* ble.' Yet he ;Tratefully acknowledges that he was not
Icl'c deftitute of friends even in the mod difficult crifio :
but he earntflly requefted thofe of chief rsote and influ-
ence, who intcrefted themfelves in his caufe, that, if they
^ould do hin a kindnefs, they fliould not employ their
authority in the matter, fo as to prevent his innocence
from fairly gaining the vi£lory : and in this he certainly
gave an indioution of a clear and manly mind.

As the opponents of Morus anticipated, an unfavour-
ahle ilkie of the caufe before the civil court, tliey attempt-
ed, while it was yet in dependence there, to overwhelni
him in the ecclenadicai. For this they colletled all
their ftrength ; and here they appeared as profecutors
■with fonle more hope of fuccefs : ' In the Synod,' faid
the female conduftrefs, * he will have hh enemies for his
judges; — there is not one of the mlnifters but would
wifli to fee him cruihed.' Her predidion in this cafe
turned out as ufually it had done. The Synod convened
at Utrecht. Delegates from Leyden attended : they pro-
duced a f;ick-full of foul accufitious and falfe teftimonies ;
of which Mihon afterward appears to have availed him-
felf in writing his fcurrilou3 libel. They were introduced
by a virulent preface, • a true philippic, 7^/«.^«?«,' as our
author calls it. They confuked tlie Synod, whether he
iliould be defircd to preach in their city, if he fliould
come there : for it vexed his adve.rfaries, that during
this proccfs and his afRitlion he continued to preach
wherever he went ; and he thanks God, that he had ne-
ver done it more Ircqiiently, or witii greater fruit. * Lit
him refrain from ))reaching ;' faid one among them;
* let him only cxcrcife ih'* ptofcflbrfiiip, for which hs
feenis to have been born and formed.' He who faid thia

73

w>« not a profeflbr. The delegates infifled, that the
S ■ 1 i, ill ■)tdii to give a deliberate judgment in the
çaufcihjnid proceed to read the papers they had brought
UP. Tv^fe ;vho were mod inclined to favour Morus
ODpor^-d this, alledging that they were notorious libels,
an.l th It it was unbecoming that venerable affembly to
allow their ears to be entertained with female fquabbles
and fcoldings. Others again infifled, that --he juft re-
quell of the delegates fhould be complied with ; that this
would rather be an advantage to the party accufed ; and
that the cognifance of this affair belonged to the Synod.
The majority ho^vever were of opinion, that they (hould
relieve themfelves from the trouble of hearing fuch trif-
ling matters ; fo that one of thefe members meeting with
Morus, began to congratulate him on the good refolu-
tion they had adopted, to read nothing againft him.
But Morus was much grieved when he heard this, and
Iharply expoftulated with him about fuch a determina-
tion, than which, he faid, nothing could be more in-
jurious to him : he declared his refolution to go and fiffc
liimfelf before the Synod, and demand that nothing o£
what his adverfaries had produced againft him, fhould
be fupprefTed. Upon which that member immediately
returned into court, while the affair was not yet fully
over, fome complaining, particularly the delegates, of
the refolution to which they had come ; and he having
changed his mind, pled on the oppofite fide, and brought
others over to the fame opinion. At lafl, by a plurality of
votes, it was agreed, that all fhould be read. The papers
were accordingly read, over and over ; liflened to with
great avidity ; fl;ri£lly canvafTed, and narrowly fifted |.

"^ * Leguntur, perleguntur ; audiuntur et quidem aure bi«

74

The reading was fcarcely finifhed, when one, who
Was confidered as lead of all inclined to favour M.^rus»
arofe, * And is this all ?' faid he ; — * nothing elfe ! Was
this the momentuous affair that could raife fuch tu-
mults ;— billows in a cup * !' He was followed by others
in the fame drain— almoft all, with a kind of favourable
munnur, broke out in fimilar terms.

Wiien the meeting was clofed, they approached him,
comforted, embraced him, expressing their forrow for
the treatment he had met with, and their deteftation of
the artifices of the adverfe party. The moderator of the
Synod, the venerable Riverius, faluting him, and allud-
ing to hi-5 name in the French idem, f ild, Nunquam Ethiops
ita dealbatus est., quemadmodum hodte tu fuutu * Never was 3
Moor made fo white as you have been to-day.*

It was therefore afterwards inferted in the records o£
the Synod, which were kept in all the churches, * That
in the papers brought forward by the delegates from
Leyden, relating to the litigated caufe which lay in de-
pendence before the fupreme court of Holland, nothing
was found of weight to hinder the churches from ufing
their liberty of inviting Mr Morus to preach, when
there was occafion, as they had formerly done.' Tho'
this fentence was perhaps not very gratifying to the de-
legates, yet they thought proper alfo to exprefs their fa-
lisfa£tion with this ifTue of the matter ; protefting that
the reafon why they had infilled fo much to have the
papers read, was the fcnfe they had that they contained

buta ; expcnduntur acri judicio et morofa .trutina.' Fid*
■Pti'i p. 197.

* ' Fhiaus til 'hnpulo :' a proverbial expression, q. * muck

*do about nothing.*

is

nothing relevant agakfl. ]un-., but that tlwy would be
found oi i. fs conlequencc than they were fupporcr! to
be, not dùubthig but that upon their being hearci, Moru&
would be atquittfd : and they joined with others in con-
gratulating him upQn the happy termination of tiiis Sy-
nod, which would prove as confolatory to him as th©
former one at Maeftricht.

Whatever rcafon Morus had to be pleafi»d with the
general refult ; yet when it was expeded that he iTiOuld
hav. cxprefied his great thankfulnefs lor the favour.ible
iflue, they were furprifed when he exclaimed, That they
had done him the greatel^ injuftice : but he added, • I
only complain that I have not been admitted to a heaiiug
in the Synod. How eafy would it have been for me upon
being heard to have entirely dis.-ipated all thele charges,

QuK cundta aeiiierei difcerpunt irrita venti :
* which even the winds of heaven have wholly blown
away, without my pleading the caufe at all.' If you
have abfolved me without any one having defended me,
what would you have done had you heard me demon-
ftrating all thefe allegations to have been either falfe or
exaggerated, or drained and wrefted to a meaning oppo-
(itc to my real fentiments ? What if I had. expofed tlie
teftimonies of thcfe two young men, one of whom, with-
out the lead occafion given on my part, profecutcs old
quarrels, deeply imprefled on his mind ; the other, in-
ftead of gratitude, fhev/s towards me the mod implacable
hatred : both of them cherifli and even openly avow,
fuch prejudice and inexorable hatred, that they would
not fo much as give me an ordinary passing faiutation,
nor even any of my friends with v.hom Ï was known to be
mort familiar.' After dating farther his oje£tions againft
the admiflion of the evidence of thefe prejudiced wit-

75

nèfles, he added, < many othcr things he could have
offeree^, that might have plainly fhown tlie contents o£
thele abufive papers to be mt;re calumnies.'

Common order ts well as juftice, no doubt, required, that
Mr. Morus fliould have been heard in his own defence :
bur his brethren replied, * "We reckoned it more refpefl-
ful to you, that you fliould neither be called nor heard.
We fuppofed thefe things might be true which urc pro-
duced agaiuft you, and which you contend are falfe, yet
we have not found any thing in them worthy of notice
or blame J Our law. Friends, condemns no man un»
heard ; but it may rightly absolve fotne perfons unheard/
"With this fmart facetious remark, this amicable conteil
ended.

The Synod faniHrioned their favourable judgment not
by words only, but by deeds. They appointed him on
the fpot to preach in the church of Utrecht on the mor-
row, being Sabbath : which, on account of the indifpofi-
tion of him who fhould have officiated in the afternoon,
he had to do twice, in the prefence of all the members
of the Synod, and the profeflbrs of that univerilty.
Such was the conclufion of that Synod on which the
adverfe party had fo much reliance for carrying their
caufe. The decifion was not haftily and careleftly gone
into, but after full cognifance of the affair : and, our
author tells us, it had the good and memorable effeâ;
to reftrain the barkings of an obftreporous female, tho'
it could not fliut the mouth of Englifli Milton.

This abfolution in the ecclefiaftical was foon follow-
ed by another in the civil court. After various detours,
fentence was at laft pronounced, whereby the faid Pon-

X * Nee tamen in ijs quiçquam invenimus notadignum.' — •

p. 200,

tïa was non-fuited, her pretenfions found groundLfs,
and Morus was declared free. Of this he was furniflied
with an authentic extradl, in the Dutch language^ which
he kept in his posgession. This judgment was given,
without tlie interf^ofition of his oath, which Miiton
would have his readers believe was taken, bnt which his
adverfaries alone infilled for, that hereby they might a
little hurt him. He was acquitted simj>/iciierf without any
condition added.

It does not appear, tliat in this procefs, there was ei-
ther evidence or even a charge produced of illicit con-
ne£lion between the paitie^.. If this had been the cafe,
could a whole Synod, confifting of members differently
afFeaed, have riprccd in confidering the matter as frivo-
lous ? The licence wliicli the Engliih libeller allowed his
pen to take on this head, unfupported by any {liadow of
proof, deferves the feverelt repro'oation, and admits
not of any extufe. To give a criminal appearance to
the affair, it was faid, that Pcntia had been fccluded
from the facramenral communion : but IMcrus (who
certainly in this is intitled to crecUt, as he had full op-
portunity of knowing, and wrote of facls that muff have
been well know at the time and in the place where he
publifhed) declares, that flie never was fubjedled to any
church cenfure. Though flie loft her plea, it feems, fhc
did not alfo lofe her moral char-.icler. Upon her rem-oval
from the church of Leyden, flie was difn.iilld in the
ufual form, as one free of any fcandal : and under that
repute, was flill living when the author wrote, in 1655 *•

* * Pontia quam di'is nunqiiam abfrcnta eft facra fynsxi,
numquam notam illam aut cenf 'lam ecciesia; fubiit : qiiiii ab
ecelesia Lugdinensi honeite dimiffo, ut cxtcrss folcut qnoe ni-
hil in fe adraittunt, nihil feandali dederunt, apud nos juin vi»
vit.' Fides Fub. p. 203,

yi

He might well add, * I nunc et ftupra, ct fpurios tibî
fin^e : — minime nos tangunt, quae tam maniteito falfa
funt.'

For the exaél truth of his narration of thefe tranfac-
tions, he defires any who chufe, to confult the public
atls, or the judges in both courts, who were ftill alive.

A procefs of this kind, no doubt, had a tendency
to mar the intimacy, and fomewhat cool the affcdtion
tha». fubfifted between Salmafiu^ and Morus But it does
not appear that his former patron and friend ever loft
his efteem for him to hi> dying day ; much lefs that he
held him in deteftation. as his calumniator aflerts. In
defence of the memory of his deceafed friend, rather
than of himfelf, Moius fays, he could tell hira what 3
perfon of honour, who had refided for many y< ars at
the Hague, had heard from the mouth of Salmafms, a
few days before his death, but txcufes himleU from
repeating the words, — but in general they were fucti as
gave reafon for faying, that never was a man more im-
moderately praifed by another j adding, that he only
grieved, left his wife might be hurt by him, from
whom he could not allow himfelf to be alienated on
his account. And fo far was he from giving any
credit to the flanclero\i& tale of criminal intercourfe, that
he faid before refpeftable witneflcs, ' Si quid hie in ilia
deliquit, ego fum leno, et uxor mta lena :'—* If he be
guilty, I am the pimp, and my wife the procurefs,'

In 165 1, Morus havmg intimated to the church he
was conne£led with, that he was under the necessity to
take a journey into France on account of fotne family af-
fairs, he received from the confiftory another recommen-
datory letter, dated in Auguft that year, to be uleù by
him wherever he might have occafion for it, but writtea
/

79

an cxpe£latîon of his fpeedy return to them, which haa
alfo bv'en inferted zmong the reft. It certified, ' that
during the time he had refided among them as their paf-
tor, he had edified them by his excellent and truly ex-
traordinary gifts, h^d (hewn an entire orthodoxy in doc-
trine, with a moft holy converfation ; and had alfo dif-
covered his great erudition in the courfe of his leftures
in the illuftrious fchool of that city, in whifh he occu-
pied the place of firft profeflbr ' But his propofed jour-
ney was deferred, until he removed from Middleburgh
altogether in about twelve months after.

Mr. Morus* comfort in that city was alfo difturbed
by the violence of a party- fpirit that broke out in it, ow-
ing to differences among the inhabitants about city -poli-
tics. A kind of fedition arofe among the lower order of
people, in confequence of which, the chief magiflrates,
who had been his principal friends, were thrown out of
office, though they were afterwards reftored to their
honour and dignity. This change, and his not being
fo much in favour of the new rulers, might incline him
to accept the renewed invitation he received from Am-
fterdam. And this furnifhed his calumniators with a
new topic, and they did not fail to traduce him as one
driven from Middleburgh with difgrace, as they faid he
had been from Geneva. But this allegation was as
groundlefs as the other. For tho' he confefles, that he
was not on fuch an amicable footing with the party who
came into power, yet this did not hinder them from
giving him an honourable teftimony at his departure.
It bore, * That the council and magiftrates of Amfter-
dam having reprefented to them, that they had judged
it nccefîary to augment the number of their profcfTors,
by appointing one who might teach facred hiftory there.

8o

'twnfruaa el sphndorct and hav'aig by the fureft tefllmonîeS
been inïbrmed of the excellent endowments of Mr. A.
Morus, formerly profefibr, &c., and exprefling their
mod earned wifh that he (liould undertake that charge,
and in the molt urgent manner (scfh et emxe) requeîting
their confent that Mr. Morus iliould demit the profeflbr-
ihip of theology ; they, after due deliber uion, and weigh-
ing the reafons of the curators of their own illudrious
fcliool, and perceiving the inclinafion of Mr. Morus to
undertake the faid extraordinary profeflion, were unwill-
ing to refufe the council and magillrates of Amflerdam
their requeft, and accordingly confented to the difmif-
ilon of Mr. Morus, ' though reluctantly,' they add, * oft
account of the fmgular gifts God has beftowed upon him,
and which endear him to us f '

Given on the i ith day of July, 1652 : under the feal
©f the city, and figned by the fecretary.

Simon Van Beaumont, d d.

This declaration from thofe that were reckoned lefs
favourable to him, he thought, deferved to be confider-
ed by him as equal to one from his greateft friends, be-
caufe the latter are often influenced by affection ,but the
former have regard to equity and integrity alone. Sut as
the impudent Milton had faid, he had been ejecSted from
his church, he faid, * Let us hear the church.* He then
gives an extra6l of the deed of the confiftory of the W,al-
loon congregation, of the following import : —

* That Mr. Morus having fome time before, demand-
od of them to be difcharged from the obligation he had
come under to ferve that church in the qjjality of paRor,

t * Confenlimus quamquam segre, I'dque ob egregias dotes
«juibuB Dcus ipfum cohoaeilavit, ct quce nobis pcichar» funU*

8i

llie company, after mature deliberation, and calling up-
on the name of God, having alfo heard the reafons and
iJifFerent motives, obliging him to comply with the call
from Amfterdam to engage in the profession of church-
hiflory, and the confequent difmission which the vener-
able magiftrates had granted him, — from thefe and other
similar considerations, they yeilded to his demand, difmis-
sing him, under the condition of the confcnt c(f the Classis
of the churches of their language to meet on the 1 2 th of the
following month at Flulhing, from the paftoral charge
"he had hitherto exercifed in their church, thanking him
for the edification it had received from his excellent fer-
mons, and all the other valuable gifts with which it had
plcafed God to endow him, to whofe favour and protec-
tion, they irecommended him.*

Signed by Le Long, the Pâftor, and eleven Elders and
Deacons.

Besides this, the Overfeers of that church, gave I^m a
certificate similar to that delivered the preceding year,
teftifying that, during the time he had resided amotig
them, he had edified the church by the purity of his
do£lrine, and his Chriftian converfation : and requefting
the brethren to whom he might apply to receive him as
a mod excellent perfon, * et doue de graces tres-singuli-
ere».'

This a6l of courfe came under the review of the Wal-
loon Synod, that met in the province of Zealand, in
Auguft that year, and received its fanélion : * notwith-
ftanding fome defefls which they obferved in the pro-
cedure of that church,' they fay, * considering what had
been done by it, as well as the magiftrates of Middle-
burgh, and aiJtr hearing M» Movus himfelf, they ap-

L

proved of the forefald difmission of llielr very dear hï(*»
tlier, and of the a6l which they had drawn up concern-
ing it J and they add, that any time when the faid Sieuf
Morus was prefent in the fynodical aflemblies, liis coiî-
dudl was very agreeable to them, even as he had alfo
rendered himfelf approver! to his flock, as appeared from,
the teftimonial they had given him/

At Groede, the 23d of Aug. 1652. 1

(Signed) De l'Escherpierre, Moderatof.
ChaRLÏîS DB RochfoRT, Scribe.

The reader may think, we have had abundance, or ra-
ther fuper-abundance of teftimonies of this tenor ; but
he may perhaps be of opinion at lad, that they were all
not more than necelTary to confront the pubHcity, the
virulence, and the atrocity of the attack made upon him»
foon after, to be circulated, not only in England, biit a*
moiig all the learned throughout Europe.

SECTION FIFTH.

Of the c ont r ever sy letmeen Salmasius and Milton, occasioned hj^'
the execution of Charles I.'^Mikon's Second Defence of
the People of England, in answer to the Cry of Royal
Blood — His personal attach upon Monts in it— Morus' s virS'
dication ef himself in his Publica Fides.

We have already, more than once in the courfe of the
preceding narrative, had occasion to mention Mr J. Mil-
ton, ab a chief partizan againft the charaiSler and caufe
of the fabjecb of this memoir : but as a fair account of

83

fàtls, fo far r.s they can be authenticated, is the mdft
effe£li.uil way to obviate calumnies, or to repell injurious
charges, it was thought bed to continue the narrative
down to the termination of the above proceiTes, without
taking a dirc(ft and particular notice of the contents of
his libels upon the character and condu6l of the accufed,
as a matter of perfonal and public controverfy between
them, as it afterwards did become : for Milton only told
his tale at fécond hand, and in what he advanced in his
re-iterated attacks upon our author, he had cliitlly a re-
trofpe£l to events, or reports that had preceded tlie ifme
of thefe procefles in Huijanj. Witliout any previous
acquaintance with hirn, or opportunities of obtaining
original or exaft information, and being incenfed againft
him on anotlisr account, he appears to have leagued
himfelf keenly wi,th the party that had excited the cla-
mours, and furthered the profecutions. It is evident
from his own account, that he carried on a clofe corre-
fpondence with them, and depended, with a degree of
credulity upon their informaîion, however vague : and
whatever unfavourable report was communicated, he
was difpofed to make the ulmoll of it, which his fati«-
cal genius, joined, as it would Teem, to an obftia.ite in-
vincible prejudice were capable of, for ruiniiig the man
whom he had niajked out, though very unaccountably,
as his public and perfonal antagonill in anotlier caufe of
a political nature. He may therefore now be considered
as his principal accufer, who placed himfelf before the
public and pofterity, as the head and mouth of that
faclion ; and it will be proper to look a little more nar-
rowly into the origin, the contents, and grounds of his
libellous writings, as it is chiefly in them that thefi;

L 2

84

charges are found recorded, and known at leaft to the^
inhabitants of Britain ; after the foreign rumours of the
day, and the papers and record» of courts in which they
may have been mentioned, have in a great meafure, been
consigned to oblivion. Without this, full juftice cannot
be done to the fubjeâ, nor the reader enabled to forin a
decided judgment : and it is more necefTary in regard of
the immortal name that Milton as a writer has otherwife
obtained ; and bccaufe his perfonal charges and inveûives
are intermixed and infeparably connected with what he
has written upon a mod important national controverfy,
and fome political queftions, which not only intereited
Britain, but all Europe, at that time> and ever since.

The quarrel between Morus and Milton took iis rife

from the writings that were publiflîed by Salmasius and

Milton, and another on the fame side with Sa;masius>

on the fubje£l of the trial and execution of Charles L-,

who loft his head on the fcaiFold, on the 30th of January,

3648, in the manner> and on the alledged grounds, winch

all the world knows. In this controverfy Morus was

not originally or direûly interefted, nor had publicly

appeared at the time he was attacked, as a party in it ;

the event of the execution had happened a little before

he came into Holland : But he was haled in as the fup-

pofed acceflary of Salmasius, and as the author of the

Clamor regij sanguinis, in which Milton and the Regicides

were fo freely ufed.

To enter into the merits of the caufe between thefe*
difputants, is not necefTary to our prefent purpofe. Only
in general, it may be obferved, that the opposition made
to the abufe of the royal authority by the Long Parlia-
ment, and the war which they reckoned themfelves obli»

gecî to ehter into with the king and liis adhérents, as
dated in their remonilrances, cleclarauons, and a<^?,
at the commencement of the ftruggle, and fpr fomcf
years after, proceeded upon fuch principles and grounds
as recommended tnemfeh^es to the approbation of the
enlightened friends of religion and liberty, in tlie tliree
kingdoms, and fuch as received the approbation or the
greateft number of the Proteliant churches, and t!ie free
ftateâ on the continent. Thefe had long been canvaflcd
at home, by writers, and the debate maintained, and at
lafl: fettled by the fword. While the original ftate of the
caufe, and the fivO. object of the wiir, were adhered to
by the parliament, in conjunction with the Scotch na-
tion, there was no juft ground to charge them, as they
were, and often have been charged, withdifloyalty to the
king, or with a dcfign to fabvert the ancient qonflitutlcn,
to abolifa tlie limited monr.rchy, or to offer the lead in-
jury to the king's pcrfua and his lawful authority, but
their aim and wifli was only to retlify abufes, to .'ciuove
grievances» to retrain arbitrary power, and to provide for
the better exercife of royal authority in co!:sis\ency with
liberty and religion. This they rçpe?itedly declared be-
fore God and the world ; this they had. in tiie molt fo-
lemn manner exprefled in the League and Covenant ra-
tilF.ed between the thice kingdoms.

But the cafe becariie widely different, and tiic caufe
and views were greatly changed^ after a faction, consift-
ing moftiy of men of unfettled minds and of a fanaiic.il
fpirit, arcfe in the army, and crept gradu:i!!y into powc»-,
fo as to engrofs it almoft wholly in their own hands.
Then wild proje<5ls, plottings and intrigues, were form-
ed J then licentioufnefs, civil and religious, under pre-

85

text of liberty, openly reared its head ; all fettled order
of things, in church and common-wealth, was afTaulted
or infultcd, and the dangerous designs falfely imputed ta
the better part of the nation, were at lait avowed and
put in execution by a turbulent and daring fadlion, who
obtained afcendency by the fword in their hand. Such
was the (late of things when the king was made prifoner,
and brought to his trial, when aftually engaged in treaty
with his parliament, and after fuch terms had been a-
greed to, as that parliament while at liberty, had accept-
ed as a basis for a temporary fettlement of the nation.

Ic muft be owned, that the many enormities of the king
and his adherents, his fyftematic and praâical defpotifma
the deep hand he had in the late fcencs of blood and de-
vaftation, his known insincerity and perfidy, his muliih
and foolilh obftinacy in refusing any tolerable terms upon
which peace might be fettled and the people's rights fe-
cured, with the jufl; ground there was for apprehensions
of the dangerous confequences that might follow upon
his having the fovereign power committed to him again
upon any terms, afforded that party very plausible pre-
tences, and provocation, for proceeding to that extremi-
ty. It was no difficult matter to prove that he had vio-
lated the laws and conftitution, that he was an opprefTor,
a tyrant, a delinquent, perhaps the greateft in the nation ;
that he had waged unjuft. war with his fubjedls, an<l had
filed the blood of thoufands, — that he was a diflembler,
a falsifier of promifes, treaties, and oaths, — that he was
in fa6l, a traitor to the nation, and fo deferved the high-
efl pains that the law, and the arm of juilice could Infiict ;
— as was charged againft him in his inditcment, and as
the advocates employed at his trial, and P^Iilton afters'

87

wards endeavoured to prove againft him. Even let all
this be admitted, or if there be any thing worfe that can
be alledged, to crinxinate the celebrated royal martyr ;—
let the a£l of cutting of his head be allowed a mafter-
piece of political pr|idence, a preventive (Iroke neceflary
for felf-defence, as w^ell as of daring fortitude 5 a need-
ful check and leflbn to tyrants, — -and, what is ftill more,
an a£l of material juftice, by which a divine 4)rovidence
infli£led exemplary punilhment for flagrant crimes, and
rendered, by fuch means, juft retribution for bloody to
one who thought himfelf above the reach of law^ and
could not be puniflied in the ordinary courfe of juf-
tice,— which are the ftrongeft pleas that have been, or
can be advanced in behalf of the deed, and the perpetra-
tors of it Î — yet all thefe will not amount to a fatisfa£lory
vindication in this cafe. Had the queftion been reftridl-
ed to the right of a nation, or the body politic, in the
abftra£t, to chufe, to limit, or in certain cafes, to resiftj
or depofe, to imprifon, or banifli their rulers, or if no-
thing elfe could fecure the people from the deftruftive
rage of a tyrant, even to proceed to the laft refource, the
iafli£lion of death, the friends of Irberty would not long
hesitate in determining it. Moft of thefe are decided
cafes in the fcience of political freedom, and fandlioned
by approven precedents, as to which the maxim, fo often
appealed to by the aflors or defenders of that deed, Salus
populi su^errui lex, would be readily admitted as reafon fuf-
ficient. But what has all this to do in the prefent'cafe ?
— when the people had emancipated themfelves from the
yoke, and by their reprefentatives were in a condition
to dictate, and fee to the obfervancc of terms of peace
and for fecuring their rights j — when the ro^'ai lion vi'as

88

was clinined fo as to pi'eveat him from hurting; — wheîl
îiiftead of the people at large demanding fuch a facrifice,
they looked on with grief and amazement ; — when, in-
fiead of their legal reprefentatives fanftioning or con-
curring in the deed, the majority of them, for their
opposition to the meafures that led to it, w^re expel-
led fron; their feats, and hindered from a£l:ing by ail
armed force ; a cafe, in which promifes, public oaths*
and national treaties v/ere difregarded ; in which greater
and mors fudden dangers might have been forefeen to
follow fuch violent procedure, than could have been ap-
prehended certainly to arife from the reftoration of the
king to a limited power ; — in which, inftcad of a legal
conftituted authority, or tribunal known in law, they
were arbitrarily created, under a conftitution which gave
no branch of the legiflature a power of jurifdidlion over
anot'ner, or a right to abolifh any of them ; in a wordj
when craft, perlidy, and violence, had gained poflession
of the feat of authority and juftice.

The execution ©f the king, in the circumflances and
manner in which it was done, exched a general outcry
and odium, both at home and abroad : it gave occasion
to bring difcredit and blame upon the good Caufe in which
the better part of the three nations had been engaged,
and tended eminently to hinder the progrefs of the re-
formation, and the attainment of the great objefts for
which they had fo long contended and fufFered. Though
both the caufe and the chief afters were changed, yet
royalillss the djf.iffccled, and inconsiderate, were difpofed
to consider them as îlill the fame, and^ accordingly to
impute almoft the lame meafure of the guilt of thefe,
and fubfcquîct îranfatlions, to thofe who had no (hare

89

în them, and even to thofe who had moft openly and
zealously oppofed them : and foreigners were ready
to be iniprefTcd with this idea ; though no two things
could be more diftinft : yet this great error and glaring
injuftlce, in confqunding and classing together, and in-
tlifcriminately cenfuring, designs, meafures, and parties
fo very different, has been artfully and malignantly kept
up, and continued down to the prefent t'yjies, even in
defiance of the cleareft evidence of fa£ts. The bufy ad-
vocates for abfolute monarchy, hiftorlans infedled with
the poifon of their principles, or with infidelity, and
antipathy to the religious fpirit and reform of that period,
and 10,000 ecclesiaftics in their yearly declamations from
Englifti pulpits, and in their printed fermons, on the an-
niverfary of what is mod abfurdly called K- Charles' mar-
tyrdom, in which ufually they have not fcrupied to aver,
* that thofc who drew the fword, were no lefs guilty
than thofe who lifted up the axe i' have contributed to the
circulation of the error, and to continue the calumnious
imputation : although, even the convention-parliament
that reftored the fon, which carried its loyalty to ex-
cefs, and in which fo many royalifts fat, were not fo
infensible to the evidence of truth, nor fo devoid of juf-
tice, as to confound things fo diftincl, or to allow any
to employ fuch langurige. When a certain m.ember ven-'
tured to fpeak in that ilrain, he was brought to his knees,
and fharply reprimanded by the order of the houfe *.

* In that parliament a member took the freedom to fay,
' He that firll drew the fword againlt the late king, commit-
ted as great an offence as he that cut off his head.' Upon
^'hich the -fpcaker, by order of the houfe, gave him the fo!-

M

Wirliout making the proper din.lncllons here, it is im-
possible to fuvm tin accurate jiuh^ment of the parties and
tranfii^iions of th<it time ; and accordingly few have done
it, or they liave wanted tlie impartiality and honefty fair-
ly t» 3VOW it. If thofe who have had abundant means
for their information have committed fuch great errors,
there is iefs caufe of wonder, tiiat foreign writers fliould
have falkn into them.

lowîng reprimand, * Sir, the houfe has takert very great of-
fence at fume words you have let fall, which, in the judg-
ment of the houfe, contain as high a rcflsdtum on the jiiftice
and proceedings of the lords and commons of the hil: parlia-
ment, in their actings before the ^ ear 1 648, as could he expref-
ftd : they apprehend there is much poifon in the faid words ;
and that they were fpoken with a design to inflame, and to
render them who drew the fword to brin^- delinq-ients to pu-
nifhmeut, and to vindicate the'r juil liberties into the balance
wiih them who cue off the king s head ; of which aft they
exprefs the'r abhorence and deteftation, appealing to God and
their confciences beavin-g them witnefs, that they had no
thoughts againft hi", tjerfon, much Iefs againft his life. There-
fore, I am comraanoed to let you know, that had thefe words
fallen out at any ctncr time in this parli iment, but when they
had considerations of mercy, pardon and indemnity, ^ ou might
have cxpefted a iharpcr and feverer fentence. than I am now
to pronounce. I am, according to command, to give you a
fhort reprehension and I do, as fharply and feverely as I can,
reprehend you for it.'

It mull; be owing to vei-y great ignorance, or great perverf-
nefs or prejiidice, when the difference is not mad- between the
proceedings of the long parliament, and v.hat was caded the
rui:ip. '\ he laft, as the name imports, was nothing elfe thaij.
the defpicable remains of an auguil Afiembl; , after the of-
ficers of tlie army, had by no other law than that of fword and
musket, fecluded abotit 2CO of the mofl: valuable members ; —
from which timt the parliament may be considered as having
been in faft diilolved^ and the legal conftitution unhinged ;
the n;mp being ihe mere creatures of the army, receiving what-
ever orders, v.n'l passing whatever votes, their fuperiors pleafcd
to dictate.

9*

Tiie feveral particG who concurred in condernning ti.6
king, did fo, thererore, from very different principles,
and on difFtrent ^rrounds. ïî.of: who had moll iieartily
engaged in the parliiiraentary war, as originally lUited,
thought there Wcts no inconsistency in onpoMUg, an.l
loudly reprobating, the umrpition ?.nd violent proceed-
ings ot tlie military junto, from fuch cont,ideration,s ai
the above. 1 his was generally done by t^^iJ-great body
of the Prebbyterians in England, and by none more ihau
the nation and church of Scotland ;- tiiat nation who
had been the hrft to dr.iw the defensive fv/oid, and had
been the moll deady as well as faecer::iul iii oppoung
the royal defpotifm. B.y their atls, remonllrances, and
proteftations, they ftiewed themfelves, at tlia' junaure, to
be the moll arenuous agei^ts and advocates for closing tlie
treaty with the king, and for prcfcrving his life j and they,
%vith their co-adjutors, in England, were indeed the true
royalifts, and beil friencls of the king, as they had all along
been, rather than that fadion Avlio had in a manner ap-
propriated <hat name, but whofe pernicious counfcls and
meafurcs, from firft to lad, had hurried the infatuated
monarch to his dedruciion. The Presbyterians, witliout
retrading their principles of Jibertj^, or designs of reform,
and though far from being fatisfied with the tardy con-
cessions, or from confidently relying en the promifes,
or good afTeaions of the king to their cauie, yet hw tlie
importance of preferving the form of ancie::t royalty,
even in the hands of lueh a king, now humbled, and
xeRriaed as he was to be for the iuiure, and ihat it was
more eligible, and conducive to the public weltare, to
accept of what could for the prêtent be obtained, thaft
to run the risk of losing all, or of dilTolving all regulr.r

92

government, and introducing general anarchy, in the
flrife of contending parties, and of drtncliing the land
again in blood. The faithful and bold reprefentation and
remonftrance of the Presbyterian minifters in the city of
London, and around it, and other papers that were pub-
lilhed, are Handing records of their views and fpirlt on
that tragical occasion j thefc, together with the a(ftive
meafures that were adopted immediately after in Scot-
land for continuing the monarchy, and the many dangers
and fufFerings they incurred in maintaining the rights of
the fon, and for preferving their public faith and loyalty
inviolate, while the kingdom of England treacheroufly or
timidly renounced them, particularly in the difafterous
civil war they were in confequence involved in, terminat-
ing in a temporary fubjugation of the kingdom, might
have forever silenced the leaft whifpcr of accufation a-
gainft them on that head. But it was their lot to meet
with great injuftice and injury alike from both parties,
who had diverged into the opposite extremes ; and in-
ftead of gratitude and praife for their meritorious con-
duct towards both, they have been loaded with obloquy
from each, being alternately claffed with rebels and re-
gicides, on the one hand, and with Cavaliers and defpo-
tic royalifts, on the other. In none of the treatifes above-
mentioned, accordingly, have the difputants on either side,
done them, or the caufe under difcussion, entire juftice,
having proceeded on principles in the two extremes-

The young king had taken refuge in Holland, whither
alfo many of the royalifts had retired. During his re-
sidence there, and before his coronationr in Scotland,
and the war with England that followed, Salmasius*s
book appeared, under the tistle * Defensio Regia, pro

■ 9i

Carlo I. — sumptilus re^ljs, an. 1649.' ^*^ ^^^ undertaken
it doubtlefs at the desire of the royal family, and the
court fo nearly allied to it at the Hague : and he may be
fuppofed to have written ic under the inlluence and mif-
reprefentations of'*the party whofe caufe he defended.
In it he profeffes to plead the right of ail kings, and en-
ters into the general topics of argument, authorities and
precedents in behalf of monarchal government, in oppo-
sition to popular claims to reilri'il:, resift, or depofe ; and
fo condemned the parliamentary caule as well as the pro-
ceedings of the parricides. While he juilîy expofcd the
illegal and unw^arrantable condmH: of the latter, and paints
in ftrong colours the attrocity of their deed, he inverted
royalty with exceasivc and dangorous prerogatives, as be-
ing derived only from God, ami as exalting its poffcflbra
above all law and judgment on earth, fcarceJy (topping
fliort of the abfurd doctrine, * the divine right of kings to
govern wrong ;' while nothing remains for the people bu':
patience and tame fufFerings under their wrongs \ — pas-
sive obedience and non-resilVance.

In consideration of the odium that miglit be thrown
upon the reformed religion and the Proteltant churches,
particularly thofe of the Presbyterian mo;lel, from the
tranfa(£Vions that had taken place in Britain, Salmasius
and fome other French divines, Amyrault, Peter du
Moulin the younger, and others who wrote upon the
fubjed, about that time, thought they did good fervice
to the common caufe of kings, and of tljclr churches, by
thus wiping off the reproach, which their adverfaries,
and rulers, were always fo ready to cail upon them, that
they were enemies to kingly authority, and difpofed to
edition and rebellion. i3ut when they attempted to de^

94

fend them upon fuch flavifh principles, they certainly did
a real diflervice to all kings and people, and in fo far
departed from the founder dodlrine of the firft reformers,
and the moft eminent writers among them, and virtually
condemned the leagues and defensive wars, by which the
independence and lihcrties of the poteltant republics and
free kingdoms ot Europe, were fettled, and the ediâb in
favour of Calvinifm in France were obtained. At that
time, too, when the violence of parties ran fo high
in Britain, foreign writers not having accefs to know
fo accurately the particular conftitution of the govern-
ment, and the legal rights of the people, and the coun-
terbalancing power of the popular aflemblies, could uot
be the mod competent judges of the differences which
had arifen there.

The writers of that age, who had been born or edu-
cated in France, were too much accuflomed to adopt»
on thefe fubjedls, the flyle, as well as the current prin-
ciples of the French. The fpirit of the Proteflants there,
together with their pov/er, was, in a great mcafure bro-
ken, after the unfuccefsful and divided efforts of resift-
ance againll the meafures of the arbitrary court, uuder
the duke of Rohdn ; and from that time, even their
divines were too ready to offer the grateful incenfe of
flattery to their rulers, on whom they had become en-
tirely dependent, too similar to that which fome fyco- '
pants of Rome addreffed to their pope, when the consi-
dered him as /^her Dens in terris ; though hereby they were
feeding the pride, and ftrengthening the^efpoiifm ©f
thofe who had laid the train, and were maturing the
fcheme for their total extirpation. The writer lafl men-
tioned, P. du Moulin, deemed û\q. author of a book, in-

9^

titled * The hiftory of the EngUfli and Scotch Presbytery'
puHlifli-d in the year after that of SaliTia'^ius, and addref-
fed to the minifters of the reformed church of Paris,
that was afterwards tranflated into Englifh, and is yet
çh-cuîating in the hands of fome readers, is one of the
mod violent and injurious : being designed for a vindi-
caiion of all the a£ls of the king traducing Jtjie parlia-
ment, Weftminfter Aflembly, and all who took part a-
gainfl: him, as confpirators, and fubverters of the govern-
ment in church and ftate, exceeding even Salmasius him-
felf, whom he ftiles tlie prince of letters, and the glory
of France, in fupporcing throughout the abje£t do£lrines
of abfoluie power, and unconditional obedience.

To repell the formidable attack of one who was ac-
counted a champion in grammatical and polemical learn-
ing, the pen of Milton was employed by thofe who had
got poflession of power in England ; and he performed
the task, doubtlefs, with much ability and erudition.
His • Defensio pro populo Anglicano, contra Claudij
Anonimi, aUasy Salmasij Defensionem reglam j* was pub-
lifiied at London, both in folLo and quarto, in 1Ô51 ; and
was generally read, and admired throughout Europe ;
even by not a few who detefted the principles of it. Sal-
masius was fuppofed not to have acquitted himfelf fo
well on this occasion ; but loft fome portion of his form-
er reputation, while Milton in proportion advanced, his.
It was a common remark at that time, among the learn-
ed, that a good caufe had fuflered in the hands of its de-
fender, and the word had met with the moft able and
skilful advocate. But as to the main fubjedl of difputt?,
Jt may -te founds that there was much on both sides i^

9^

"bfame, and that the truth was obfcured, and, as is too
often the cafe in controveify, parted between them.

On the general principles of goi'ernment, or from tlie
conflitution and particular laws of Great Britain, — whe-
ther Oil the ground of authorities or precedents, human
or divine, it was no difiiculc matter for Milton to refute
a great part of the reafonings, and expofe the miflakes
of his antagonift : aiid by recurring to the former admi-
niftration, and the late conduct of the king towards his
people, it was no lefs eafy to fubftantiate the charge of
guilt againfl him, and to find him, in his public capacity,
whether morally or politically, in a high degree cri-
minal, as well as misled. Considering his tra£l as a
defence of popular rights at large, and of legitimate go-
vernment as implying a mutual compact, and of a pow-
er inherent in a nation, refuhing from it, to defend them»
felves againfl: tyrants, and to controul or difmifs incorri-
gible kings, he mud be allowed to have greatly the advan-
tage : while, at the fame time, thefe theoretic principles
of liberty, in reference to the particular and principal
matter in debate, were evidently mifapplied ; and when,
infl:ead of being produced in behalf of the people at large,
or their legitimate reprcfcntatives, they are made a fpe-
cious plea for a comparatively fmr.U fa£lion, and a mili-
tary defpotifm, they lofe all their force, and appear ra-
ther an infult to re;>fon, and a mockery of right.

Milton had dune fervice to the parliamentary caufe,
at an early period of the conttft, by Ihewing, in different
tra£ls, the necesi-iry for reformation, and attacking par-
ticularly the domineering fpivit of prelacy, and other
ecclesia<'ical abufes. But when he began to vent fomc
of his peculiar notions ; as in his publications upon the

97

fubje£l of divorce, he loft in fonie meafure, the confi-
dence and favour of the Presbyterians ; and he appears
to have indulged fpleen, and vented his fatire, againft
fome of the leading men among them, particularly the
Scotch divines, of which there are fomc traces remaining
in his lefler poems, publifhed about that time. He be-
came gradually more attached to the fcilarian and re-
publican innovators, till at length he ventured upon the
avowed defence of fome of their moft defperate mea-
fures. Even before this defence, he had publiftied in
1649, foon after the king's death, * The Tenure of kings

* and magiftratcs ; proving that it is la\«'ful, and hath

* been held fo through all ages, for any who have the

* power to call to account a tyrant or wicked king, and

* after due convi£lion to depofe and put him to death,

* if the ordinary magiftrate have neglected or denied to

* do it j and that they, who of late fo much blamed de-

* posing, are the men that did it themfelves/ For writ-
ing his Defence, he was rewarded with L.i 000 j fo it
was, with a very bad grace, that he upbraided Salmasius,
as he did in the beginning of his anfwer, as a hired and
mercenary writer, becaufe his work was printed at the
royal expence, and he had received 100 Jacobufes for
his labour.

We have faid fo much on the original and general
fuL>je£l of this controverfy, ckiefly on account of ics great
importance ; though it was in confequence of the intem-
perate fpirit, and the unfair manner, in which it was car-
ried on, that Mr M. came to be fo deeply embroiled and
perfonally afie6ted by it. This fpirit appeared from the
beginning of it -, and it is hard to fay which of the parties
CTceeded in fcurrility and infolent abufe. Salmasius in-

N

tSiilgeil in Ills wonted acrimony of Imguage, poured up-*
on the regicides and all who took part with them, the
mod reproachful names and epithets, reprefenting them
as the niofl odious and nefarious men ihat ever exift-
ed, againfl whom all princes, and the whole world,
ought to have rifen, in order to exterminate them He
designs them peniueJksi latronesy sicarios, parric'uIaSf fanat'icos ;
as men who could fport with crowns and fceptres, and
play as at foot-ball with the heads of kin-gs. But the
Engllfii Apologiu, in this refpeâ:, fell nothing behind
him ; and in perfonal difrefpe^l^ and abufe, and cutting
farcafms, very inexcufable as diredled againft fuch a man,
and on fuch a fubjccl:, he went far beyond him. It is
unnecefl'ary to produce any particular pafTages from thefe
tratfls for the evidence of this : the reader who looks into
them will find inllances in almofl every page. "Who could
have thought that a writer who had regard to charac-
ter or good manners, could pronounce with open mouth
the great Salmasius a mere novice, ignorant of grammar
and common fenfe, — a babbler, — an afs, — a liar, — a jug-
gler,— a blafphemer, one who deferved the gallows, — an
spoftate from his religion, a Jefuit, a Judas, an atheift, &g.
Yet tills is but a fmall part of the caricature. It may
fuflice here, as a fpecimen of the fpirit of this writer^
and to iliew how much he was addicted to calumny, and
what re^^srd v/as to be paid, in other inftances, to" his
virulent ?.ccufar;o!i3, or malignant. fatire, to feledï a few
of the vocables, and heads, inferted in the Index of his
Defence, in the original ^to edition, under the article
Salmasius : which the reader will fmd below *.

* Salm-ts'iis homo vanus ct ventofus ; friîïidissimus liteVa-

99

Saîmaslus did nnt long furvl^e this publicaiion ; but
he haJ |)iuceeded l'o fnr in a reply to it, though left un-
finished at his dcaih, which happened at Spa, in i>'Î53 :
This WM publilhed afterwai;;ds at London, about the time
of the n.ftoration, in j66o. Ai> princes who die in cer-
tain critical conjunftures, are often fufpecfiied to have
been poifoncd, io it has fometimes happened to fierce
literar/ combatanrs, when they have been c»«ried oft' in
tiie midfl: of their hollilities i tliey have been reported to
have fallen by die fliarp weapons of their antagonifls.

tor; infulfus ct iiispldus orator; omiiium litoratorum rn;icula
ct iitura ; fc folidioris doftrinse ne guttidam qiiidcm liausiiTe
oftendit, literatus line doilrina ; Dcurn tyrannum maximum
afferit ; impius ct fucrilcgus, ccritus ft lyuiphaticus ; nil nisi
caenuin et lutum ore funditat ; fcriptoium sapicntia ne levitcr
quidcm imbutus ; pessimus de gicgc Lojolitnium ; fmca di.5-
nus ; novus hcereticns ; luipidissiinus, quia ralionc llolida niti-
tur ; homiiium au lulaciiTmius; cane quovis rahido jcjunior ; ya-
pa et îicbulo ; Pltudoj.Iutarchus, vetciiitcret lucilu^us ; liypo-
crita ; prœpoiU-ra ratio ne vititur ; flcrcorariiis Galhis, Kuclio'
uis fuite obtruiicari dignus ; Tyrannis diadeina Icgibus folutuni-
imponere Itudet ; tyrannorum vcfpilo ; lioniiuuiu vani^blmus
ct corruptissimus, fufpcndio digiuis ; ycekratus ; mancipium
cquedre ; Trifurcifer ; eo inter homines nihil nequins, inter
quadrupèdes nihil amentiua ; palibidans eques ; veilus in cucu-
lum ; mus montanus ; Ardelio ; cqucs crgallularius ; Mango ;_
patriae fuas astcrnum opprobrium ; perpusilli homo animi ;
inpi Dominus ; fend vfr ; latinilate plane cxpcrs ; homo
ccntemptissimus ;'funrm3£ imptidcntia; honiuneio ; furioius ;
Satanœ tradendus ; hypocrita ct atlicus ; hbertatis bbcs ac
pellis ; perditissimus ; ba'aamus ; homo Itoicus ; Galiicanus
£rro ; levissimus ; Elpenor ell ;. fub focmina fervire alTuctus ;
grammaticallruo eqaei; ; praevarlcator ct sopiiilia ; vappa cv
circulator ; crumenipeta ; perfricli oris balatro; licaivti Judii;
amilis eft.

Tin's curious Indsx, probably annexed to tliat td'.tic^i by
I'.imfclf with tiie proper references, is not to b^- loniid in tliç
i2mo. edition in Lond, 1652 ; nor in the folio edition of iiis
k.tiii Vi'orks printed in Hol'ùud, near the end oltiiui century.

Hz

100

As It had been fald before, that Salmasius had been the
caufc of the death of Spanheim, fo now it was alledged>
that Milton had proved the death of Salmasius ; though
probably with as little reafon in the one cafe as in the
other. Though doubtlefs a man of fuch a haughty fpi-
rit as Salmasius, would feel himfelf hurt by the treat-
ment he had received, he had fuftained and out-lived
fcveral attacks of the fame kind before, and he had the
favour of the great, and the applaufe of crowned htads
to confole him under fuch a difafter. However, when
it was alledged, that the writing of the defence had cod
Milton his eye-sight, he boafted, by way of retaliationj
that he had deprived his adverfary of life.

Milton's book was burnt at Paris and Tholoufe by the
hands of the hangman -, as it was afterwards at London
by order of the council, at the reftoration. In the mean
time, Salmasius and his caufe, were avenged in another
manner, by the appearance of * The Cry of Royal blood
to heaven againft the Englifh parricides y at the Hague»
1652. In this Milton was repaid to the full in his own
coin. No author's name was prefixed : it was dedicated
to Charles II., now a fécond time an exile, after his
èfcape from the battle of Worcefter, when his forces
were defeated, and his affairs at home appeared to be
defperate. To the dedication was fubjoined the name
of A. Ulac, who was alfo the printer. A fliort preface
was prefixed, in the perfon and language of the r.uthci ,
from which it could be collefted, that he claimed a re-
lation to the French reformed church, and was one that
was intimately converfant with the Englifh/of better note,
and had opportunity of being * more thoroughly acqaint-
, ed with the ftate of England, than any perfon who did

TOI

not underftand the Eiiglim larigur.p,e, or had not feen
the Britlfli coaft, could be exnedled to be.' Two 'poems
were fubjolned at the end of the book, both alfo unony-
itious, the one a Euchariftical ode, iq Sshna.iui, cele-
brating him for Ins performance in ths highcil Urain -,
the cher addrcficd to the excralle Villain J. î.îiUoi; ; ' In
impurissium Nebulonern J. Mihor.um, pavriciilarii;n et
parricidij advocatuiu ;' in which tlie utmoft^pprc Jiium
and contempt is caft upon him, whicii tlie aioft fcuriilous
words, and the keenest Jambics could exprcfs f-

f The poem consifls of near 250 verfes, of wliicii the
following fpecimen nuiy futhce :

— Quid facial ingens te vacuus Salmasius
Tencbrione, tam minuta, tarn niliii ?
Qiiem prenfat ir.cafilim ultio, nufquam invei;it.
Ten' {lerquilinium, ten' cucurbita; caput,
Aufurn mouarchas rodei'e, ten' Salmasios ?
Nunc mus elephantum, rana pardum vcrberet,
Opicus leonis vellicet forex jubas,
Infultet urfo simia, mufca milviOj
Sacram fcarabxi concacent avem Jovi,
Ipfurnque merdis inquinent albis Jovem.

Forro ut profani cruce fui>lato canes
Quicquid fupra fe eft. ;;clliunt conmiir'i'ere ;
Si quid generofum, nobile vel pio!»runi iuper,
Vioi.ne gaucient flercorci n\.\[\\^\.i^, &c.
— Tamen repertu?, proh Deum ! in terris homo,
Hominifve fpeciem prceferens fcptus ilygis,
Çh\\ prodigiofum dedecus oblatum Deo
QjuOil mundus horret, qaod bonos oiViucs coquit,
Solemque rugis afpiciotem contrahir,
Pudoiis cxpers auJ.cat det'endere :
Tenebricoi'us raoula, pus et fel nieruni,
Atroque ccenum mactratum languine :
înnominandus balatro, qui quod non poteft
Vircute apifci, cri.-nine nonien quœritat.

Bayle juftly fays, * That book was a very violent invec-
tive againfl: the parliament party -, Milton in particular is
extremely abufed in it. He is no better ufed in the epiftle
tledicatory then in the book itfelf : but he is flill more
furiously laflied at the end of the book. Milton, who
had let feveral violent pieces publiftied againft the parlia-
ment party pafs without any reply, could not continue
silent with regard to this, where he faw himfelf perfonally
interefted, as well by the immoderate encomiums which it
bellowed upon Salmasius, as the terrible reproaches with
which he found himfelf attacked in it.' But amidil fuch
perfonal inventives, and party recriminations, a general
fubjeft, which is ftill of moft importance to disintereft-
ed readers and pofterity, is ever ready to be forgotten,
or injured. The obfervations already made, will apply
in this refpedl, to this as well as ihe former trads. Some
narration is given in it of the proceedings againfl the
king, particularly of the more recent tranfadlions by which
he was brought to the block, with a reference alfo to
fomc pofterior incidents which took place in the war that

— Bene eft quod hoftis publicus, et minis ferox.

Slrione vafrior, faevior busiride,

Quarente catuios tygride concitatlor.

Idem es fugacl imbellior cuniculo.

Populo execranti simla contemptior.

Minor pedlclo, rurpior bufonibus, &c.

— Pax ! fata notam mox sibi inveiiient viam.,

Nee feftinantes clauda fontes defetet

Vindidla cjcli ; pxna poll cquitcs fedet.

Et propria dirïc jura conllabunt cn.ici.

Produxe jam vos ad crucem fatis siet'*,
Iluic vos relinquo. Quod plum fauilumoue sit
Regno populoque ; tibi resigno crux mala
Hos candidates, et fidci mando tux.

103

Cromwell's army made upon the young king and his

Presbyterian fubje£ls. In his comments and fentiments,

he ufually follows the fteps of the champion whom he

fo much extoUs ; and as he pralfes even his vehemence,

and the acrimony of his language, alledging that no words

could equal the atrocity of the deed, fo in this he falls

nothing fhort of him. Nay, he fays, Salmasms * rather

failed in defed than in excefs, and thofe whom he called

bull- dogs, fliould be named Cerberufes t.' They ought to

be reputed * demons rather than men. As for J. Milton,

* It is doubtful who, or whence, he was, whether a man

or a worm * heri e (lerquilinio edltus.' * There is no

need to inquire after the hangman who cut off the king's

facred head ;— we have here the executioner ; he who

advifed, defends, praifes, the wicked deed, did it.' * That

fueh a monfter of a man, and parricides like himfelf

fliould live, even reign, is the greateft inftance of divine

patience, and the exercife of ours.' — When he mentions

the burning of his book, he wiflies the author had met

tvith the fame fate.

There is one topic, however, on which the author fof-
tcns a little his tone, and fpeaks with fome more mo-
deration than his predeceflbr in the difpute had done.
It is on the part the Presbyterians aûed in the w^ar,
and at the king's death. Salmaslus went fo far as to al-
ledge that, though the conclusion of the wicked deed was

:j: * Affirmo,— necillam vehementiam in exceffu pec-
care, in defedu potius, et quos moloflbs appellavit, Cer-

beros vocari debuifse Défunt verba, fubsidit plenissi-

mus facundix torrens infra banc fceleris magnitudmem.'
* Hkc ira, hœc vehementia zelo Die, flagrans eft Deo et
hominibus accepta.' Clam. p. I4- iS. edit, 4to.

104

{o be charged upon the Independenrs, yet the Presby-
terians might Idy claim to tlie honour of the beginning and
progrefs of it. * You/ falil he, * went along with them
more than haiF the w;iy : you accompanied therii to thé
4th a£l of the tragedy or beyond it ; the guilt of thé
king's death may be imputed to you ; you, and not others,
applied the execrable axe to his neck.' Upon which Mil-
ton, in his reply, had, with reafon, alfo apoftrophifed
the Presbyterians, reminding them of what was awaiting
tliem, and wliat they might expect, if ever the race of
Charles fhould again poflefs the throne, and the violent
toyalifi-s come into power. * Upon you,' faid he, * the
royal vengeance v/ill fall ; — the petitions, the remon-
flrances, the declarations of the lords and commons, —
îind the adls pafTcd by them, with fuch a general applaufe
of tlie people-,— the abolition of prelacy, liturgy, &c« will
be condemned and punlPned as fo many feditious and mad
meafures of the Presbyterians, as well as the king's death
avenged.' And iiis words were eventually prophetical,
and afterwards verified to the full t.

:]: * Audite presbyteriani, ccquid nunc juvnt, ecquid
confert ad innocentise et fidelitatis opinionem veflrse,
cjuod a rtge puniendo abhorrere tantoperc vidsremini ? —
Vasvûbià iinprimls, si unquam flirps Caroli regnum poft-
hac in Anglos recuperabit : in vos, milii crédite, cudetur
hœc faba. Sed Deo vota perfolvite, fratres diligite libe-
ritores veflros, qui illnm calamirafcm, atque certam
pcrniGiem ab invltis etiam vobis haclenus prohibuere.'—
* Intelligere hivjc possint, si rex reyeriatur, fe non folum
rfgis mortem, fed etiam petitiones quondam fuas, et fre-
qucntisslmi parliamenti a£la de licurgia et^epifcopis abo-
lendia, dc tricnn,!!i pailianiento, et quaecunque fiimmo
populi confcnfu ac plaufu fancita funt, tanquam feditiofas
atque infanas I'lesbyteriorum positiones luituros.

De/, fro. pop. Ân^l. p. J2.

Ï05

The evidence of fa£ls, was too glaring for any ferioiis-
\f to maintain the above rafh charges against the Presby-
terians ; the public ftate of matters too was much altered
at the time when the Cry was publifhed ; the young prince
had previously entered into the clofcft alliance with the
Scots, after all other refources had failed him. He had ac-
cepted the crown on the terms they offered him, — had
difmifled his former counfellors, confefled tht sine of his
father's houfe, folemnly fubfcribed the League and Co»-
venant of the three kingdoms, engaged to ratify all the
a£ls of parliament of either kingdom, in behalf of it,
and for eftablifliing the presbyterial uniformity ui all time
coming ; though all this was done with the fame sincerity,
and regard to the honour of a king, as his royal father
had fliown in all his concessions of a similar nature. The
author, therefore, though he does not acquit the Presby-
terians of the charge of rebellion, yet he attempts fome
fort of apology for the part they aâed in the Englifli par-
liament, as having been drawn in and led by the counfels
and ftratagems of the more violent party, before they were
fully aware of their designs, and that they found them-
felves afterwards unable to resift them, through the pre-
valence of the faftion fupported by the army : and of the
guilt of the king's murder he wholly exculpates tiiem,
devolving all the blame upon the Independents. In this
modified language he would conciliate the minds of thofe
who were now the king's clofeft friends and allies. * Hsec
Presbyterianis fratribus noftris libère et amanter di£ta
funto f .*

'\ Quamvis in hac rebellionis fabula partes fua? egerint
Tresbyteriani, ad Independentcs tnmen tota facinoris pro-

O

to6

He aifo narrates fnrne inftances of {hocking cruelty
committed by the fe<ftarian army upon the royalifts ani'
Presbyterians after the battles they gained j fome o£
which I have not feen fo particularly mentioned in thé
general hiftories of that period. After the battle of Pre-»
ton, he fays, after they were wearied with killing and
flaying, they ftarved to death fome thoufands of the Scots,
having kept them inclofed in fome grafs parks, where,
by means of grafs and the roots they plucked up to feed
upon, they hngered out life for fome days. Others taken
in the fame battle, both Englifh and Scotch, were fold like
cattle to the merchants *, by whom they were tranfported
to the American islands, and obliged, as the negroes,
to toil at the fugar works; utitil a favourable opportun!-
tv occured, >X'hen they fhook ofTthe yoke and feieed upon
the isle of Barbadoes from the tyrants if.

The prifoners alfo, that were taken at the battle of
Diinbar, he fays, were (hut up in clofe prifon to under-
go a lingering (ieath ; Cka morerentur ut mart ss srnlirefft ;)
fo that few of the many thoufands efcaped with life. To

tasis et epitisis pertinent, llli antequam quo tenderent
manifeni effenti perniciofa consilia Presbyterianls infuf-
43arunt \ illi res omnes ex arbitrio gerebant, etiam cunî
cbtlnebant et regnare videbantnr Presbyterian!,' &c.—
• Seroquc mifere Presbyteviani didicerunt quam intutum
sit hoininibus velle fapientioves eife Deo, qui nos vetat
** mala faceve, ut bona eveniaiit" — qua quidem fallacia
nullum Satanas potentiusad bonos.viros in malam partem
impellendos expertus eft. — Ka^c Presbyterinnis fratribus
iioilris libère et amanter di£Va ftinto. Sciant nos nee
cprum perperam fa£lis accedere, nee noftrum erga cos
amorem inimutare. Cum Independentlbus nobis lis efto,
quorum tunc regnum vere cxpit, quando regem e Pres-
byterianorum cuftodia eremptum in fuam receperunt.

Clam. p. 28— SC-
+ Ut Sapfa, p. 20.

ïo-7

Vluch he adcfe, the carnage ai the battle of Worcefter,
çuid ihe truehies that followed, wlien the town was de-
livered up to fpeil and (laughter, by the foldiers, who
f pared neither age nor fex. Lord Clarendon in his hif-
tory, fays, there \?as but little cruelty committed on that
occasion : we would hope therefore that the following
account of the (hocking treatment of the prifoners, may
be exaggerated ; we hope it, for the fake 61 humanity,
and the credit of the Englifli name, for the fake of Chrif-
tianityj and the credit of men, who but hitely had fworn
to be for ever faithful to the fame caufe, and to tlieir
brethren whom they treated as enemies. After noticing
v/hat was done to feme Engliili prifoners who were exe-
cuted, * The Scots,' it is faid, * were kept night and day
in the open air, till tbey were carried off in great num-
bers by hunger, cold, and the dyfentery. "When the li-
berality of the London citizens fupplied them with clothes
and money, thefe were indantly fnatched from them by
their barbarous keepers. They intercepted alfo the meat
that was fent to them : and when they had fed themfelves
to the full, and fcattered the remainder on the ground, the
prifoners were driven by blows from gathering it up,
and the fwine preferred before them. Others were fold
to American merchants as (laves: but few purchafers
werefo^ndi and in a /hort time, few remained to be
fold. And that they might not perifli by one kind of
death, 60 of them were put on board an InfufHcient or
ilUballafted (liip, which, foon after weighing anchor,
was overfet and funk in the river t-' Butj perhap?, all this

-;- « Scotis noau interdluque fab diocuftodiunt, donee
ijiedia, frigore, dyfenteriaahlumpti agmiuaiim aticrantui.
O z

wafte of the lives of fuch men, would appear both to
true royalills and regicides, a very confolatory lofs ; as
Hume, though a Scotfman, tells us in cold blood, when
defcribing the flaughter at Dunbar, that * The defeat of
the Scots' (who were only losing their all for Chaile&)
* was regarded by the king as a very fortunate event. The
armies, which fought on both sides, were almoft equally
his enemies :}:!!!'

Since we are touching on thefe critical events, and a
portion of the hiftory of the church and kingdom of
Scotland that has not yet been let in its proper light,
we may be allowed to make another obfervation by the
bye, — on the abfurd account that is given of the fpirit
and behaviour of the Scottilh clergy at the time of the
battle of Dunbar, by the pen of the writer laft named,
and which, indeed, has been taken into many of the.hif-
tories of England and Scotland. It reprefents them as
fanatical in the higheft degree ; and as pragmatically
meddling and diflating in all the political and military
affairs, though upon no fufhcient evidence. * They or-
dered,* he fays, * the king immediately to leave the
camp. They alfo carefully purged it of 4000 malignants ;
and then concluded, that they had an army of faints,
and could not be beaten. They murmured, extremely

Veftes nudis, nummos egenis afFatim exhibuerat Londi-
nensium pia liberalitas ; fed latronibus prœda fuit tanta
benignitas : mox enim veftes et nummos mifcris eripue-
runt barbari cuftodes. Soliti etiam cibum ad captives
milium intercipere. 011?e carnlbus plense a faturis cufto-
dibus everfse, cumque ofFas in lutum provolutas famelici
captivi arriperent, fuftibus abadli funt, porcique ad eaa
invitati,' &c. Clamor, p. 21.

t Hift. of Eng. vol. vii. p. 199. ed. 1763.

■not only againfl: their prudent general, but atfo agaînft
the Lord, on account of his delays to give them deli-
verance : and they plainly told him, that if he would not
fave them from the Engliih fef^aries, he fhould no longer
be their God.' When the army of Cromwell was reduced
to the laft extremities at Dunbar, ' the madnefs of the
Scottifli ecclesiaftics,' fays Himie ; the foUy^of the Scot-
tifti clergy,' as Rider terms it, (who often copies him, as
he does Sir Edward Walker, Whitlocke, &c. in this mat-
ter) • faved it.' * Revelations, they faid, were made to
them, that the fe£tarian and heretical army, together
with Agag, meaning Cromwell, was delivered into their
hands. Upon the faith of thefe visions, they forced
their general, in fpite of all his remonftrances, to defcend
into the plain, and attack the Englifli.' ' Thefe men,'
as Rider has it, * trulling fo much to providence, that
they wholly neglecled every human mean, and conftant-
ly importuned their unhappy general,' &c. This may
make a good merry tale for an infidel club over a bottle ;
but it might have appeared too grofs, bearing the marks
of fabrication and malignity on its front, to be fo easily
admitted by a clergyman of any church, who was not
difpofed to laugh at the expence of others, with a foolifli
credulity. The chara£ler of the Scottifii clergy at that
time, in favour with the ruling party, was of a very dif-
ferent defcription. Though devout, they neither pre-
tended to visions and revelations as a rule of conduft,
nor were accuftomed to teach men to rely on providence
fo as to forget all human means : fuch doctrines or enthu-
siaftic notions, which had fprung up in the adverfary's
camp, they had been long aivare of, and warntd all to
ûYoid. Nor were they accuftomed to intrude beyond

their calling, into the management of political or military
affairs. Some were appointed to attend the army in
quality of chaplains, as was the laudable praûice of that
age, and as they had done from the begintiing of thefe
civil commotions, which contributed fo much to preferve
fobriety and difcipline in the army of the Covenanters,
both in Scotland and when they were in England : and
they might fometimes meet as committees, or a delegated
commission, to give advice in certain cafes, in tlie ma-
nagement of the public caufe then at iffue, in which the
church of Scotland had and claimed fuch a deep intereft,
when religion, as well as civil liberty, and the king's
title, was at flake. Thofe who know not the import-
ance of a well-adjufted conne£lion and co-operation of
the civil and ecclesiaftical authorities in a nation, are ig-
norant of the main fprings of great good or evil ^o a
kingdom, and of the welfare or mifery of the large mafs
of the people : and with this connexion and influence the
aâ:ive leaders in that period, were well acquainted, not
only in theory, but by experience. But the church in.
ber affemblies, committees, and deliberations, afled in a
diflinftj capacity, and only interpofed their advice when
requefled, or their petitions or remonflrances, when they
thought duty, and public danger required it, to thofc
who had the immediate mangement of the public affairs.
Can this be blamed, efpecially by any \i'ho can applaud
fuch a mixed conflitution as that of England, where the
church is rcprefented, and the clergy claim a fliare in
the legiflature ? But fcrioufly to afTert, or even for a mo-
ment to fuppofe, that a few miniflers, on the above occa-
sion, didated to the commander in chief,' and all tliç
fubordinate oncers, the military movements of that dif-

lïf

afterous day, and even forced them to go down to the at-
tack, in opposition to their own judgement and remon-
trances, and on no other ground than a fure revelation
they had got from heaven, is to fuppofc both the one and
the other to have been bereft of common fenfe, and is no
lefs difparaging to the general, whom, at the fame time,
they praife as able and prudent^ and to the whole body of
officers, than to the faid ecclesiaftics. Bur: who were
the original vouchers of fuch fails, and from what fource
did they derive their information ? Here we find none
referred to, but the two named above, both of them ut-
terly incompetent. Whitlocke's conne(Slions and pre-
judices at that time are well known : and as for Sir Edw.
Walker, who yet has not affirmed all that is faid above
of the Scottifh clergy, he was a retainer and pensioned
fecretary to the Jate king, bred up in all the unhappy
principles and pre-poflessions, and habituated to the
broad dialedt aijd reproachful cant terms of the old Ca-
valiers ; — one who had been exprefsly fecluded from at-
tendance upon ihe perfon and councils of the young, king,
when he was in Scotland, and even by order of the
parliament fent into banifliment, as a noted malig-
nant. Having been thus ftigmatifed, and skulking in
difgrace, he was neither a witnefs of the tranfaitions in
court or camp; nor could he relate what he heard, with-
out betraying lus difposition to traduce the meafures ot
both church and (late at that time. Even Clarendon,
who tells, how glad the king was when he heard of the
slaughter of his army, has not ventured to give fuch a
ridiculous account of the caufc and manner of it ; but
fome late hillorians are fond to coliedl;, no matter from
what kcHnels, whatever may furniih a profane fcofF at

Ufofe they ck'signate ' the ele£l and faints ;' and by a diïe
proporcion of this burlefque humour infufed into their
narrative, they too readily obtain the charafler of free
and lively writers from an unthinking and irreligious
public. It is particularly dif^ijraceful to Scotland, and a
flriking proof of the want of difcernment and true tafte,
that, in a great literary work recently and repeatedly pub-
liflied in its capital, with fuch uncommon encouragement,
fuch abfurd and abusive ftorieo as the above^ and of fell-
ing their king for a paltry fum, &c. &c. (hould have been
inferred verbatim into the article of her national hiflory,
accompanied with the mod injurious reflecflions upon the
proceedings of that and fome other periods, and upon
many of her refpe^lable (latefmen, patriots and divine*,
which any of the mod virulent calumniators of her ho-
nour, religion and liberties, ever have thrown out ; and
this without any due animadversion, refentmcnt, or cor-
redlion, from her numerous literati *.

But to return to the moix private hiftory : — The au-
thor of the Cry fucceeded in his design of concealing
Limfelf for a time ; even the printer, two years after, in
the preface he prefixed to Milton's Second defence, which

* See the Endj'clop. Britan. 3d. edit. Art. Britain, No.
168. & No. 145., where it is faid, ' the reception that he
(the king, when he delivered himfelf up to the Scots) ♦ met
With was fuch as might he expedted from thcfe infatuated bigots %
destitute of every prir.ciple of reason, honour, or humanity, Isfc.
with many- other articles, passim, throughout that volumhious
work Has Scotia then been fo unfortunate as to find none
to sketch out her hillory but a tory ravuig in praife of tvrants I
nor to delineate her refoimattou and ecclesiali-ical conititution,
but one pofllfled of the fpirit and principles of decapitated
Ijaiid ? Or to exhibit her faith, and the Theology of Protef-
taiits, but a mongrel clergyman, iuilf papift, half-Socinian ?

"3

"he alfo re-publlflied in Holland, fays, he was then ftlll
ignorant of his name. It had been fent to Salmasius,
with a view to its publication ; and was fuppofed to come
from one who was a friend and former acquaintance of
his. Having be^ folicited, Ulac confented to publifh
it-, and at the fame time, having a correfpondence by
letters with Sam. Hartlib, in London, he informed him
of this, and at his desire fent over the (heets weekly as
they came from the prefs -, and let him know, that if
Milton chufe to make a reply, he wiftied to have the
copy tranfmitted to him, if he could obtain it, to be
publiflied; thinking that in controversies of that mo-
ment, both sides fliould be heard, and the public left to
judge. Notwithftanding this complaifance, and impar-
tiality, on account of the hand he had in the former pub-
lication, when the anfwer appeared, which was not till
1654, he efcaped not without his. full fhare of abufe.

Tho' the work bore the title of a * Secojid Defence of the
people of England, againft an infamous anonymous libel/
yet, deviating from the principal objedl, he took unbound-
ed licence in it, to depreciate and tear the charafters both
of the living and the dead, efpecially of his deceafed ad-
verfary Salmasius, who had been fo laviftily praifed at hU
cxpence ; and of Morus, as the fuppofed author of the Cry.

The particular intimacy that had fubsifted between
thefe twe eminent men, might give occasion to fufpecl
the book to be the produQion of Morus, and written too
'in concert with, and under the eye of Salmasius, as he
more than once insinuates : fome whifpers too that circu-
lated might tend to mislead him, and tlie circumftance
©f Morus having been in fpme manner employed about
the publication, as in correding it from the prefs, or

P

ÏI4

being aclire in circulating copies, might tend to Con*
firm ?iîm in that oplniort. Kesic'es, the tract bcing'wri!:-
ten with fire, and bearing marks of a good latin fcholarj
might difpofe him to attribute it to one who had acquired
fome name in that kind of Writing, and he might think
it would gain more credit to himfelf to mark out a well
Known characler for his antagoniil, than to contend a-
gainll fome perfon namelefs and obfcure. In fuch cafes
conjedufès are freely indulged ; and a miftake of this
kind, it may be owned, might very readily have happen-
ed without any bad intention, or incurring blame. Had
he merely insinuated this as a matter of conjetlure or ru*
mour, and without proceeding to raife upon fuch a flen-
der ground, fuch a fabric of malevolence and calumny,
wiihout afluniing it, and improving it for a purpofe the
ir.oft unjuftifiablc and odious, and without pereifting
viifully and obllinately in the error, in contempt of fuf-
ficicnt evidence to the contrary, it might have been verf
^xcufable. But his condu£l was the very reverfe of this »
and Ihewccl that he did not wilh, bbt was irefolved noè
to be undeceived. To hold out any paiticular perfoû
publicly as the;author of an anonymous work, not ac»
knowledged by him, nor proven to be his> efpeeially
when it is charged with criminal matter, is a flagrant
breach of the laws of the litei-ary republic ; but when
this is done with a view to tear the moral chara6lcr, and
defame the general condu£l of the man, without any re«»
lation to the book or its contents, this is a double and
more aggravated offence, being a direct violation of tfic
common rules of m.orality and charity. And fuch offen-
ces the fecretary'of the 'Enguili common-wealth, and the
Britifii Hcmer, may be found coni^ifled.

»»5

The fecret,. however» as to the author of the * Cry of
lloyd Blood,' was not fo well kept as that of the writer
of < Junius' Letters,' in later times, nor fo as to give oc<.
caslon afterwards for fuch a long differtation as Dupin
l>as inferted in hie Bibliothèque, on the queflion, wUe-
ther Gerfon or T. a Kempis was the author of the book
cf * The Imitation.* It foon tranfpired, that Mr P. da
îvloulin, the ddeft fon of the miiiifter and-profeiTor in
Î5cdan, was the real author. Amongll other authorities
for this, Mr DaiUie's teftimony may be referred to in hi»^
Kepiy to F. Adams f ; and Colomies, in his B'tliloth. ChoU,
p. 29.— Du Moulin the father is well kown by his nu-
merous v^-ritings. He had been invited over to England
Uy king James Î., after cardinal Perron's book again ft
^bc king appeared, which he refuted in his * Defence of
the catholic faith ; and the novelty of popery.' During
his residence, he ofllciated in the French church in I^n-
^!on, but returned to France upon the death of the king,
'in 1625, where he, lived above 30 years after, and difd
in 1658, at the age of 90 years. He left three fons who
were miniaers, and all of theni writers, Peter, Lewis,
and Cyrus ; though the two former were widely dilïsrent
from each other in their fpirit and principle*. U'l.ey both
took up their rijsidence in Enj^land, during the latter part
of their lives, wh^re their father had W:\\ ô much re-
fpeded. In the public confusions that arofc.and in the dif-
ferences between the king and pailiament, they took dit-
fcrent sides, and Oiared confcquently in the lot that befell
the refpeaive parties that they adhered to « Peter being a
zealous royalilH, and confoii-ift tc^ thf cpifcot^;. church.

t Part ii. p. »27.

*^ P 2

IID

was often employed as a preacher at Oxford, but loft M»
preferment, with others, when the king's power wask
broken. He resided for a time in Ireland, and probably
alfo abroad ; but at the reftoration his attachment and
fervices were rewarded, being appointed to be one of
the king's chaplains, and canon of Canterbury, where
he died at the age of 84, in 1684. Lewis, after he came
over from Leyden, where he had taken the degree of
do£lor in medicine, efpoufed the puritan caufe, and up-
on the change that took place, he was made profeflbr of
church-hiftory in Oxford, but was turned out when
Charles II. was reftored. He fufFered with the Non-
conformifts, to whom he continued attached to the end
of his days, and wrote warmly againft the hierarchy and
ceremonies ; but on the head of church-government and
excommunication he adopted the notions of the Eraftians,
of which feveral of the rigid independents became advo-,
cates during tfie interregnum. He wrote his Paranesis^
or * Admonition/ on this fubjeft, againft Amyrald, and
dedicated it to Cromwell. They were both men of learn-
ing, and both feem to have been friendly to the pro-
teftant do6lrines, though fo much divided as to ecclesia^
tical and civil polity p

% Peter continued a zealot for prelacy and ceremonies to
the laft Being poflefTed of rich benefices, he had afforded feme
pecuniary aid to his younger brother in the latter period of
his life. In 1679, he withdrew fome part of his bounty, and
fent Mr de l'Angle, who was alfo a canon of Canterbury, and
minifter of the French church in the Savoy, to tell him that the
reafon of this was, the heat and bitternefs he had Ihown againft
the church of England ; and that he of alPmen had the great-
eft account to give on that fcore ; and ferioufly to exhort him,
in view of his diffolution, (as he was now above 74 years of
age) to make his peace with Qod, and to repent of all his sinsj

ti7

Peter has be^n already named as the writer of th'e Hif-
tory of Presbytery, though the Englifli tranflation thae
appeared in 1659, was anonymous. He wrote alfo in
French, the treatife intitled, * The peace of the foul ;'
which was translated into different languages ; of which
a new edition in Englifh was publifhed, not many years
ago, with alterations. He wrote in Englifli * A vindica»
tion of the sincerity of the Proteftant religion,' againft a
Jefuitical work in 1662 ; which made a noife, and was
complained of by the CHieen-Dowager, as he had aflîrm-
ed in it, that both the dod^ors of the Sorbonne and the
pope, upon being confulted by the Jefuits, had allowed
it to be lawful, for the good of the catholic caufe, to join

efpecially of thofe commUted againft the church of England.
This put the good old man upon a review of his coiniuct, efpe-
cially to examine the grounds on which he had condemned
the church of England, and which were fuch as Rill fatisfied
his mind on that head ; and which being ftated; he hoped hi»
brother would fee, that what he had done was not from a fpir
rit of bitternefs but convlétion, and that he had the concur-
rence of thebeft of men in it, and of the foreign churches."
And this produced his ' Short and true Account of the fevc»
tal ad%'ances the church of England hath made towards Rome •*
printed the following year, a pamphlet that is well worthy of
perufal, in which the author fhews his piety, moderation, and
and acquaintance with fads ; aud expcfes the unreafonable
fpirit, and hurtful ineafures of the Caiiterburian faftion, in im-
posing the hierarchy and ccrempnies,in opposition to ;he great-
er and better part of the people of England, and in Scotland,
where not one in a hundrtd had a liking to them ; and the ab-
furdity of blotting out from the lill of churches, all who want-
ed epifcopal ordination, &c. 'Ihefe appear to have been his
laft fentiments ; as he died at WLllinlnller foon after, I find
CO reafon for faying, as fome hayc done, that he had retraclcd
what he had thrown out againft the Englifli clergy. He wrote
alfo, Patronus bona Jidei in causa Pur'tt'anorum y Renatu» Feri'
tlaus, Iffc,

ïiâ

in cutting off the king. He was the author of feme (ttik
mons in £ngli(h and latin.

Milton began his fécond defence againft what he terms
the * infamous anonymous libel,' in a high tone of felf-
gratulation, vaunting of the part he had been called to
aâ: on the public ft age, and of what he had already at-
chieved ; but foon defcended to low ribaldry, and per-
fonal abufe. He expreffes thankfulnefs for halving been
born in the era of his country's liberty, and that he had
been singled out for the vindication of fuch a caufe againft
a redoubted adverfary, and had been fuccefsful in over-
throwing him, fo that during the three years in which
he had furvived, they had met with no difturbance from
him, except by threats, and exciting fome obfcure per-
fons to come forward as his auxiliaries. While others
had been aâors in the public fcene in another capacity,
and befriended the caufe by other weapons, he valued
himfelf upon the fervice he had rendered it by his genius
and pen ; and considers himfelf as the champion of li-
berty, even in behalf of the whole human race, and in
the sight of all the furrounding nations, who were intent
upon the conflid, in all of which the fons of freedom
were difpofed to give him their plaudits : and alTuming
the religious air and language of the dominant party, he
thinks, that all this could not have been done * without
the fpecial favour of heaven.* * H?ec ego divinitus mihi
accedifle bona et magna quidem ratus,' &c. And he
prayed that God, with his wonted aid and benignity,
might enable him to perform what he now undertook^,
with the fame integrity, fidelity, 3cc. aslhe task he had
already açcompliftied.

When the manner în which he had acquitted himfelfj
and the Ucentioufnefs in which he was juft. about to em-
ploy his pen, are considered, there is fomething very in-
congruous and offensive in thefe formal (trains of piety.
Even the author of the Hiftorical and Critical Dictionary,
though himfelf not a writer of the moft ferious turn, has
paffed this juft cenfure upon him, * that his ijianner of

* treating the important point, (in his firft Defence)

* was very faulty for want of gravity. I do not fpeak of
« his keen railleries againft Salmasius *, but we fee him

* every moment playing the droll, and the buffoon. This

* fault is yet more confpicuous in his two replies to Mr

* Morus, they are full of points, and extravagant plea-

* fantries. There the author's character appears quite un-

* difguifed : he was one of thofe fatyrical geniufcs, who
' indeed take a great deal of pleafure in collecting all the

* rqiorts which are fpread to people's difadvantage, and

* in making a man's enemies write all the flanders they

* have ever heard of him -, but who take ftill more plea-

* furc in inferting thofe flanders in the /lift libel which

* they publilh ngainft him.'

After declaiming againft the defenders of kings, for
affecting concealment, by witholding their names from
the public, as if they were afraid to appear, for which he
fuppofes they may have good reafons ; he fays, that this
artifice would nothing avail the author of the Cry» but
he would pull off the mask, and drag him from his co-
vering of darknefs into open day : fo that, in this at Icaft,
lie (hould find that he was clear-sighted. Then, as if
he had been throughly acquainted with the man, and the
whole hiftory of his life, he breaks forth upon Morus, in
the moft opprobrious terms, defcribing his general ch^»

ia^er, as * infamoos and wicked, in a high degree>— -a
man perfidious, ungrateful, a liar, an evil-fpeaker, a per-
petual flanderer of men and women, who never fpared
either the chaftity of the latter, or their fame*.

The particulars, however, in fupport of fuch an atro-»
clous charge, which Milton produces, are only thofe which
have been occasionally mentioned in the foregoing nar-
rative. When at Geneva, he alledges, he could not long
efcape the cenfure of the Presbytersj being accufed o£
various crimes, and condemned for many errors againft,
the orthodox faith, which he profefled to abjure, yet
impiously retained ; till at laft he was accufed of manifeft
adultery with one who had been a maid in the houfe
where he had lodged, and whofe company he frequented
after {he was married, they having been often feen in a
garden clandeRinely together ; on which account he was
dcpofed from his miniderial office. * The heads of thefe
and fuch-like charges,' he fays, * were ftill kept in the
public library of that eity ;' harum et hujufmodi accufa-
tlonum capita in bibliotheca illius urbis, publica etiam-
num aflcrvantur.' This is all his proof.

When he was called to Holland, he obtained teftimo-
nial letters, though with difficulty, and on condition of
his leaving Geneva. When he was hofpitably received

* * Eft Morns quidam, partim Scotus, partim Callus ; ne
tota hominis infainia gens una ant regie nimium laboraret :
homo improbiis, et cum aliorum, t\im amicorum, quos ex
intimls inimiclssimos sibi fecit, teftimonijs quam plurimis infi-
dus, mendax, Ingratus, maledicus, et virorum perpetuus obtrec-
tator et fœminarojn, quarum nee pudicitiae^lus unquam par-
cere, quam fame confuevit.'

Def. Sec. p. 15. ed Hag. lamo. 1654.

Ï2I

into the houfe of Salmaslus, while he assiduously paid
his court to the matter, he did fo alfo to the chamber-
maid,— the forefaid Pontia, and under promife of mar-
riage vitiated her. * Hence,' he fcofiingly adds, * proceed-
ed a double birth ; Pontia conceived Morillum, a little
Morus ; — MorUs. this empty windy egg, from which
proceeded the Clamour * ex quo tympanites iftc clamor
regij fanquinis prorupic f .' He being greatly puffed up,
by this his production, and reckoning, by the favour of
the Orange fadion, he might make fure of any of the
profeflbrial chairs, he cad off poor Pontia jam gravldam ;
who thereupon implored juftice both from the Synod
and Magiftrates, but implored it in vain : for the Cry of
royal blood easily drowned the cry of whoredom, and
Ihe plaints of an abufcd girl j * ftupratœ mulierculîe
ploratum.*

He tells that, upon this ftory taking air, all companies
mad« themfelves merry upon the fubje£t, as he himfelf
feems fo heartily difpofed to be i and he inferted tht
punning epigram which fome wag had written upon the
occasion, and which has been fo ofteil printed, to the
injury of the author's memory %.

Such are briefly the alledged fads upon which Milton
has thought proper to fouild fuch a public and general
charge. To produce particular evidence he will not give
himfelf the trouble : the mere narration muft ftand for
probation ; fo that on the faith of it, he thinks himfelf

f Ut supra p. 17, 18.

J Gain ex ionculUu gravldam te Pontia, Mori,
^h bene moratam, morlgeramque ncget ?

112

warranted to recur to it, and repeat it 20 times thrdagh-
cut the remaining part of the treatife, ringing it perpe-
tually in the ears of the reader, and of his fuppofed anta-
gonift, as the chief weapon both of offence and defence.
He fufFcrs his luxuriant fancy to dwell and riot on thefe
topics, prefenting them in a hundred ftiapes, attended
with defcriptioiis, comments, witticifms, and allusions^
of wliich ancient comic poets, or modern hovel writers
would be afhamed ; many of them fo grofs and indelicate
as to forbid all quotation, even in their original latin, and
which no chafte eye, without difguft, can read. They arc
no lefs incongruous to the fubje6l and purpofe of the
author, than they are unbecoming any chriftran, or man
of gravity or probity, not to fay, one professing to be a
republican Cato, and fo zealous leaft the fanftity of re-
ligion, and the facred miniftry ftiould be contariiinated by
fuch manners as he would ftigmatize. The lofty advo-
cate of the good people of England, and of the human
race, feems to exert all his ftrength chiefly to overthrow
the marked jndividtlal> and ftot by difpassionate argu-
ment or manly eloquence, but by fccmful banter or
downright railing. He faî-utes him with no better name*
than * mocchus, adulter, ftuprator, epifcopus Lampface-

* nus, aneillariole ; diaboli minifter, et reformatai cccle-

* siîè infandum dedecus et lues ; impius et plane atheus

* homo/ Referring to an expression, ufed in the Cry,

of lifting up the hands to God, in deteflation of the ia-

juries done againft his facred name,' he thus exclaims,

' Ahde, abde obfcaenas ill'as manus, quas libidine et;
anribitione fupinatus atrokre non vcreris, né caelum ipfum
qucque audias ijs maDibus inceflare, quibus facra reli-
gionis myderia conrrc£lando polluifti. Quam enim di-
vinain ukionem alijs ten^erarius et vecors imprecasis.

Î.23

earn în ipsius tuum impurisaimum caput devocafTe te ollm
iiltelliges.*

Commenting on the cliaraaer of Braddiaw, who w:^s
president qf the High court of Juftice, he thus breaks

out, it

« Te vero tot vitljs çt fceleribys obflriaum, immo me-
ram Ipurcitiem, merum fcelus, ufqne adeo obduxifle men-
ti et fensibus caiUim, nisi tna mens potiiis tota callus eft,
ut in Deum atheus, et facrorum contaminaidî, in homi-
nes inhumanus, cujufque optimi calumniator efie aus:s,
<juid aliud eft efle quam gcrmanum Ifcariotam atq^ue dia-
bblum f ?'

In reply to the wilh exprefled by his anonymous oppo-
nent, that the author, as well as his book had been burnt,

he fays,

* Itane ergaftulum ? At ego parem ne reddam tlbi fa-
lutem, More, tu egrcgie cavifti ; ut qui nigrionbus mul-
to ignibus jamdudum pereas : urunt te adultena tua,
urant ftupr^, urunt perjuria, quorum ope defponfat-mi
tibi ftupro fîx-minamperfidusexcussifti, urunt perditissi-
mi furores, qui impulerunt te, ut facralan^a mnma facr-
aomfus cancupifceres, tt. imperfpeaum Domini corpus
inceftis manibus faccrdos poliueres ;— his tu fcelcnbus
ct Lnfamijs totus flagras, his tu flammis funaii.bus dies
atque noues torreri, dafque nobis pienas quibus ^ravio-
res, imprecari tibi nullus hoftis poteft :|:.'

In another place, he, fays, 'had he got his defert, lie
had long before, been delivered by the church to Satan ;
and he would have been hung by the magiftrates upon a
gallows :' and he adds, that he had lately heard, th^c
' his church at Middleburgh, had difmilTed him, ' capri-
mulgum paftorem, imo hircum,— in malarn crucem i
Ai\d that * the magiftratei of Amfterdam had Interdided
him from the pulph, and. that he continued only to bç

t Dsf, Sec. p. 7S.. % /-'"■-^. P* 94 > 95-

Ï24

|5rofeflbr of Greek letters ; and that foon only one of thefe
would be left for him i' — meaning, gentle Reader, the
letter T ; that is to fay, he would be hanged on a crofs f.
In this manner does the infuriated poet go on, under
the pretence of anfwering a book in the composition of
which the minifter fo treated had no fliare, and whofe
life and anions, at any rate, even had they been fuch aa
reprefented, had not the moft diftant relation to its con-
tents. Declamation fo confidently uttered and reiterated,
as ready to make impression> and accufations of fuch a
general nature become more injurious, efpecially among
ftrangers, as they will naturally think, that there muft
have been inftances both numerous and notorious, to
juftify fuch a public produûion of them. The fame un-
favourable idea is ready to arife upon reading the recapi-
tulation which Bayle has made of the contents of Milton's
libels againlll Morus, as when he fays, ' He treats him
on the footing of a dog, or rather of a goat, for he ac-
cufes him of a thoufand lewd trifks ; and particularly/

f * Id fatagit* inquis, * Miltonus, cujus ego piacularem
vefaniam pro meritis excepifiem.' Tu excepiiTes, furcifer ?_
cujus nefaria flagitia si eoclesia ilia Middleburgensis, tc paf-
tore infamis et infaelix, pfo loeritis excepiflVt jamd'.idum te
fatanae mandaffet : si pro nieritis txcepiflet magiftratus, jam-
dudum adulteria patibulo pendens luifTes : et luiturus pro-
pediem fane videris ; evigelavit enina ut audio nuper, tua
ilia ecclesia Middleburgensis, fuseque famae coiifuluit, teque
caprimulgum paftorem, immo hircum potius olentissimum, a-
blegavit ab fe in malam crucera ; hinc tt magiftratus Auiftero-
damensis pulpitum quoque interdixit tibi, orcheftram tuani,
tuumque illiid os impudicum eo ex loco ad fummam omnium
bonornm offensionem confpici illam impiani vocem vetuit in
facro publiée aiidiri : reftat jam tibi fola graecarum liteiarum
professio,, et haec quoque brevi eripienda, praeter unam illam
^iteram cujus non profeflbr, fed difcipulus mox pe^sjlis merits
futurus es. Page 99, 1 00.

Ï25

$cc. — Such indefinite cîufges aïe more injmions tVmn a
plain and full produclion of the patticulars ; ns they
leave every one at liberty to conceive wliat they pleafe,
and to n^ultiply them to any extent : and when pttrhaps
a single inftance or"*two, and thofe not of an ;iggravatcd
nature, may be the whole amount, fuch unlimited ex-
pressions muft be inapplicable and unjuil, as they go far
beyond the truth ; as a particular a£l does not conilitutc
a habit, nor neccflarily infer an infamous or totally a-
bandoned chara«Sler. So far as we have ften, tlie fpecific
charge, even by Milton, is confintd to the two funniled
inftai(ices, to which he perpetually refers ; and thefe muft
Hand, it fecms, for a thousand.

Besides the perfonalities agnlnft our author, and feme
others, with which the traél: is interlarded^ there are feve-
ral occasional topics, extended epifodes, and public cha-
Ta6ters incidentally introduc'd, and elaborately drawn,
■which make up the better part of it : fuch are the lofty
preamble ; the narrative of the author's life and (ludies,
of ufe to the biographer ; the apologetical defcant on
blindnefs, the eminent men that have been fubjcclcd to
it, and the advantages that may be derived from it, and
that it was not to be objciSled to him as a judgment on
account of his crimes, as he fuppofed had been intended
by ihs application of thefe words to him -,

Monfirum, horrendum, Informe, i«geiis,
Cui lumen ademptum : —

and the diminitive reprefentation tliat was made of his
perfon in the words that followed, in the cpiftle dedica-
^o'^y t> pul^s him upon a formal delineation of the pret-

\ Quanquam nee ingens, quo nihil exilius^ cxfanguius, con-

120

tînefs and agîfity of his perfon, the beauties of his botJ|r,
and mind : for however little regard he paid to the re-
putation of others, he was ftill exceedingly jealous of his
own. A high-wpought eulogium upon Chriftina, * the
queen of the north,' occupies fome pages, whom he celcr
brates for learning, virtue, and heavenly vigour of mind,
whofe wifdom, even Solomon himfelf might have come
from a diftance to hear*, and, as one at lead among
crowed heads, who was worthy, not to fway the fceptre
over one nation only, but over the whole world f : for
this capricious virago, it was faid, had fpojce favourably
of his book, and looked cold upon Salniasius. Another
eulogy is pronounced upon president Bradfhaw ; and thp
longeft and moft elaborate of all upon Cromwell, as the
greateft of all heroes, and generals, the father of his counr
try, the diredtor of her councils, who alone could fup-
port the pillars of government, the tutelary god of liber-
ty, to whom all looked, and on whom all depended, not
forgetting to give a due portion of incenfe to his fatellites,
the gentlemen of the fword, and a parting addrefs and
advice to the citizens ; with all which the work is crown-
ed. After all thefe dedudtions, little room was left for
profecuting the argument beyond what had been advan-
ced in the former treatife, and the caufe of the people at
large, occupies but a fmall (hare. Nor could it have been
consiftently pled ; when anarchy, according to the ufual
courfe of things, had made way for arbitrary power ; and
when the ftiadow of a republic, and the form of a parlia-
ment had vanilhed to nothing ; and when a single defpot,

traftius, de génère anîmalculoniiTi, quae qno pungunt acriwij
eo iioccnt minus. Clara. Ep. ded.
t Page 52—55.^

or ^t bed a military oligarchy, pofTefled the fupreme au-
thority i and in fa£l, this pretended advocate for the
people is now gone over to defend fuch a fyflem of go-
vernment, and fawningly pays his court to powers that
then were. And in managing this defence, he is obliged
to concede and avow a principle, incompatible with pure
democracy, and that fitly may apply in favour of any
adlually feizing or exercising authority ; namely, that the
wifer and better part have a right to govern, however
few they be, and to them the majority ought to be fub-
jedled. This was unavoidable if he attempted to juftify
the violence and ufurpatios of the Independents and Mi-
litary Officers. This notable paflage is inferted below %.
As to the unprecedented outrage upon the charafter
of our divine, the reader is already prepared to form a
judgment. The fa£ls formerly ftated and authenticated,
are fufficient to fhow what dependence can be had on the
accuracy of his information, and to evince the futility or
falfhood of his fcandalous imputations. The principal
part of Morus's vindication has been already anticipated.
Of the errors againft the faith wherewith he is charged,
and how the affair terminated, we have heard enough
from the mod competent judges. Of the exiftence of
fuch lifama clamosay at leafl of fuch a proccfs and fentence
in Geneva, is utterly irreconcilable to the teflimonials

X Passim concedis * potiores fiiifTe Iiidependentium partes,
non numéro, fed consilio, et virtute militari.' Unde ego et jure
ct merito fupenores quoque fuilFe contendo : nihil enim ell
natune convenientius, nihil juftius, nihil humano generi ntiliiis
aut melius, qnam ut minor majori, non numerus numéro, fed
virtus virtuti. consilium consilio cedat ; qui prudentia, qui re-
rum ufu, induftria, atquc virtute poUent, hi, mca quidem fen-
tentia, qtiantumvis pauci, quantove numéro, plures efunt, et
fuflragîjs ubique potières. Ut lupra, p. 77,

138

granted, at the time of his departure, and his honour-
able admission elfewliere. The appeal to the recordë
kept in the public library of tlut city, which nobody has
faid they h;id ever fcen, muft go for nothing. If re-
cords of fuch fvufts exifled, it is llrange that none; of
his adverfarie? beyond foas, was ever found to avail him-
ftlf of them, and that the library-keeper, Senebier, in the
end of the lalt century, when writing upon the fubje£l, ,
should not have faid a word of them ; but, on the con-
trary» tho' not mod favourable to Mr Morus, he fliould,
after all he had fcen and heard as to his delinquencies of
that kind, declare, tliat probabihty was on the side of his
innocence. What this loofe writer refers to may be no-
thing more than the minutes of the do£lrinal difputes in
the Presbyterial regifter. His reprefentation of the other
cafe in Holland, and of the proceedings there, has been
found falfe, in every material point. So little, indeed,
was he acquainted with the real ftate of matters in Hol-
hmd, that he makes Morus to have been confined to the
profession of Greek, who never taught Greek there at
all. That he had been interdifted the pulpit by the ma-
gidrates of Amfterdam is no lefs a fiélion. As foon as
this calumny was known in that city, it Nvas publicly con-
tradi£led by the magiftrates, and curators of the fchool,
and by the miniRt;rû of the French church there. Thefe
exculpatory leflimonies, granted poflerior to hie fettling
in Amfterdam, may tlierefore be-inferted here, in addi-
tion to the former. The firft, after taking notice, in
the preamble, of the above calumnies, and the like, con-
tained in Milton's book lately publiflied, againll the re-
verend and learned profeiTor Morus, fays,

* We, the Magiftrates of the city, &c. from regard to

129

truth, teftlfy, that from the tthie of his being employed
in his public office among us, he has not only been free
from any thing that could afford any juft ground for fuch
atrocious calumnies, or that would be unbecoming a
Chriftian or a divine ; but alfo that he has difcharged his
function with singtilar virtue, induftry, erudition, and
eloquence ; fo as to have been without fault or blame ;
and that he has acquitted himfelf in all the parts of his
offices with fuch signal benefit and applaufe, as we have
been informed, and ftill continues to do, as to be molt
dear to us, and all good men. Wherefore fo far have
we been from doing or intending any thing that might
in any refpe£l be grievous to him ; or from judging him
worthy of any blame, that, on the contrary, we from
the heart regard his dignity and worth ; and we are ready
to fliew him our protecSlion and kindnefs, whenever there
may be occasion for it. Given and ratified under our
feal, and signed by out fecretary, at Amfterdam, the i itli
of July, 1654*. N. NicoLAi.*

After tlic infertion of this, in his defence, Morus,

thought he had reafon to add, * Thus fpeak they, of
whom, if the gravity, the fidelity, and authority, be con-
sidered, even tlie word of one of them might be acknow-
ledged fufficient to repel 600,000 Miltonian libels : Thus
thefe fenators appoint me to be fufpended, thus they are
pleafcd to degrade and fpoil me of all my ornaments,—
and thus they consign me to the gallows.'

Tlie teflimony of the consiftory of the church of Am-
flecdam, is no lefs explicit and honourable. They alfo
declare, that he had difcharged the office to which he
had been called by the magiftrates, with public applaufe :
And they add,

* • Non modo nihil admifle quod justum prsdiélis

calumnijs locum dare potuerit, aut Christiano aut Theologo
indignum sit; fed ctiam professione fua singular! cum virtute,
industria, eruditione et facundia funftum cfTe ; Ita ut extra
culpara notamve fiicrit,' &c. Fides PulL p. 207.

R

* We fartlïer teRify, that, with refpeft to Lis convert
fatlon and life, fo far are we from knowing or acknow-*
Icdging him to be guihy of thofe crimes of which he has
been accufcid in a late pubHcation by one Milton, an
Englifliman, that on the contrary* as often as we have
asked him to preach in our church, his difcourfes have
been excellent and very orthodox : and he would not
Iiave been fo employed, if any tiling of this kind had ever
been known to us. Besides other churches with which
he has lived longer than amonjif us, bear testimony of him
Csaii« superque) fuperabundantly, by their public docu-
ments ; with which we agree, and to which we refer,' &c»

* Nomine totius Synedrij Ecclesire reformats

GaUo-Belgicse,' &c.

* Subfcribed by Gothofredus Hotton, Henri-

cus Blanche telle, Nicolaus dc la Baflecour,

paftors/
The Curators of the fchool gave alfo their feparaie
teflimoniJ, no lefs explicit and ample, in which they
exprefs their wonder and grief at the public defamatiott
of his chara£ler among ftrangers, declaring that since he
was called to his office among them, he had in every re-
fpedl given them fatisfadion, and that he had anfwered
to the full to the abundant teftimonies given in his favour
fyom Geneva and other places ; and that they were per-
fuaded, * the calumnies wherewith he was fo undeferved-
Iv leaded, arofe from nothing elfe than that envy which,
is an infeparable attendant upon singular virtue.' The
ori.uinal will be found in the Appendix.

Thcfe public teftimonies, with a brief natratidn of faf^sj,
conditute the principal matter of the vindication of him-
feif which Morus publiflied, to which he therefore gave
the title of ' Publica Fides contra calumnias Joan. Mil-
toni ■.' and they are certainly the mod fatisfaftory vindi-
cation that could hi produced or desired -, more fo tha»

ï3

1

any perfonal denials on his part, or the mere recommen-
dation of private friends, or the moft fevere retorts,
(harp animadversions, or poignant futire againd his ad^
verfary, could otherwife have been. A proportion of thefe
too are not wanting in his reply, the firfl. part of which
was publiflied, along with Mtlron's libel, at the Hague,
in 1654, by Ulac : and the author having taken his jour-
ney into France that year, before it was finii'he^, the Sup-
plement was publifhed the year following, from the copy
tranfmitted from him before his return.

To that edition of Milton's Second Defence, G. Grant-
zius, profeflbr of divinity, formerly meniioncd, prefixed
a ftiort preface to the reader ; in which the favourable tef-
timony in behalf of our author, deferves alfo to be men-
tioned. He fiiarply animadverts on the intemperate fpi-
rit and bile of Milton, particularly, in the treatment he
had given Salmasius and Morus, with both of whom he
was intimately acquainted. He regrets the unhappinefa
of the age, in which fuch licence was taken to caïiinuiiate.
He warns the reader againfl giving credit to Milton oa
thefe fabjefls ;' he is not to be regarded, he fays, as a hîf-
torian j he is a fabulid and mere poet, though he writes in
profe. Who, or what fort of a perfon Milton is, I know
not ; but his publications evidently lliov/ him to be full of
gall : — who, and how great a man Salmsius v/as, I well
know : and who does not know him, unlcXs he be alfo ig-
norant of letters ?' After declaring him to be wholly fre^
of avarice, * et nihil minus quam eunuchus' he proceeds,
* if his poflhumous work be publifaed, ISlilton will find
that even the dead can bite. — How black is Milton, if
credit be due to Salmasius ! I am muc'n miHaken, if fame<»

R2

132

body has not difcovered to Milton the reproaches which
Salmasius has therein thrown upon him ; for they are
almod the fame with thofe to be found in this hbel caft
upon Morus, in order that they might lofe their force,
when they may be printed, as being ufed by way of re-
crimination. I have been acquainted with Morus both iq,
Geneva and Holland. He had always great contefts with
thofe who envied him or were his rivals, to whom he
often gave occasion by the haftinefs of his temper {promp*
iissima naiura)j or his too great freedom of fpeaking/ He
allows him to have been haughty, as Spanheim had called
him, and that he had a passion to overtop others : * But as
to the crimes obje<Sled to him by Milton,' he fays, * I am
forry, that they have been charged upon him, becaufe I
know moft certainly that they are entirely falfe -, — Falis-
siMA ESSE CERTo cERTioR scio. A happy genius, if hc
had Ilot irritated thofe whom he ought tp have contemned.
I have heard Salmasius fay, that he never knew a finer
genius, or one more capable of any thing, to which he
might apply himfelf, if he had been a little more labori-
ous, and had not trufted fo much as he did to falfe friends.
When the matrimonial plea was depending, he added,
•Morum varie laesifle uxorem fuam,'but thathechufednot,
on his account, to lofe domeftic tranquility. But besivles
înconsideratenefs unbecoming fuch a worthy man, no
crime in this affair could be imputed to Morus : yea, he
added, if Morus was guilty in it, * ego fum leno et uxor
mea lena.' Thefc were his very words, which hc had alfo
repeated in the hearing of others, particularly Spilliardus,
a refpe6table preacher ; that fo at the mouth of two or
three witneflcs, the truth might be confirmed. Thefe
things I teftify before God, and desire them to be printed

«33

iox the fake of truth alone, havi'ng no reafon to be Influ-
enced by hatred, hope, or ftar, as is well known. But
when I recollect how often Salmasiu?, in my hearing,
commended Morus's acute judgment» his skill in the
learned languages, alid his happy talent for preaching, —
what eulogiums and praifes he bellowed upon him, who
otherwife was not difpofed to praife much, or many, I
could not read without indignation in this putlication,
things fo perverted or inverted, as Milton tells them ; and
when he could not even fpare tb.e innocent printer, it i^
manifeft that he fought matter for railing and declama-
tion. May the God of Chriftians difpofe the minds of
rulers to reftrain this licentioufncfsof writing fo difgrace-
ful to Chriftians. Written and fubfcribed by my hand.
G. C. S. S. Th. D.

The heinous offence of Uiac, in the eyes of Milton,
was the putting his name to the dedication to Charles ÎL
abovementioned ; though it would appear he that he was
not the writer of it. Milton was uncertain whether to
afcribe it to him, or to Salmasins, or Morus. Ulac him-
felf teils us, that he hzà. done it by desire^ and reckoned
that it needed not to have been taken fo much amifs, as
it was not unufual for publifliers to sfF.x their names to
addrefies of this kind relating to writings committed to
them. It is generally fuppofed to have been written by
Morus ; and Bayle fays, tliat he has confefl^d fo much
in his reply to Milton, where he fays, * that he never in-
tended to reproach him with blindncfs, since he knew
nothing about it except from Milton's anfwer, and that
if he had faid any thing that related to blindnefs, he had
meant only that of the foul.' Bayle farther adds, * now
«ince in the epiftle he had faid, that Milton was the moft

'34

hideous creature, and the mereft slcelefon that ever wa$
feen, I believe it would have puzzled him greatly to have
reconciled his epiftle dedicatory to that paflagc in his
reply, where he fays he took Milton to have been a hand-
fome man, after having feen fuch a delicate print of him
before his poems f .' But it is not fo evident from the
original words referred to, that he therein made fuch an
acknowledgment; or that the alledged inconsiftence could
hence be charged upon him in regard to Milton's perfon.
His expression is imperfonal, * Si quid forte fe dabat:
quod eo fpe«Slare videretur, ad animum referebam |. — It
does not neceflarily mean that he had faid any thing that
might feem to relate to his blindnefs in that epiftle, but
any thing of that kind that might be fo applied, whether
written by himfelf or any other, he considered as applica-
ble, not to his bodily, but his mental blindnefs^ And
this will not make him refponsible for any other part ox
the defcription.

The dedication contains fome fultablc hints and ad-*
monitions to the young king under his adversity, with
fome portion of the adulation fo commonly offered to
princes ; directing him to view thofe events that had
happened as ordered by a divine providence, to fliew
him the vanity of human greatnefs and the mutability of
all earihly things ; to prefervc him from the deceitful
blandifhments of a profperous lot, and from becoming a
prey to any fyrCn ; that he might learn by experience
true wifdom and philofophy ; more fpeedily and in a
higher degree than many books, vigils, or many teacher?,
in many years, could have taught him : telling him, that

t Dieiion. Art. Milton. % Fid. pub. p. 31.

135

*f he had been feated at eafe on the throne of his arice{'-
tors, it might have been doubtful whether he would
ever have been fuch as he now Ihewed himfelf to be, or
promifed to be for the future j — that only the trappings
and ensigns of royalty were taken from him, — but that
nothing could deprive him of his kingdom ; of his fa-
cred un£tion, and divine character ; or dethrone him
firom the hearts of his people; — that he had not merely
tailed, but drunk deeply of wifdom ; and that he had
been in the moft wonderful manner fnatched from the
very jaws of thofe dogs of hell, that he might be referved
for greater things. — But all thefe fine fayings, by whom-
foever written, alas ! were only thrown away upon fuch
an unapt and indocile fchoiar, who was alike incapable of
learning in adversity or profperity, and was referved to
be the greateft fcourge of three kingdoms that any were
ever fubjcdted to.

Milton, in perpetual violation of the rule, * Non quis,
fed quid,' turned the attention away from the matters in
debate to vent his fpite againft the pcrfons to whom
he afcribed what was faid or done. Though he profef-
fed he did not know of what nation Ulac was, yet he
was at no lofs to write a (hort fcandalous chronicle of
his life and tranfactions. He reprefents him as a mer-
cenary, wandering, bankrupt, fraudulent bookfcller, who
after innumerable frauds had been obliged to fly from
London, and afterwards from Paris, and one who for
gain would employ his fervices on either fide. This
made Ulac prefix a fliort vindication of himfelf to the
edition he re-printed ; in which he took occasion to give
» fooie account of the principal incidents of his life, which
forves to give no unfavourable opinion eithtr of the abi-

IJÔ

iitles, indudry, or honefty of the man ; and to afford an*
other proof, tUîvt Milton was a rafli and unprincipled de-
famer. He thought it needful, he fays, lo do this, ' that
g.Ii might fee what credit was to be given to Milton, who
had alfo in fuch a mad and furious manner vented his
rage agalnfl Salmasius and Morus ; (veluti infanus de-
bacchatus eft :) and to (how how imprudently and im-
pudently this mafler of obloquy and fcandal, has uttered
(debiateravit) thefe and many other things in his Second
Defence. After rehearsing the heads of Milton's ac-
cufation ; he cries, ' Q^5t affertiones, tot mendacia, tot
calumnise ;* fo many afl'ertions, fo many lies, and calum-
nies.

As this man was a benefa£lor to the republic of letters,
and- fuffered in his fortune as well as his fame, and as
Ï have not feen any diftindl memoir of him publifhed,
the following particulars may deferve infertion ; more
efpecially as he comes in as another exculpatory evidence
in behalf of our divine. He was a native of Gouda > had
got a learned education, and applied himfelf in the ear-
lier part of his life to arithmetical and mathematical ftu-
dies, which Milton, he alledges, did not know how to
value, being better acquainted with the comic authors
and fatirifts. For the more accurate publication of fome
works of this kind, he had, employed a prefs of his own*
and in order to difpofe of the copies he had printed, he
was obliged alfo to cpmmence bookfeller, about twenty-
six years before, but not to his profit. Having fettled in
London for ten years, he engaged in feveral expensive
works there, as he did afterwards in Lyons, fome of
which he fpecifies. But combinations and profecutions
were raifed againft him, arising from the reftridions at

137

that time lying upon the prefs, and the monoply of pri-
vileges which fome had obtained. But though he wa»
hereby greatly injured in his fortune, yet his chara£ler
remained unimpcached, for which he appeals to thofe
who bed knew him. Milton indeed, as his manner was,
had produced no particular inftance or evidence to the
contrary ; and he defied him to do it. For fome time he
lived in London without any moleftation, keeping him-
felf within the limits of the privileges of the London
bookfellers. Some of them, who were accuftomed to
consider the businefs as their monoply, were difpleafed,
and continually attempted to bring him into trouble. But
when they faw that the ftatutes did not warrant them,
they bribed fome fcrvants of Archbilhop Laud, by whofe
authority they thought to have feized all his books, and
to have confifcated them ; but by the favour of Dr Jux-
ton, biftiop of London, he got a licence to difpofe of thofc
he had then on hand, but not to difperfe more. The
civil war foon after breaking out, he left London for
France, not by ftealth, but openly, without moleftation
from any. He favoured the caufe of the parliament in
the beginning, Until he faw the excefses of the republican
fadlion. In Lyons he lived six years ; and publiflied a
number of books, and ingratiated hi.mfclf with the au-
thors, and with others with whom he had tranfadlions.
The company of Parisian bookfellers from envy, entered
a procefs, and obtained a fentence againft him, that all
the books he had publiïhed Ihould be confifcated ; which
made him appeal to the parliament againft the fentence
as unjuft. But by the interposition of friends, an agree-
ment was made, that he fliould be allowed the price of
his books, on condition of his departing from Paris, and
S

;

138

Ilôt to retiun again within the year : for the bookfellerS
there had this privilege, that foreigners, in that trade>
Ihould be allowed to come to the city^ to vend their books,
only once in the year» Having returned to the Hague,
he exercifed himfelf diligently in his calling, ftudying to
pleafe learned and worthy men, living in good confcience,
and patiently bearing the adverfe events that he had met
wiih, difregarding the afpersions ef the malevolent. ' If
Milton,' he adds, * be reputed an honeft man, (probro
viro) in his own country, I will be glad ; but I hear that
many of the Englifli who know him, entertain a differ-
ent opinion of him. I chufe to determine nothing upon
bare report : * imo si quid infâme de eo mihi pro certo
compertum eflet, didici melius efle id silere, quam divul-
garc i' yea, if 1 had even certainly difcovered fomething
that tended to his infamy, I have learned that it would be
better to conceal it than divulge it.* This is fpoken as a
Chriftian, and might well have made his accufer aftiam-
ed. But he knew no fliame»

That fclence and the learned are under fome obli-
gations to Adrian Ulack, will be readily allowed when
it is known, that he was the fame who was the cor-
refpondent and co-adjutor of the eminent mathema-
tician Briggs, the fécond to Baron Napier in the improve-
ment of Logarithms. His labour and fervices in that
line at a more early period of his life were well known
and generally acknowledged at that tinae, and are fo
even to this day, by thofe who arc moft capable of ap-
j)reciatlng them. When he received Briggs' Arithme-
tica Logarlthmica, and found that the logarithms for
the numbers from 20,000 to 90,000 were wanting in
the tables, he, with great assiduity and expedition, filled

'39

Up the vacuity, and republiflied the work thus enlarged.
When Briggs had completed his Trigonometria Britan-
nica containing ti tabte of the logarithmic sines, and tan-
gents, to 15 places, for ihe looth part of every degree
of the quadrant, and joined with it the natural sines,
tangents and fecants before calculated, ITt his desire it
was committed to the care of Ulac, and after Briggî>'
death, was printed at Gouda, under his infpetlion, and
at his expence. ' Thefe tables of Briggs*; fay the au-
thors of a late life of Napier, * have not been equalled for
their extensivenefs and accuracy together *.* Nor was
this the only laborious production of Ulac -, he alfo pub-
lilhed Trigonometria Artificialis containing Briggb's lo-
garithms of the firft 2o,Goo natural numbers, and the
logarithmic sines and tangents, with their diiFerences for
every ten féconds of the quadrant. * In both thefe works
of Ulac,* fay the fame authors, * the logarithms are car-
ried to the eleventh place including the index, and are
held in much eftimation for their torrettnefs f .*'

Dr Maskelyne, the late Aftronomer Royal, in his
preface to Taylor's Tablets, gives alfo due honour to this
man, wl^n he fays, * AYe are indebted to K^apier, Briggs,
and Ulac, for their ingenious inventions and induftrious
labours, in providing us with our prefer.t logariihmic
tables, as to the fubftance •, fome improvements in the
form and difposition of them only, have been introduced
by later authors. Gardiner's Tables, which are the mo(b
complete tables publiilicd since Ulac*£, are confefledly

* Life of Napier, by the Earl of Buchan and Dr Minto,
p. 80.

f- Ui juj>ra, p 8 1 .

140

taken from Ulac's» only abridged to fevcn places of de-
cimals.'

When Ulac mentions the above works, he fays, * What
labour and expence they muft have occasioned, thofe who
were acquainied with them could judge. This I can de-
clare, that they brought me much more lofs than gain ;
yet of this I do not repent, becaufe I know I performed
a fervice moft agreeable to many learned mathematicians,
and that ihefe books will years hence be in no fmall efti-
mation, and that on this account I will meet with fomc
regard from pofterity, even as feme learned men have
already made favourable mention of me in their writ-
ings J.' In this reafonable expectation, we fee, this
indudrious man, whom Milton contcmptuoufly ftiled,
< Idiota, — Vappa, — et Operarius,' was not miftaken.

With regard to the book that had provoked Milton,
Ulac farther fays, * that he would have iliown much more
prudence, if he had made ferions and careful inquiry as
to the author of it, infteady of afcribing it to Morus,
upon sinifter fufpicion and erroneous information, and
fulminating in fuch an atrocious manner againO. him :
that Morus was not the author, was abfolutcly certain,
terto cert'tus est. The fame fault he had committed in Re-
fponsione Phil. Angli ad apologiam, $cc. of which Milton
is believed to have been the author, at leafl to have had
fome hand in it. This is the more inexcufable, that I
had written to Hartlib two years ago, afluring him that
Morus was not the author, at which he exprefled, in his

% * Attamen ejus me non paenitet, nam scio me multis ma-
thematicis doftis rem gratissimam fccifle, iftofquc libres abhinc
aliquot anno» in magna aeftimatione futures, et me aliquam
gratiam a pofteritate accepturum»' Ty^ogr.pro te*

14^

reply, great fatisfa^ion. Can that man then be in his
Tight fcnfes, who writes directly contrary to his know-
ledge, and by liltening alone to the perverfe information
of malevolent atid lying perfons, endeavours to impofe
upon all the world, and to defame his neighbour by the
biackdl calumnies and fairehoods§? Or perhaps he ex-
peels, by fps.iking evil of others, to procure a better
opinion of himfeif : but this, on the contrary, muft make
him and the caufe he profefles to defend, much fufped^
ed, and odious. Mr Morus, fo foon as he had read this
defence, wrote me, that he fcdt more pity for him, than
any uneasinefs or commotion on his own account, and
prayed that God might alfo pity him i for which I like-
wife pray from the heart.*

Morus might have been entitled here to fome farther
hearing for himfeif, in animadverting upon his adver-
fary ; but after having been fo copious already upon this
fubjea, this Ihall be poRponed for the prefent, to meet
the laft attack of Milton, that afterwards appeared, un-
der the title of *Defensloprose.'' And in the mean time,
we proceed to notice fome intervening events that took
place.

§ Eflne ergo ille homo furo mentis fatis compos qui aliter
fçribit «juain novit,' &c. Ut supra.

ï4«

SECTION SIXTH.

Morus^s jfourmy to France and Italy— *The honour conferred'
upon him at J^en'tce — Milton* s Defence of himself — Rejledions
upon the management and result of this contest— Milton* s dis»
position to disparage divines and church'Courts,

As Morus had purpofed a visit to his native country,
before he removed to Amfterdam, fome time after his
fettlement there, he asked leave of abfence for fome
months, in order to accompljlh it ; which he obtained
in the end of the year 1654. This could be more readi-
ly granted him, as he was not in that place confine-d to
the paftoral charge of a congregation. Whether he had
fome farther objects in view in that journey, besides
thofe of a more private nature, and a vifit to his learned
acquaintances, we are not informed. He had but a lit-
tle before been invited to the profession of divinity in
one of the universities in France, but had accepted of
the chair of hiflory ; but on account of the troubles he
was meeting with in thefe parts, he might be desirous of
a change of situation. He made rather a longer ftay ia
the fouth, than he had expected, or than he had men-
tioned, or probably propofed at firft. . He had not men-
tioned his journey into Italy, when he left Amfterdam,
which made fome, who were ever ready to blame him,
to fay, that he had done this without the leave of his
fuperiors. This made it neceiTary for him to make an
apology for his having (laid fo long upon his return ;

143

which he did in a latin oration at Amfterdam ; in which
he fet forth feveral dangers he had been cxpofed lo. He
alfo prefented himfelf to the Synod of Leyden, in May
1656 ; and told that he had a great profpe£l of advahcing
the glory of God in Italy, by preaching the gofpel : and
he received the thanks of the Synod for his good inten-
tions. The time in which he had been abffftt, however,
did not much exceed a year, at fartheft, if it was fo much ;
and for fach a diftant journey, it was no unteafonable
time, efpecially as he had fallen sick at Florence.

What accefs he had to preach the gofpel beyond the
Alps, we are not told, but the proteftant minifter certain-
ly obtained fome very uncommon marks of efteem from
perfons in high rank there, who could entertain no pre-
poflession in his favour on account of his religion. When
he was at Florence he was introduced to the Grand
Duke, who received him with refpeft. Some fay, that
it was through the occasion of his sicknefs, and the very
flattering report that the physician who attended him,
made of him and his abilities, that produced this ac-
quaintance : others fay, that he was known to the Grand
Duke before he fell ill. By the former account we are
told, that he faid fo many fine things to the pliysician,
that he was filled with admiration, and by the account
which he gave of him, to the Grand Duke, raifed his
curiosity to fee this learned ftranger ; fo that as foon as
Morus was recovered, he was introduced to an audience
with his highnefs, and charmed him fo much by his con-
verfation, that he afterwards received feveral marks of
his efteem and afFedion. The author of the Critical Dic-
tionary quotes the following paflage from a little book,
entitled A panegyric upon Mr Morus, printed at Am-

144

fïcrdam, in 1695, which I have not feen : * The great
duke of Tufcany,' fays he, * gave Mr Morus a kind recep-
tion m liis dominions and in his capital, he favoured him
with his friendlhip and efteem, he fent him his physician
"to attend him in liis sicknefs, and made him a rich pre-
fent, worthy both of the giver, and the perfon upon
whom it was bedowed. — They fay, the physician whom
the duke font to attend this patient, was fd much fur-
prized, in the converfation he had with him, to hear him
teafon with fo much flrength, depth, and penetration,
upon the different fcienccs, and particularly upon phy-
sic, that he owned, however able he was himfelf in his
own profession, that his patient knew more of physic
than he himfelf had learnt in that fcicncc to which he
had applied his whole ftudy.'

Nor was this the only place in Italy where refpefl was
paid to him. The Venetians, at this time, having ob-
tained a vi£lory over the Turkifh fleet, Morus during his
ftay there, wrote a beautiful latin poem upon this event,
for which the republic of Venice made him a prefent of a
chain of gold. Some of his literary friends, on this occa-
sion, who had no golden chains to beftow, prefented him
with fome fiowery compliments.

The author having fent a copy of this and another
poem to his friend Tanaq. Faber, in the letter he wrote
in return, Faber fays, he read them over and over with
admiration j extols them in the higbeft drain of pane-
gyric, for the great erudition, the ardour and force of
genius, and varied thoughts in diversified drains, dif-
played in them. It would be a wonder, he owns, if
any thing proceeding from his pen, were not admirable.
Let the Italians unite all their flrength, and coUedt their

»45

Tongs în celebration of the Venetian vi£lory j it will be
in vain. Their produftions (a few only excepted) may
be once read, but yours always : They write for time»
and that ufually qf no long duraUon, but you for eter-
nity f .'

To difcipline this fervant of Chrift to humility, * left
he fliould be exalted above meafure,* and if possible to
blaft his laurels, his adverfarics continued to buffet him.
The firft part of his vindication of himfelf in his * Publica
Fides,' which had been committed to the prefs before
his journey, no fooner appeared, than Milton refumed
the pen to write a fécond libel againft him, no lefs en-
venomed than the firft, under the title of his Defence of
himfelf I, pubHfhed at London, in 1655, ready to meet
him at his return. The work of Morus, though written
with as much temper and decorum, as could have been
cxpc£l:ed, from ihe treatment he had met with, was yet
cutting and fevere, tending to fet the charadler and con,-

f Â. Morot inro prestanttss'tmo, Isfc.
• Geminos illos mufarum tuarum foetus, queis me beafti, doftis-
sime More, hcri in remssione tertianoe accepi. Mane, legi, re-
Icgi : tarn denfa in illis feges eft eruditionis, tantus ingenij ar-
dor, impetus, &c. Haec in ijs carrainibus admiratus fum, ieà
ilia cum te a fcripta fuerint, minus fateor, mirabilia funt. Imo
mihi plane mirabile effet, si quid a te, quod admirabile non
effet, fcriberetur. Confluant itaque Itali homines, quantum
eft et collatis carminibus. Venetorum vidoriam canant, fruf-
tra crunt, fcio ; Illorum certe opera (paucos eximi velim)
iemel legi poffunt, tua femper ; illi tempori fepe fcribunt, et
Icre plerumque baud fane diuturno, at tu seternitati. Sed ohe,
jam fatis eft, video, tibi pr£efertim, qui nunquam non oecupa-
tissimus es. Tan. Fahri Epift. lib. 2. f/>. 61. /. 158.

X The very title fhewed his pertinacity in this quarrel ; it
was at full length ; ' J M. Angli Dcfensio pro fe contra
Alex. Morum, Ecclesiaftem, libelli famosi, cui titulus, Rr^'ii
Saii^u'inh cuiimr, t:fc. authorem reftc didum,*

T

146

duct of Milton, irl reference 10 himfelf, in a very dîfaé-
vantageous light ; not only by dating fa£ls, but by perti-
nent con (Ir anions and reflections ; the force and cfFedl
of which Milton feems to have felt, and made a fpeedy
but inefTedlual effort to elude. Let us hear a little
the accufed, fpeaking for himfelf, and let the accufer,
now himfelf a pannel, be patiently heard in his turn. Mo-
rus fays, if he could have acknowledged himfelf to have
been guilty of the lead part of what he had been charged
with by Milton, to his own eternal difgrace, he might
liave vented his anger in another manner : but in the
confcioufnefs of his entire innocence, though he might
and perhaps ftiould have defpifed it, yet with a calmfpi-
lit, he would expoftulate with him a little : He was af-
fedled, he owned, but not with anger, but with pity and
giief on his account, until he fhould repent. He refolved
to employ again ft. him nothing but true and decent words,
in opposition to his falfiiood and obfcenity. Milton had
given bis publication, he obferved, a wrong title ; inftead
of its being a Defence of the people of England, it was
more properly a bitter fatire againft: him, and a moll vain
panegyric upon himfelf. He makes him to be the ape
of Lucian, who intitled a piece he wrote a * True hiftory,*
in which he had no other aim than to deal in fiction,
and avowedly to lie : but he had gone beyond his mafter,
in attempting the fame design, under the poor but fpc-
cious pretence of a defence : When he fhould re-
print it, he advifed him to give it the title of Anti-mo-
uus, or ' Milronus de vita propria,' either of which would
fuit it better. In holding him to be the author of the
book he anfvtered, he avers that Milton not only vented
wh.at was falfe, but openly publillied a lie, or what he

147

did not himfclf believe, which is inconsiftentwith the
çhara£ler of a good man. But had he really believed it,
or had it even been true, that could not have warranted
him to throw out^fo many bafe fcoiFs that had no relation
to the caufe, and To many calumnies, either upon any
other perfon, or hlnifelf. What offence, he asks, had he
ever given him ? What injury had he evet, done him ?
No other reafon is assigned for this outrage upon liim,
except that groundlcfs fuppoGuion, that he was tlie au-
thor. Had he written it, while he had not acknowlrdeed
it, nor any evidences appeared by whlcii it could be
known, he had no rigiit to proceed upon mere guefs ;
for he was no diviner. * But I proteft before God,' he
fayS) * that I neither wrote the book, nor contributed In
the lead to the writing of it : nor was I silent when
^ny fufpicions to this purpofe were wliifpercd, but open-
ly con'-radifted it. What if the author were flill un-
certain and unknown, or were dead ? was that a reafon
for leaving me under the imputation, and why my word
(hould be dlfcredited .? ' At vivlt autor, et valeat, Ignctus
ralhi de facie, complurlbus autem bonis notlsslmus j' —
but the author yet lives and is well, though perfonally
wnknown to me, yet well known to many good mcH,
who fee with deteltaiion that lie running though the
whole of your publk:ation. In every page, almofl every
line, you call upon Morus. Refpondit Inquls, More :_ yet
no Morus either wrote or thougiit of any fuch things.
Let the author anfwer for himfelf; what may be faid
for the royal caufe, let him fee to it. It is his businefs
alone. I take no part in his quarrels ; nor thurd my
sickle into his corn.'

T2

148

He cxpreffeâ his wlfli, that the anonymous author
tvould at laft ftep forward, avow his name, and exclaim^

Met tnej adsum qui/ec'ty in me convertite tela.
* What then would Milton think ? He might have rea-
fon to fume, and to detefl: the light of life, being mani-
feftly convicled of lying before the world. He might
fay, I had no thought of it ; — I have been in a millake.*
A forty excufe in any matter of moment, in which life
or reputation, * which I value more than life,' is con-
cerned. But he had refolved to commit the miftake, he
tad laid his plan and muft adhere to it, notwithftanding
of the clearefl information, previous warning, and in-
treaties to the contrary. * He might even have found
out the truth if he had pleafed,' continues Morus, * from
numerous friends ; he might have colle£ted it even
from the ftyle of writing, differing fo greatly from mine ^
I had no caufe to conceal my name ; it was not fuitable
to my profession of life, to intermeddle in ftrife foreiga
to me, or to provoke when I was not attacked, when I
have not, even when attacked, hitherto replied to any one
by public writing ; fo far is my difposition abhorrent of
this contentious and gladiatorial manner of fpeaking, that
I never could approve even of the defender of the royal
caufe in this that he fliould defend it by railing. But
■why (hould I fpend more words ? You had learned the
truth in this matter, and for the fpace of two years could
not be ignorant of it. — But you would not vent your bile
and rage upon nobody, you mufl. single out your adverfary,
—you could find none, it feems, fo fit fopyour purpofe as
myfelf, either becaufe you had heard that I had many ene-
mies, though without caufe, or knew that I was by Ju-
nonian arts involved in a plea, attended with more

t49

tfottWe than danger*, though you could rot hnve bctleved
that I fliould prevail as I did before all the tribunals.
Hence fprung the argument of your fable ; hence fwell-
ed the matter of^ your fatire, * ct diri farrago libelli.'
There were not wanting fome ready to furniHi you with
what you wiftiedé For ' two years you have been col-
Icâing the filth and jefls of the old and aew comedy,
with which you have been adorning your drama ; and
after taking fuch pains to drefs up thefe flo\vers, and
anxioufly to fit them for my temples, in vain did any at-
tempt to admonifll you of your blunder. Would the
author lofe the fruits of fo many days and nights labour,
fo many allusions to my name, fo many farcafms upon
the facred office and order, and fo many trifling conceits ?
Had you retrenched all the abufe and reproaches againft
me from your little book, how very little would have
remained for your people ? It might certainly have been
contained in a few pages. What pretty things would
have been loft f ,' &c.

To prove that Milton did not offend in this matter
ignorantly, but obllinately after due information, among
others he could have produced, he mentions two ; the
firft is a divine, the noted J. Dury, who having reported
that Milton was about to publilh a libel againd him, re-
ceived this anfwer from the Rev. President Otton, that
Milton was miftaken if he took Morus for the author of
The Cry,'&c. for he well knew that a very different per-
fon was the author : Upon which Dury engaged ' to

t Quam bclla perijfTent, quam florida et fere dixi Florah'a
deleta? Quid fleret Alcinoi et Adonidls hortis et inde nata
de Hortensio argutiola ? Qu'd fycomoro ? Quid pyramo et
Thisbc? Quid iHoro arbore :' &c.

"write unto Milton upon the fubje£l. And there was n»
reafon to doubt but that he actually did fo. The other is
the Dutch Ambaflador Nieuport, who was then at Lon-
don, who wrote to our author the following letter, ia
French, dated the 23d of June, 1654 : —

Sir, The next day after yours was delivered to me, I
had an opportunity of communicating it to Mr Thurlow,
fecretary of llate and of the orders of his highnefs the
Prote£lor, in prefence of Mr. de Beverning, my col-
league, praying him mofl earneftly to fpeak of it without
delay to his highnefs j and afterwards considering that
the great multiplicity of businefs, might prevent him,
I desired two gentlemen, my friends, who were parti-
cularly acquainted with Mr Milton, to reprefent to him
the reafon for which we would desire, in the prefent
jundure of time and affairs, that he (hould forbear to
publifh the book that he had written againfl another in-
titled, &c. or at leaft, that he would not do you the wrong
to attribute that book to you, and if he fliould persift in
refuting that book, that he would infert nothing in it rc-
fpe£ling you : they a few day after told me, that he had
fo flrong an impression, that you and no other were the
author, that they could by no means difTuade him ; only
he requeued them to afliire us, that he would allow no-
thing to efcape from his pen indecent, or in any w^v
prejudicial to the States of the United Provinces. Upon
which, thinking that the authority of liis higlmefs might
have more influence than this private application, I did
not fail to renew the application to Mr Timrlow, by fend-
ing him a copy of your letter, which we moft earneftly
recommended to him, waiting from day to day for fome
refolution, or declaration on the part of his highnefs-on
the fubjecfl : but on account of the great design, which
was difcovered feme days after, they were prevented
Irom attending to almofl any other affairs. In the mean
time the faid Milton publiflied what he had prepared. I am
very forry, that after the mcft violent I'pirits among thofe
^vho have been engaged in the naval wi>rfare are difpoicd
to peace, that lie who miikes a profession of letters and
tjie fcicjiccs vviiich raife men above the vulgar, hss

'5*

ïho^Vn, notwithftanding our requeft, fo little of modera-
tion, etc. Signed, WiL. Nieuport.

Morus alfo urges the unreafonablenefs of fuch a publica-
tion, when there was nothing but rejoicings and illumi-
nations on account of the peace : when arms were laid
aside, Milton ftill retained his hoftile mind in armour ;'
and at the time when the profeflbr was employed, by the
command of the States, in tranflating the articles of peace
from the latin into the vulgar language, in order to be
publilhed, he had prepared that ferocious war (Mlum bel-
liùnum) againft him, and employed not the arms but the
drums of his eloquence. He likewife animadverts fharp-
ly upon the declaration Milton had made, that he would
write nothing indecent : * Tu nihil tamturpe dari putas,
quin te deceat.' — He exprefles wonder that any man
iliould be fo infatuated as to chufe to make himfelf ridi-
culous, rather than desifl from accomplifliing a premedi-
tated wickednefs. It is hurtian to err, but to persift in
error againft a man's own confcience, the ancients would
have called diabolical. He asks by what name he (hould
call him, who could remain unmoved, as a rock, to all
admonitions, and who had carried temerity, and auda-
city, joined to obftinacy and impudence, to the highefl
pitch ? And what could he have gained by fuch a public
lie, except this, that he would not be believed, though
he fhould fpeak the truth ? The people of England, he
adds, have been greatly deceived, if they thought they
had got a grave and trufty defender in their Milton.
Henceforth none can have any more faith in the veracity
of Milton than in a dream. Had he merely insinuated
a fufpicion, it might have been borne, — but to affirm for
certain, ijot once, nor again and again, but till he became

»52

îibayfe, and to tl>e natifea of every reader> what he knew
to be falfe, and what he could not fupport, by the slight-
ed reafon, (licws the utmoft malignity, and a brazen face.
He then goes on to fliew how many other lies, incon-
gruities and mifapplications, that one lie had produced,
throughout the traft, of whicli he gives inftances : And
after adverting to what Milton had faid of the beauty of
his perfon, * You may,' fays he, * be a NarcifTus for me,
yea, you exceed him, by being fo defperately in love
with your pretty perfon without feeing it ; but what a
pity, that in fuch a well formed body, fo fat, nimble and
found, a found mind fhould be wanting to it. In fuch
a ftate of opulence and fplendid fortune, to which by
thofe arts you have lately attained, the vulgar may think
you happy, unlefs one thing were a wanting, a mind to
bear all this with modefty. * Crede obfequenti parcius,
Icvis eft dea.' He then ledures him for a little upon
the danger and uncertainty of profperity, reminding him
of what the wife have faid of it. But tells him that he
was not fo much at leifure from better employment, as
to follow him wherever he was pleafc;d to wander ; nor fo
far deflitute of all fhame, as to emulate him in his tur-
pitude. * In one word,' he adds, * that book is not mine.
Other books I have publilhed, and others I am about to
publifii, of which, if I live and fee it, you fliall not nib-
ble at one letter with impunity.' He then mentions the
names of thofe he had put forth ; and gives alfo a lift
of thofe upon which he was employed, fomc of which
are not to be found in the ufual catalogue of his writ-
ings, that may afterwards be mentioned. When he fpeaks
.of his Apologetical oration for Calvin, dedicated to Arch-
bifliop Uiher, he caljs him his high or dignified friend,

Ï53

artd had he the permission of that most worthy old man,
he could have oppofed his favourable opinion of him to
a thoufand Miltons:j:.

By this time, ftvery reader probably will be anxious to
hear, even as the writer of this was, what Milton had
finally to offer for himfelf, efpecially on the two capital
articles of the heavy charge brought againft Tiim. His cha-
racter was deeply implicated, and every one might reafon-
ably expe£l: that he had very ftrong reafon^, and fufficient
authorities to warrant his perfuasion and conduft, which,
though witheld in his former publication, were in referve,
ready now to be produced, or otherwife that he would
have done juftice to the injured by a frank recantation.
With eagemefs, I confefs, I read his Defence, in this
expedlation : and certainly would not have been grieved,
to have found fomething to retrieve the wounded reputa-
tion of fuch a man. But how greatly was I difappointed ?
The Defence is prolix and elaborate : he follows his
antagonift ftep by Hep, and fcarce allows himfelf to di-
vert throughout to any other fubjedl, except to pay his
refpecls again to Ulac, and by the bye, to Dr Crantzius.
He labours hard to defend himfelf, and ftill more to bear
down his opponent ; and when it cannot be done fatis-.
factorily by fair means, he has recourfe to the old arts
of lampoon and fcurrilities. However verbofe the apo-
logy be, it is moft barren of matter ; efpecially there is
throughout a miferable defe£l of evidence, the great thing
wanted. The following abftra£l; of what he had adduced

t * Amico fummo meo, cujus equidera libenter honeftissi-
nuun de me judicium, si pateretur fenex aureus, mille Miltonis
oppofueiim.*

Fides Pubh p. ^—^S. pasihn.

U

Ï54

\Û ékcyilpatîbn ôF hlmfelf on the fird fubje£l of accùri-
tibn, m;'iy ennble any one to judge for himfelf.

After iniroducing himfelf with feme more rhodoitîah-
tade and arrOgâht àlrs, telling, that when he utidertoofc
to defend the caufe of his country, he laid his account
with meeting with the Utmofl opjjofition and abufe, to-
gether with thofe whom he defended, from the adverfe
p:irty ; and after making ah apology for defceÀdiiig, aftef
cfTeilailly ferving the pablic caufe, and amidft the high
ahd intereding affairs in which he was engnged, to things
obfcure, to fearch the lurking- place of anonymous writers»
or trace the fleps of an infamous adverfary, excusing
himfelf by fuch great classical examples, as the Scipios,
the Hannibals, &c., for next beftowing attention on his
perfortal vindication, — he enters the lifts in the mofl con-
fident VnanneV, and addrefTes his antagonifl; in thefe terms»
* Unlefs I make it evidently appear, that you are the au-
thor of that notable libel againft us, or that you afforded
fufficient caufe why yon fiiould be juftly held for the au-
thor, I \ivill hold myfelf to be overcome by you in this
caufe, and will not refufe, bafcly to come oft with (hame
and difgrace, and there is no charge whether of im-
prudence, or temerity, or calumny, that I Would feek
exemption from j-,'

When» at the desire of the council of flafe, îie under-
took to anfvver the * Clamor,' &c- he was anxious to find
out the author, no other was named, and no other was
vet found out. Common fame afcribed it to him; — all

•j- * Non recufo qiJ^n abs te victus in liac caufa cum dede-
cove acque pudore tnrpitcr difcedam : nullam a me culpani
neque impriulentiar, neque temeritatis, neqiic raalediccntiae
deprecor. Mih. Opsr. lui'ina, FoL p. loS.

^55

I^e lieard fpeak of it,'n^tives or foreigners, mentioned him
only. Morus's own wordo are forced in as an evidence
of tiie probability of it, where he fays, he had always
contradièlcd the report when it was mentioned to him :
* No wonder,' fays this logician, * though your enemies
beh.ey^d it, w^en youj: own familiar friends could hardjy
be convinced of the contrary. You indeed denied it ;
but fo can every criminal refufe to confefa.\>'hen it would
be prejudicial to him, and even after conviclion, lyiU go
to the gallows denying hjs crimes-*

He fays, he had certainly found that INIorus publiflied
the editioii, corrected the prcfs, and had compofed tlie
epiftle to Charles II., * vel folum, vel cum uno atque al-
tero,* and fome copies had his name fubfcribed to tlie
preface. He had learned from the Hague, that Morus
had offered it to fome printers, and that Ulac accepted
of it, and difperfed the copies. In another letter froni
Amilerdam, was this expression, * He faid himfelf to a
certain friend of mrne, that he was tlie author of that
cpiftje.' * By another,' the writer faid, * that an eminent
perfon had told him, that he had jg^otten the Cry, with
Morus's own epiflle %.'

He acknowledges that he had received the informa-
tion mentioned by Morus, previous to publication. Dury,
in a letter from the Hague, April 14th, 1654, wrote,
* that he had certainly learned from a niiniller of Middle-
burgh, intimately acquainted with Morus, that he was
not the autlior of tha: book, but a certain French minif-
ier, whom Morus named to him under condition of con-
cealment.' By another, written on the 19th, O. S., he

|. Uf supra, p. 1.12,
U2'

156

confirmed the above, telling him, that he had fpoken
with Mr Otton, who was a keen royalifl, and very inti-
mate with Morus, * who declared/ he fays, * what I
formerly wrote unto you, that Morus was not the author
of the book.' — Well, — what is the Defence ? Only this,
this Otton (or Hotton, minifter of the French church,
at Amfterdam, the fame who fubfcribed the teftimonial
in behalf of Morus), was a royalifl;, and admitted to Mo-
rus's fecrets : what he faid, therefore, refted only on the
authority of Morus, and he could make no other account
of it than of his own denial ; besides, this clearly im-
plied, according to Milton, that he had been privy to the
composing and publiftiing of the book (aut opera aut
concilio), fo that from his own mouth, he may reckon
it very probable that he was the author, at leafl. the af-
fociate.

He then produces an extract of a letter from a learned
man, well known in Holland, to a friend of his, dated
at Lcyden, fo far back as September 27, N. S., 1652,
foon after, * the Cry' was publiflied in thefe words, ' The
book of Morus, intitled. Clamor, &c., was well received,
until the author's reputation was blemiflied by his vitiat-
ing the maid of the wife of Salmasius.' — This fcrap of a
letter curforily relating in a private manner the flying ru-
mour of the day, credulous Milton had taken for a faf-
ficient foundation to build his public libel upon, before
any particular inquiry had been made into the truth of
either of thefe reports, and to abide by, after the falfe-
hood of both had been difcovered. He owns too, that
the letter of Morus to the ambafl^ulor Nieuport, was
Ihown by him to Thurlow, and that two refpe£\able
friends of his, (nobiles viros) were fent to him, witi^

157

that letter,' certifying and rcquefting as above. But (liii
in vain : he had fixed his opinion ; he had written, and
was> as Morus faid, inflexible. All this lie held for no^
thing more than his own perfonal denial. Grant it to
have been nothing more, by the rules of juft reafoning,
as well as of judicial trials, does not the burden of pro-
bation ly upon him that alTnms, and not upon him who
denies ?

But, as if confcious of the infufliciency of his proof,
and of his inability to produce better, he has recourfe to
a legal quibble, on which he chiefly refts his defence,
for which he quotes the Juftinian code ; ' If I fhall find
that you have written one page, or but one line of the
book, or if you have contributed to the writing, or pub?-
lifliing ; if you have procured, or advifcd, or fuperintend-
cd the publication, or in the lead furthered the work,
while no other is to be found, tu mihi solus tciius opens reus,
et author, et damator er'is §y you alone fliall be held by me
to be guilty of the whole, the author and the crier ! ! !'

Among the latin letters of Milton, that were after-
wards publilhed, there is one addreflied to H. Oldenburg,
of Bremen, relating to this anonymous book. It is dated
July 6, 1654, the year before jNiilton's defence of him-
felf appeared, and fliews us one of his informers and
confidants as to this falfe report, and alfo Milton's hesi-
tation of mind upon the fubje^t, and his anxiety to have
the faifl afcertained. * You have thrown a fcruple into
my mind,' fays he, * as to the author : formerly, as often
as we converfed together about this matter, wiien you
had lately come from Holland, you feemed to entertain

§ Oper. laf. -p. ill.

»58

no doubt but that Morus was the author ; becaufe it was
commonly reported in thofe places, and no other besides
him named. If, however, you have now at iaft attained
to any greater certainty on this fubjetl, I requeft you
to inform me of it Ç He complains in it of the contefl:
unexpe«Stedly irapofed upon him, to draw him from
more agreeable ftudies j but he by no means accounted
it a needlefs task.

So much for the firfl part of the procefs : and let the
Reader judge whether Milton has not incurred the heavy
forfeit to which, in a bravado, he fubjeéled himfelf.

The fécond part of the accufation, though ftill more
foreign to the original conteft, in which Milton was en-
gaged, was yet made by him the main one, to which the
former was but fubfervient ; and as it was ftill more in-
terefting to charafter, Morus had employed the greater
part of his publication in obviating it. On fome accounts,
indeed, and at firft view, it might have appeared, he fays>
not only an ungrateful, but an unneceflary task, to re-
ply to fuch an adverfary, on fuch a fubjedl. His unfair
and falfe dealing, apparent in the former inftance, might
have defeated the effedl of his fcandalous tales and lies
in the other. They might have been fufFered to pafs
in contemptuous silence, as proceeding from a known
fcoffer, or a railing fatiriil, throwing out reproaches at.
random. * Let the barking cur alone,' fome friends faid,
* or he will continue longer to bark. Refpe£t yourfelf :
why Ihould you rage with thofe who are infuriated. —
Railings dcfpifed will foon be forgotten ; artd do no harm

§ * Si quid igitur hac de re, certius nunc demum habes, mc
rogo certiorcm facias.*

to thofe on whom they are poured. Remember the Ba-
viufes, the Meviufes, the Zoilufcs, &c., and add Milton
to the number, — Have patience : — the unhappy birth of
Milcon will not live long. In what manner could yoU
oppofe fuch an adverfary ? Would you enter the lifts in-
to which he invites you, to fight him with his own wea-
pons ; and return reviling for reviling ? You would un-
dertake a hard task, and as an unskilful ftripling be ob-
liged to yeild to fuch a champion. — To heap lies upon
lies ; to fcek fame on the riiin of that of others ; to af-
fault anyone who comes in the way; to boaft when
there is no occasion ; falfely to detra£l ; to'abufe without
"end, and without meafure ; to make a fmall thing great
by fwelling words, —

Candida de nigris et de candent'ilus airas.
To make black white and wliite black ; * Hie Miaono
funt artes : — In ijs sibi placet, fe circumfpicit, fe jaûat,
cxlum digito sibi videtur attingere.' Convia: him of falfe-
hood, and he will persift in ic, leaft it fhould appear that
at firft he had been wrong.' From fuch considerations
as thefe he might have been silent, had not others more
forcibly determined him to the other side. He returns
Milton's words, when he faid, ♦ that thefe things might
rather have been treated with contempt, had they been
only fpread among thofe who knew him well ;' but, in
this cafe, they were widely diflufed amongft thofe who
could not know whether they were true or falfe. His
silence might have been interpreted do arife from a con-
fcioufnefs of the crimes : — His adverfary too required
fomething to abate his infolent pride ; and he fhould
endeavour to cure him effe£lually of his difeafe and evil
habit, if he Was not altogether incurable. Had it been

f 6g

m*"rely his own perfonal afFair, he might have beerf
dumb, after the example of hid Lord ; but the whole
facred order, were indiredly ftigmatized, and the church
of God, to which he had confecrated all his labours, was
wounded through his sides j and even by weapons taken
from the ecclesiallical armoury to do greater execution.
As reproaches caft upon men in facred office, have a
keener edge, and furnifii matter for fcurrilous jefts to the
profane, and invidious, * you feigned one in that order, to
be the butt of your obloquy and hatred j and he too muft
be a foreigner, one whom you never faw nor heard, one
placed in a confpicuous dation, preaching and praying
often in crowded aflemblies, and by word and writings
contending for divine truth. "What is judging another
man's fervant if this be not ?

* Our Synods,' continues our author, * are little obliged
to you ; the noble Lords, by whofe favour and munifi-
cence, I difcharge a funQion, in a flourifhing city, in
which fome of the mofl learned men of our age laboured
before me ; the States of Holland, and of all the con-
federated provinces^ under whofe protection, and under
whofe eyes I a£l, and who often grant me a favourable
hearing when fpeaking from a higher place, owe you but
fmall thanks, all of whom you accufe of the greateft
negligence, or higheft culpability, who know not or arc
unwilling to purge out from their premifes» fuch a mon-
der polluted with every herefy and crime. You do them
great honour, truly, in fupposing that they need you for
an informer, and that at lad they may become wife by
your admonition- To thein certainly the infamy, you
would call on me, muft redound, who drew me from
my former feats, bad me forget my own countty, and

i6i

iKJt only fuffer me, but fondly embrace me a (Iranger as
a native, and honour me with no flight kindnefs and pa-
tronage. Why fhould I here mention foreigners ? fo
many illuftrious mem, fo many nobles, fo many churches
and academies, which either cherifli or (hew me refpe£l,
or who desire or folicit me ? I fliould have fupprefled
this, if, at the moment when I am writing,^! had not
received letters, inviting me to the exercife of the minif-
terial office, and the profession of Theology, in an illuf-
trious city. Although, if I {hould take as due to me»
"what the favourable fuffrages of fo many colleges would
afcribe, I would entertain too arrogant and over-weening
an opinion of myfelf,yetIought to refpe<Sl their judgment,
and to the utmofl of my power defend it ; left fo many
lights (hould be obfcurcd by the clouds which one noto-
rious enemy of truth would throw over them. Besides,
v*'hat occasion have you given to the adverfaries of our
religion, to infult over our churches, as if they patiently
could tolerate fuch fliameful praftices as are ufually ob-
j€£led to their priefts and popes ? What matter of fcof-
fing and fport do you furnifli to the friends of Rome ?
what triumph to Satan, what fcandal to the weak, what
grief to fellow Chriftians, what injury to the faith ?'

On thcfe accounts, Morus thought himfelf bound to
reply ; but in doing fo, he refolved not to anfwer him
according to his folly, and to render evil for evil. In
his manner of writing, he would consider not what was
due to him, but what was becoming himfelf. In the
art of reviling and evil-fpeaking, which he was wont to
call the rhetoric of devils, he would willingly yeild to his
antagonift the palm. Not as if he could not have reta-
liated in kind j or as if his virtue were invulnerable.

X

• Tou are not, friend/ fays he, * one of whom fame ifl
afraid to lie : and if it does not lie, none can go beyond
you, — there is nothing more wicked than yourfelf i—
nothing more evident than that you judge of the dif-
positions and manners of others by your own. But I
wifh it may have lied ! For v/ho could hear without th«
utmoft; grief, what indeed, I cannot bring my mind to
credit, that there (hould be a man living among Chriftians
who, though himfelf a compound of every crime, takes
upon him to deal about his cenfurc upon others and
flrangers ; while he is chargeable with every vice he ac-
cufes. Perhaps you tremble for yourfelf; afraid leafl I
(liould difclofe the hiftory of your life and manners. But
take courage ; — I free you from your fear. I^ tax you
only with what is open and manifeft. : the reft are remit-
ted to you. Multi quidem ad nos venerunt, qui multa
de te : qu?e multa eadem fcripferunt alij poftea. Sednon
ego credulus illls. Thefe things pertain not to me ; who
have neither a right to pry too curioufly into the affairs
of another common-wealth, nor am conftituted cenfor
of your life. I would only admonifh you, when you
fuffet, that if the things be true, they call for penitence, if
falfe» they (hould be borne with patience ; and that hence-
forth you fhould write fo as to refute the report.'

After a variety of other ftridlures, both on the matter
and manner of Milton's writing, he faid, * your book is
full of grievous calumnies, which, as they are fupported
only by your bare word, it may be fufîîcient in a word
to deny them : for whatever you object of this kind, you
neither are able to verify, nor have you fo much as at-
tempted it. If it has been admitted as a maxim, * thaC
none would be guilty, if a mere^dcnial was fufficient j'-^

163

k IS no lefs true, that none would be found innocent) if
a bare accufation were fufficient to condemn. But I will
not avail myfelf of all the rights I might plead againfl:
fuch an accufation,-» and from fuch an adverfary ; — nor
do I desire that you fliould give me credit upon my own
word : — Nor yet will I produce private opinions, or the
the furmifes or whifpers of this or ihat perfon. Let us
appeal to public teftimonies. It is more reafonable to
credit all than fome ; — for Individuals may be deceived
and deceive ; but no one has ever deceived all ; and all
have never been deceived.

As for the Genevan fable, which In a comic flrain you
rehearfe, and from which afterwards you forge fuch bafe,
but incredible things, you fecm rather 10 have adopted
it on purpofe to entertain the ears of people, than to be-
lieve it in earned. I will not fpend time in any laboured
refutation of what you, the mod impertinent trlfler, idly
prattle, who, while you endeavour to add weight to
fmoke, here and there fhamefully contradift yourfelf.
For what end would it ferve, were I to unf avei this fable ?
You would inftantly weave another. There are niaiiy
here in Holland, who were familiar with me in Geneva,
and know better than any, what repute I had there. But
I refolve to call upon no private perfon, though there is
not one of them whofe authority might not dellroy the
force of your calumny.' He tlien proceeds to prodiicc
the teftimonials, and to flate fa£ts, of which the reader is
already pofTefled.

The firft part of Milton's Defence of himfelf was wrli.-

ten before Morus's e,\culpatory evidence was completed

in his * Public faith :' In it he continued to afiert, that

by his leave to part from Geneva, he was freed from tjis

A *

164

fear of a judicial procefs ; and that he had been deprived
both of church and fchool, and of all falary there, for a-
bout eight or ten months f. And taking thefe, and other
rumours, which his bufy informers had thought proper to
mention to him in private letters, for authentic, fome of
which it appears he had folicited, — he returns to declaim
upon them, in the fame abusive ftyle as before, and evca
with additional fury, before he attempts to assign either
reafon or proof. He obje£ls to him again the public
regiftcrs in the library of Geneva, *^in which rear one
hundred articles of his crimes were recorded for pofteri-
ty.' There were many refpeftable men in that city, he
faid, ready long ago to have borne witnefs of his crimes ?
but all thefe teftimonies againfthim he had fled and would
flill fly from. * But do you demand witneflcs and proof
from me who am a ftranger ? Go back to Geneva : — Go
and meet the punifhment that awaits thee there for adiil-
tery, if the old religious difcipline Aere be not now re-
laxed :'— That is to fay, once more. Go and be hanged }
for this was the law formerly in Geneva. He repeats
this in ftill more direft terms afterwards, telling him,
that if he had received what he deferved, he would have
been hung up long ago, by the raagiftrates of Geneva f .
Referring to what Morus had given as a reafon for writ-
ing, that the facred order and the church were wounded
through his sides, he exclaims, * O fcortum et ganearum
antiftes !' with more ribaldry following, that ought not
to {lain paper. * Through your fides, thou bafeft of men ?
He tells him, that it was only by his coiMiefl ion- with the

f • In eadem mbe foedU faftis notalus detre^?ta caufj?
dictionc vixifti.' O^era. p- 125. % Page 1^4.

1%

church and continuance in it, that it was wounded antî
contaminated ; that all his own order, and cfpecially the
minifters of the French church, wifhed to lee him ex-
pelled, and silenced : and he lifts up his voice aloud-,
calling them to drive that preaching wolf from the folds f .
At this (Irange rate does he go on through nearly half
a hundred folio pages, throwing out, in almoft every fen-
tcnce unmixed abufe ; without even artempting to authen-
ticate any one fa£t upon which he may found it. Let us
hear the fcandalous tale as told by hin-fclf below §. As
to the reafonable demand of his opponcîu, that he (liould
produce witnefles and proof, he indignantly anlvvers,
* Nugator, quid tu telles ex me ubi non funt, quserié
ubi erant, fugifti ? * Trifler ! why do you require wit-
nefles from me, where they are not to be found ? Re-
turn to Geneva, where long ago you have been found
guilty of thefe crimes.' He holds pertinacioully to his
firft belief, though founded upon a mete/?wa, and that
too either unknown or contradided by the molt refpedl-
able and concurring authorities in the place it was faid

f * Abigite procul ab ecclesise feptis coneionantem lupum ;
vocem illarn hircinam tot ftupris ct adultfiijs iiiquinatam, po-
pulo verba dantem, imo veiidentem, ne siveritis in facro czetu
amplius audiri.' p. 126.

§ * Eft Claudia Peiktta quscdam pellicem poflbac nomine;-
mus licet, nesico an tuara folum ; quse cum ancilla in eadem
domo honeftissimi vivi Genevensis effet, in qua tu hoipes eras
turpissimug, cum calone et rhedaiio communis tibi luit : ea
muliercula, poftmodum r.upta, quod ftupri tecum liabuerat,

commercio adulterio continuavit.' • Nee ttfles deerunt ;

Aderit in primis Hortulanus iile qui te vidit, cum in ilium ti-
gurinum cum facmina folus intrares ; vidit ciim ilia C'audia
tiia clauderet fores; vidit poiica cfrrefTum te, amplcxantcm

palam cum muliere impudica. Adcrunt tt alfj quos viri

gravissimij qui tuum nomen dctideiant, telles in promptu ha»
bent.' Fol, p. 125.

i66

to have originated, and to have been moft flagrant. Pri«
vate letters, relating to rumours, are his fole vouchers,
though the writers of them he feldom ventures to name :
on whofe credit he publifties other things notorioufly
falfe, as that of fufpension from office and falary for
many months.

Yet witnefles, it feems, were not wanting, if any body
would be at the trouble of travelling fome hundreds or
thoufands of miles to feek them out, to fummon them
into court, and purge them of malice and partial counfel.
A gardiner might ftill be alive at Geneva, who had feen
the culprit walking with a certain married woman, Clau-
dia Pelletta, with whom he had been familiarly acquaint-
ed, having lodged formerly for fome time in the fame
houfe, where flie had ferved i who might teftify, perhaps,
that he had feen them enter together into a little fummcr-
houfe, and to (hut the door No : — Witnefs has for-
gotten, or his rehearfer ; and therefore muft beg leave

to correal the deposition : they took not even tke

common precaution that the mofl fharaelefs frequenter
of the ftews would ufe, to fliut the door, or keep under
covert i but witnefs would fay, that he faw them come
out, ct amplexantem paJam. There might be others found
there, viri oravhsimi, * refpe£lable men,* whether of the
fenatorial or ecclesiaftical order, the libeller fays not,
who probably would have their witnefles ready, who
had been kept for fome years in concealment, and could
not be found to be confronted with the delinquent, when
all orders in the city were difmissing hin:> with a load of
honourable certificates. Or perhaps it might be found,
that all thofe honourables and reverends, and chief citi-
zens of Geneva, in their repeated teftimonials of good

167

behaviour, and in their public cavalcade, were «nly ail-
ing a folemn farce, and took this method to execute a
a fentence of baniftiment againft an infamous man, of
whofe villainies they were confcious, and whom they
were glad to get rid of : for all this, Milton has the ef-
frontery again to insinuate, or rather to aflert : throwing
hereby a load of more atrocious calumny upon the whole
icpublic, and the mod venerable names in it ; whatever
compliments he pretends in one paffage, to pay to it |.

That Milton applied to thofe that were known to be
at variance with Morus, and endeavoured, by their means,
to colle£l all the fcandal that was current, to aid him in
making fome kind of defence, is proved from fome of
his own letters, which were afterwards publiftied. In
one of them, direfted to Ezek. Spanheim, at Geneva,
dated March 24, 1654, he exprefles his acknowledge-
ments for communications on this fubjeâ in letters lately
received from him, three months after date. After ex-
pressing his refpe6ls for him on his father's account, and
as one efteemed by good men, and hated by the bad,
with whom it had fallen to his lot to be at war, he adds.

;}: This encomium on Geneva, and another on the republic
of Holland, are almoft the only beautiful! paflages in this de-
fence. * Semper ego quidem de Generensi civitate, pro eo
ac debeo, honefta omnia et fentire foleo et loqui : rcligionis
cultum purioris, primutnque ftudium, in republica deinde pru-
dentiam, aequalitatcm, modcrationem, conftantiam prope ad-
mirer ; quo fe tarn arftis finibus, inter vicinios bins inde po-
tentissimos et imminentes, fumma in pace ac libcrtate per tot
jam annos confervat et tuetur ; reéliuique in re vix mediocii
ct melius id agit quod civilis vitx omnis principium atque finis
eft, idque populo fuo foelicius praeftat, quam fummis opibu*
inftrufti, fummis opinionc hominum adjuti concilijs regis
maximi fcrvientibus prseftant fuis.' Page 134.

1 68

* ^.e desired Calandrinu? to signify to him, that it would
be very agreeable to him, if he v/ould contribute his aid
tvith his again fl; the common adverfary : which accord-
ingly,' fays he, * you have kindly done in thefe letters,
part of which, v.'ithout naming the author, I have not
fcrupled to infert in my defence for a teftimony, relying
on your favour towards me §.* And he promifed» to fend
a copy of his book to him, if he could find a proper op-
portunity, as foon as it wns publifhsd.

Whether the letter, of which he gives an extra<n:,
dated from the fame place, 0<SI. 1654, was from the
fame hand, is not certain ; but it breathes the fpirit o£
an adverfary. * They could not but admire,' fays the
writer, ' how Milton could know, and fo well paint the
inside (interior a) of a man otherwifc Unknown ; even as
well as any who were fully acquainted with him, could
have done ; and they wondered, that man, however im"
pudent, could have ventured afterwards to appear on the
public theatre-—^ — Non fidla vel ignota alias hominis
fcelera attuleres, fed quae omnium et amicissimorum
etiam ore decantata, integvi cfetus authoritate et afTen-
fu, immo plurium adhuc fcelerum accessione luculenter

possint corroborari/ What afTembly is here meant,

that by its authority and aflent fandlioned Milton's
changes, we are not told ; any more that what thofe ad-
ditional crimes were, that might have been adduced.
But certainly the painter, as well as thefe judges, had
well learned their art, who could look into a man's

§ * Pergratum mihi fore, si contra communem adversarium
tua fubsidia niccum communicafFes. Id quod his ipsis Uteris
perhumaniter fcciiti,' &c.

169

îïeart as well as his allions ; and draw or dlfcern an ex-
aft like nefs of him both within and without.

Ezekiel Spanheim, as well as his brother, Frederick,
was an eminent man. He became a diftinguiflied ftatef-
man and ambaflador, as well as a noted medalift. At
this time, however, he was but a young man i and as he
went to ftudy at Leyden, in 1642, when he was but 12
or 13 years of age, he muft have resided very (hort time
in Geneva while Morus was there. As his father had
been at variance with Morus, if he was indeed the writer
of fuch letters, it is an evidence, that the fon, as is too
natural, had made the feud hereditary ; and that in cre-
diting and circulating fuch injurious reports, he had gone
beyond what his father had ever done.

To collea all that Milton has offered in evidence on
this point together at once, in the fécond part of his
defence, written after Morus*s fupplement was publifli-
ed, for which, he fays, he had waited with great impa-
tience, he mentions Theod. Tronchin, pallor and pro-
feilbr of theology, among the refpedlable men who had
accufed Morus, at Geneva ; as alfo, two other pallors,
iVIarmilllodus aad Pittetus, who, he fuppofes, produced
many witnefles, (multis opinor teftibus addudis) : * they
accufed you,' he fays, * of many crimes, and efpecially
of that committed in a certain garden.' But this accufa-
tion, according to him, was pofterior to the certificates
granted him : and when he could not withlland the force
of the evidence againfl; him, he fought leave to depart,
not abfolved in judgment, but evading it by flight. Here
he fuppofes an accufation and procefs begun, if not finifli-
ed : of which nothing, however, has been heard front
any other quarter, and which, had it beçn true, could

Y

170

have been no fecret to the church or council, at the time
of his departure ; much lefs, if a judgment too had been
pafled, as he faid elfewhere. Yet, of that time, he alfo
had faid, * as yet there was no word of Pelletta, or the
garden.* The ample tcilimonial that was given him, the
year before his departure, we are told, was signed by all
the minifters and profellbrs in the city, three only ex-
cepted : and it was confirmed a-new by the church at
the time of his removal, in their letter to the church of
Middleburgh, July 1649, ^"^ by another to the Walloon
fynod, which fufficiently refutes the above ftatement.
If any of tliefe paftors mentioned, had impeached him,
(which requires other confirmation than Milton^s word)
what they had propofed mud have been reckoned un-
worthy of regard. Theod. Tronchin had been long 3
refpe£lable charafter in that place, and was then of great
age : and, if he had indeed, given ear to fuch a rumour,
it is more reafonable to fuppofe that he might have been
impofed upon, rather than all the company of his bre-
thren. Di;n. Tronchin was among the fubfcribers to the
certificate. As for the other two paftors, the writer of
this, has not before heard of their names. Probably they
may be the two young miniflers mentioned by Diodatii
who, two years before had attempted to overwhelm Mo-
rus, under the charge of herefy, in which they utterly
failed ; which might make them difpofed to employ this
other engine to accomplifh his ruin, by circulating fuch
diabolical calumnies as Sartoris fpeaks of in his letter.

Miltcn feems to be at a lofs, even after his lated in-
formation, when to fix the time of the faid trial, as well
as aboui the iiTue of it, which makes him fpeak not only
vaguely, but iuconsiftently on the fubject. Eayle, as if

171

to aid him a little, fays, * It is known, that the mod:
violent florm Vnich this minifter fufFered at Geneva, a-
Tofe after the certificates obtained upo« the 25 th of Jan.
1648 ; and a certain author has publifiied, that the ma-
giftrates of Geneva made void the att 0I" deposition de-
creed againft Mr Morus by the conbiftory ; and that they
commanded the consistory to give him a certificate of his
good behaviour.' But the greater part of the certificates
were of a later date than the above, by fome months ;
if fuch an acl had been pafled, it muft have been in the
interval between thefe and his departure in the fummer
following, uulefs wc fuppofe him to have been arraigned,
condemned and reftored, after he had lied from a pro-
cefs, and was no longer in connexion with that cimrch.
If fuch a change in the fentiments and conduft of" the
miniflers and profeflbrs of that church had taken place
in that fliort interval, how could both the fenate and
church fend with him recommendatory letters to the
church of Middleburg, and the Walloon Synod, dated
in July 1649, as if no fuch thing had happened ? Had
they fo foon quaflied the evidence, or attempted to con-
ceal notorious fads ? Had the consiftory belied their
conviclion, betrayed their truft, depofed and abfolved
without repentance, at the mere order of the civil pow-
er, to the reproach of the world and their own con-
fcienccs ? This was possible, but hardly credible. Nor
is the authority to which Baylc refers, fulTicient to efta-
bUlh it. This is Lewis du Moulin, formerly mentioned,
in his ' Admonition to the builders of a ûate within a
date/ which he reckoned the exercife of church authori-
ty independent of the civil' to be." He iived'remote from
the fcene of action, was a partifan in many things witii

y 2

172

Milton, and would be ready to draw In any thing that had
the (hadow of favouring his own fcheme. How he has
reprefented the fa£l, and whether it has a refpeâ: to the
queftion, I cannot (lay to confult ; but there is great rea-
fon to fufpe6l that either he, or Bayle, muft be miftaken
în fuch an application. It is very probable that the in-
terference of the council referred to has a refpeft to the
doctrinal opinions of Morus, upon which the consiftory
demurred, until required by the magillrates to proceed to
an examination and fentence, as formerly noticed | ; even
as Mikon, through misinformation or wilfully fecms to
have confounded thefe two caufes, when he repeatedly re-
fers to the regiftcrs containing near one hundred charges
again fl: him.

This exception, therefore, to the force of the teflimo-
nials, that they were grasted before the fama was divul-
ged, or before an accufation in form was brought forward
againft Morus, muft, even by the account of his adver-
faries, be given up. Milton has recourfe to a variety of
pretences and furmifes, in order to invalidate their evi-
dence, but wavers, and fliifts his ground, not knowing
on what chiefly to reft his objeflions againft them. After
fome general obfervations upon the nature of public
teftimonials, and the little credit that is often due to
them, with which he begins his reply to Morus's fupple-
ment i-^* he will not inquire,' he fays,/ whether thefe
Genevan letters were voluntarily granted, or yeilded to
the impudent demand of the man, when accufed of
crimes againft which he could not defend himfelf ; — whe-
ther they were given in a thin meeting, and not on the

X' Sec before, p. 18, 19.

173

ufual day of a|rembllng ; — whether he flood by when
they were drawn up ; — whether the names were fub-
fcribed in the convention, or whether Morus did not run
about from houfe to houfe, foliciting the fubfcriptions of
the members ; and whether there were'not fome who op-
pofed the granting of them in the meeting, and com-
plained they were not heard ; — he would mention none
of thefe things, though fome did, which made fome,
among whom was Fred. Spanheim, to give credit to
them ; but this only he would fay, that the letters of
Diodati, given six years ago, were now antiquated by
Morus's evil pradlices since ; as yet there was no noife
about Claudia, ' Nondum increbuerat Claudia, nondum
hortus :' therefore, he doubts not that the fubfcribcrs
were impofed upon. In another place, fpeaking of thefe
letters, he fays, many oppofed them, fome were wearied
out, and fome were pcrfuaded, fome were afraid left
the ignominy fliould redound to the public, fome were
difpofed to overlook the faults, and fpare a learned
man*. So many different, and ineonsiflent ways of'
accounting for the effect, fliew them to be devifed at
pleafure, fome of which are contrary to the exprefs tenor
of the letters, others too injurious to the honour of the
fubfcribers to be admissible, and none of them fatisfac-
tory.

On the other part of his libel, if his proof be not more
fatisfactory, his language is no lefs abusive. As to the
ftory of Pontia, he is indignant that he fliouId be required
to adduce evidence. * Fama conftans,' and general be-

* Expugnantur multi, partim fatigati, partim indudli, par*
tim vcrit', &c. — Page 135.

174

Jîcf throughout the United Provinces, he reckons his
fufficient warrant. But neither were witnefles, nor a
fufficient number of letters wanting as to this ; thcfe let-
ters, narrated the criminal converfation, he fays, and alfo
the perjuries, by the aid of which Morus efcaped from
judgment ; while yet there was no oath required of him ia
that caufe. * There are many other witnefles that teflify
without voice, the night journies you often took from
die Hague to Leyden ; the no£lurnal and {lolen meet-
ings with Pontia, from whom, it is faid you have made a
divorce, on account of unchafl:ity. — Do you expect that I
fliould bring forward your young fervant, againft you r'
This, it would feem, is one of thefe young men that Mo-
rus referred to, in his fpeech to the Synod, In which he
was acquitted. This indeed was written before he had
read the account of Morus's trial and abfolution before tlijs
Synod ; and the things he refers to in both the defences
appear to be nothing elfe than the old calumnious ru-
mours that had been circulated by the faction, before
the procefs and inveftigation took place, but which had
become in a great meafure dead and obfolete, in Holland,
but being eagerly collected and revived by Milton, they
appeared as frefli, among ftrangers who had no acccfs
to have had full information of what had been tranfaélcd.
Mence, he infulted Morus, in the firft part, that he had
pafl^ed over what related to Pontia ; and he fuppofed, * he
would alfo pafs in silence, what, they faid, he had at-
tempted in a certain houfe, and in another houfe, when
he was*comforting a widow upon the death of htr huf-
band, — nor would he tell from what houfe he was feen
to go out cum fcorto, one night, in Amfterdam, by the
woman whom he had deceived by his promifes, and who

175

had brought an information agalnfl; him to the presbyters ;
nor would he ftate the night journies he had taken to
Leyden, with his fervant, who, however>«did not fail
amply to narrate them, with many other of his notable
atchievements f.' Thus the reader has now got the whole
fund of Milton's opprobrious tales, which he had been
at fuch pains to colledl and heap up, except the fcratch-
ing match and furious onfet of Pontia upon the minifter,
faid to have taken place in the houfe of Salmasius, and
which excited fo much his risibility, of which Milton
gives fuch a ludicrous defcription, and with which he
drives to make himfelf and readers merry throughout fo
many pages of his defence : the outlines of which, thofe
■who have a tafte for fuch a fcene, may find in his own
language below ij;.

t Page 132.

if: In return to what Morus had fa!d about the poet's coun-
tenance, and his impudent brow, perfricata frons, he fays,
rementiber the time, • in quo frons tua tarn valde perfricata
eft, ut tibi turn multo maluifles totam frontcm periifle. Me-
ininifti fortafic illius diei, cum tu Pontiam in domo Salmasium
iiltimum, ut opinor, convenifti tu Ulam, ut copulas renunci-
ares ; ilia te, ut nuptijs diem diceres. Quae ubi e contrario
pa6lum ftupro conjugium diflblvere in ammo tibi efle videt,
turn rcro tua innuba, non enim dicam Tesiphone, impatiens
tantse injurice, in faciem tibi atque oculos, non feétis unguibus,
furens involavit. Tu qui (tefte Cranzio et Deodato) terr'ibiles
vnguss aJtuam tiitelam haheres, pro virili tua parte ad faemineum
hoc genus puguce te comparas. Ipfe Salmasius, in conclavi
proximo dccumbens pedibus aeger, ut prcelium commifTum au-
dijt, rifu pene moritur. At heu nefas ! imbellis nofter Alex-
ander, et Amazoni congrefTus impar, fuccurabit. Ilia inferi-
orera naéta, in frontcm ct fupercilia nafumque hominis turn
priniiim fuperna peccat : miris caprcolis, et Phrygiano opere
toti jacenti vultum percurrit : nunquam tibi More, lineamenta
Pontia? minus pbcucre. Ipfe plana jam utraquc margine ge-
narum fcriptum ct in mento nondum fuiitus aegre tandem fur-

£76

Thefe doubtlefs made part of the fackful of papers
that were prefented to the Synod of Utrecht, and read
over and over again, and which were considered as con-
taining fo many nsenia, and female fquabbles and fcold-
ings ; on which we have heard the judgment of a vener-
able court pronounced. The judgment, at leaft, the ab*
folution of fuch judges, is nothing to Milton. Had the
obje£l of his refentment been twenty times abfolved, it
would have been the fame thing to him. He even made
no account of the information of his clandeftine corre-
fpondents in any thing that tended to exculpate Moras»
but gave full credit to every fyllable to his difadvantage,
of which he furnilhes an inftance in the letter he inferts,
written by Dury from Basil, October 3, 1654, where he
was then in his expedition on the design of uniting the
churchss, in which he faid, * he had convcrfed with Ot-
ton, who did not give credit to the reports as to the con-
duce of Morus, though there were fome who fpoke evil
of him, and his hand was again ft almoft every man and
every man's againft him ; that the greater part of the
Walloon Svnod were desirous of his demission from the

gis: fed ne peiiiteat te, homo ad unguem fadus; non jam
profefTor, fed tamen dodlor pontificus : jure enim poteras

tanquam in picta tabula fcripsifle, Pontia fecit. Sensirti

puto Ulaci tabulas 'rangentiiim et fecantium ad radium Cifra-
rum nefcio qiiot liigiibrium in pelle tuo excudi : tu cum, More
facie non intégra domura te proripiiilli - et quantum potes,
abdis tc quoque,reconditîc ut pofTes die! homo literaturae. Eho
notler Ecclesialles iibi es? quid lates? expeé'tant tc jam nunc qui
tibi aures a fuperiorc loco dicenti accovimodare folcbant. Sed tibi
mifero nunc Puntia e fuperiorc loco dixit tuilq auribus ungues
accommodavit. Redde nunc tuum viiltum nobis, Ecclesiaf-
tes, antiquum fane, et rugis venerandimi, cur apocryphus vis
cfle cum ipfa Pontia Pontilice cauouicus jam maxime sis ct ru-
bricatus.' Page 123.

Ï77

j»aIloral office ; ^nd that the opinion at Basil was much
the fa:ne with that of thofe who lead loved him in Hol-
land.'

la anfwer to the Supplement, Milton n*tkes captious
remarks upon the exculpatory evidence produced in it,
but chiefl/ eînploys his weapon of ridicule. Mr Long,
the copaflor at Middleburgh, when he fubfcribed the
recommendatory letters, was yet deceived by Morus
keeping on the mask, but another hearfay mud be fet
in opposition to them, that he had fpoken in a very diffe-
rent drain since. He takes hold of the words in the
deed of the Synod of Gouda, wliich mention fome de-
fects in the proceeding of the church of Middleburgh,
and he would wifli to know of what kind thefe defecls
were : which evidently refer to fome informality in the
manner, and not at all to the matter. As to the attempts
to iutangle him in the matrimonial net, he insinuates
that they would not have adventured to do it, if he had
not been one whom they thought might have been easily
caught. He reflects on the Synod that acquitted him,
alledging, that they fhewed him too much favour, with-
out a!iy refpe£l to his merits : * In the whole of this
judgment, he could believe, that there was more regard
had to liis perfon and order, than to his caufe.' Sucli,
in his opinion, was their equity and prudence. The
witticifm of the prefes, referring to his name, he takes
to be a mocking of him inftead of abfolution. When he
had lod his pains in wafiiing a blackamoor, he whitened
him : and he exclaims, * Hail now, Ethiops, or if you
will, Thou whited wall i' The fentence itfelf, he fays,
fcayrely abfolves him. They do not recommend him to
the ch.urches, they only do not deprive them of their

Z '

I7S

liberty. But was not cliis fiifHcient, as he was not, novi^
in Amderdam, bound to feive any particular congrega-
tion ? Aiid they gave by their example, in employing
him, a very ftrong recommendation. He fcruples not to
insinuate, that in the fupreme court of Holland, the pa-
tronage of fome whom he had courted and flattered, ra-
ther than judice and his own innocence had befriended
him X'

For his former falfliood, that thé magiflrates of Am-
flerdam had forbidden him the pulpit, Milton makes but
an awkward apology. * I wrote it,' fays he, * not as certain,
but a5 what I had lately heard, and that too upon letters
worthy of credit : if it be not true, it is but a matter of
fmall confequence, and about which I little care, and as
to which you have no caufe to exult.' This is but a forry
fpet linen of his other certain intelligence, by letters

* fide dignas.* He nibbles alfo at the certificate of the ma-
giltrates ; they fay, that nothing could be laid to his charge
since he had come to officiate there, which he thinks of
little force, if he had been chargeable before he came ;
and it was falfe, that he was (sine nota) free of all blame.

* Such a teftimony in behalf of Moruj's integrity, and
hlamelefs character, even frorn thefe Confuls, we make
fmall account of, but rejeO: as of no authority. The
Confuls of Rome fupportcd Verres.' As to Hutton*s
teflimony, that the French church in Amfterdam, re-
quefted him to preach ; Hutton wiflied to fpare his own
lungs : — And there are many v/ho may be very engaging
in their fermons, who may be very ofFensivc otherwife
in their conduit. Of the eulogium of the Curators of

X Page 140.

^79

the fclxool, he makes as light. * What you declahiii
what you recite, or how you employ yourfelf, we need
not care, nor is it any thing to the purpofe. — You plume
yourfelf upon thefe teftimonials. Did you think by them
to heal the wounds in your reputation, — or procure them
as paflports for oftentation ? You gave no dired anfwer
s^s to meetings with Claudia, or Pontia/

But what anfwer did Milion require, or what other
gnfwer would have fatisfied him ? Had he even fworn
iji the moft folemn manner to the falfhood of every
charge, would he have believed him ? he who fcruples
pot to call the oaths, which he affirmed, though falftly,
that Morus had already taken in the affair of Pontia, by
which he efcaped, perjuries, and fets them down as ad-
ditional crimes. Yet he has the impertinence, as if he
had been conllituted commilfary-general for all Chriften-
dom to cite the miijifter to his tribunal, to take a fo-
lemn oath of purgation, of his dictating, that he had
ever lived free from guilt with thefe or any other woman
in the world *. There is one thing indeed in which
Milton confefles that he liad greatly millaken, in calling
Morus a profellbr of Greek, inftead of facred hiftory :
but this is only to vent more fcurrility ; * for it appeared
to him altogether incredible, and a kind of prodigy, that
one fhould ever have been profefibr of facred, who liim-
felf afforded fo m.uch fubjc£l and matter for profane
hiftories.' He objects to Morus his passing from flock
to flock j and for leaving the better piiice for the inferior.

* * Die age in hs:c verba : Deum teHem invoco me ab om-
nibus illis flagitijs quorum insimulor, integrum atque intaclum
fem^er vixiile, me neque Claudiae, neque Poiitiae, neque ul.
Jius omnino faeminac ilupratoreai eiTç aut adultcrum.' P. i 30,

Z 2

i8o

Taking occasion from Morus having mentioned (with
rather too great an air of vanity, which his situation
might excufe} the numerous invitations he had receiv-
ed, his unrelenting adverfary compares him to empirics,
recommending their nollrums ; and even allcdges, that
he employed his friends to procure invitations for him
to as many places as possible ; and that fometimes rhc
matter was fo managed, that at any rate he fnould be in-
vited, although on the exprefs condition fettled, that he
Ihould not come. * In this manner, I underftand, you
were invited to France, and if I miftake not, to Frane-
ker, or Groningcn (Gronham) which of the two cities Ï
know not, but that it was the one or the other, I fuffi-
ciently know f .*

Milton wrote a tra£l, * for removing hirelings out of
the church,' and for abolifliing not only tithes, but legal
ilipends. Morus had told him, that since his removal,
he preached without falary or emolument ; that his fer-
vice to the church might appear more w^illing as it was
more gratuitous ; and that not only in Amftcrdam, but
alfo in the other churches, as there was occasion, he had
thus freely, and as frequently as at any time before , be-
llowed his labour : fometimes thrice in one day, and
not before a rude auditory, to the endangering his health,
that the Chridian people might not be deprived of in-
ftruûion. As he had no other induceme/it to this than
the public utility, all would think it commendable except
Milton, who, of all men, if he were coubiftcnt with
himfelf, ought to account it fuch, as he tliought paftors
ihould receive only the voluntary contributions of the

t Page 128.

]8i

people. ' Here,* ^ays he, ' I was afraid of your praifes,
and that I fhould have lufFcred this new kind ot lepioach,
unlcfs you fhould chufc to forf^ke your own principles,
rather than for onct to Ipeak witli ingcnuitjj^ What at
length will you find in me fît for your teeth, when even
at thib you bite, which in prudence you ought to have
pafTed, if you had not confultcd your aiTcction more than
your purpofe % :*

The proiciTor, indeed, had good reafon to dread the
praife of fuch a man. In one place, he ;s reviled by him
for * felling t/je worJ ;' and when he could not but know
that it was difpenfed gratis, he owns it was a very rare
cafe, but then it was this that made his fcrvices to be
requefted. This too, gives occasion for introducing fome
fine allusions and apt comparifons from ancient lore:
* By thii noifc once a week, by this fortuitous teaching,*
fays Mjiron, the ex-minifter thinks he fulfills tlie confiant
oince of a paftor : like an itinerant singer, or fophifl oi
old, he rehearfed when atked : — yea, he was like one of
Cybele's priefls ' nondum exfedlus,' or ohe of the Cureti,
freely employing his pipes.' — * But he is a pretty and
and eloquent preacher ' * Jufl fuch a preacher, I believe,
as he is an orator ;' and here he falls foul of Morus's
composition §.

In the like fccffing and puerile lunnour, he notices the
titles of the books in the lift mentioned by Morus ; as
that on the Gofpels, where he fays, he expccled a fifth

X Fid. Pull, p 222, 223.

§ ' Ita credo ut efl orator, cui prcverbia si demas, et infuJ-
to versiculor! m centcnes br;tior.is ipfo file atque contcxtu
nihii inoratius, nihil incompositiuS; nihil vcibosius atque puti-
dius nihil ubi venufintcm, numerum, atquc nerves paulo diser-
iiQrc homine d'gnos magis requiras.' Opera, ^. 145.

l82

gofpel from him, since he had long ago denied the (out
former by his deeds ;— and that on the Sacred Scripture,
* in which, it is faid, you afErm many things to have
been humanly and imprudently written ;' — his Notes oi>
the New Teflament, * I wifh you would alfo allow Notas
Pontia to be publifhed : * Laft of all, remember, you have
wholly omitted the other volume of your works that i^
ftill extant in the public library of Geneva.'

From the above, the reader may fee in minaturc, the
whole matter of this formidable libel, and a fufficient
fpecimen of the manner and fpirit in which it was writ-
ten. Whatever acquaintance Milton had with classical
learning, and however fevere he was upon the writings
of his antagonifts, it will be evident, that he often funl;
into low buffoonery, falfe witcicims, and vulgarity of
language. A little facetioufnefs, a portion of the attic
fait, or acid, might have been allowed, if he had therein
difcovercd the lead tincture of good nature and candour,
or a due regard to decorum, which he has fo grofsly vio-
lated. He fports himfelf with things that were no pro-
per obje£ls of fport or ridicule ; and indulges levity in
matters ferious and important, and mixes the ludicrous .
with the religious in a very grotefquc manner, ^This was
too much the tafte of the times, and of the court in whi.ch
he lived, with which he was infeded. In this, he re-
fembles his mafler, Cromwell, who one hour could aflume
the moft fandlimonious airs, and the next 'a(X the buffoon;
who even at the moment when he had the pen in his
hand to sign the death-warrant of the king, could not re-
frain from dabbing ink in the face of Sir Harry Martin.
But the refentful and implacable fpirit that breathes
throughout, is that which is chiefly condemnable and

'."V

îhexcufable. His^jefts and fportîve humour are but
the vehicle and thin covering of the decpeft malignity^
which he could not warrantably have entertained and
rented agtlnft any man vtrhatever, much Icfs^gainft one
occupying a refpe(flablc place in the learned world, and
an honourable dation in the church of God, efpe-
cially upon fuch flender pretexts, and defe£live evidence,
and even in the face of unufual and overwhelming evi-
dence to the contrary. To have his opponent dragged
forth and cxpofed to public infamy, degraded from of-
fice, expelled from all honourable fociety, and even dri-
tdn from among the living, had it been in his power,
and to have had his name consigned to perpetual infamy,
was avowed by him as the design of his writing, and
what he expe<Sted as the fruit and chief reward of his
labour. As he began by threatening, fo he conclud-
ed the firfl; part of his Defence of himfelf, by exulting
in the thought of academies and churches concurring in
the execution of what would have been fo gratifying to
his pride and malice, and at any rate he would confolc
himfelf with the thought of having performed a moft ac-
ceptable and meritorious fervice f ,

f * Quod si etiam ex privatis nonnunquam inîmîcitijs
deli£la publica animadvcrti et fxpe corrigi folent, et ad-
verfarium nunc non modo meum, fed pêne omnium
communem, hominem nefarium, reformatae religionis et
facri maxime ordinis opprobrium, literatorum labem, ju-
ventutis perniciosissimum prxceptorem, immundum in
facris Ecclesiaften, impulsis omnibus causis juftissima vi-
tuperarione profccutus fura, eo nccne cum fruclu^ quo
opportcat viderint illi, quorum potissimum intcrcft cxem-
plum in ifto edere, me quidem fpcro rem neque Deo
ingratam, neque ecclefcix infalubrem, neque rei publicx
inutilem prseftitifle.' Page 137.

184

it will be difHcult to find an inftance amon^ men of
letters, of fucK an open and atrocious attack upon both
the profession dl and moral character of a public man,
and fuch a determined purpofe, and fo pertinacloufly pro-
fccuted, upon fo little provocation, and fo flight a (ha-
dow of evidence, as this of Milton ; and pcrsiiled In to
the lad, in contempt of what is ufually admitted as au-
thentic and legid CAridence to the contrary. Every one,
upon the whole, will form wliat judgment he thinks pro-
per; but there is fuHxclent reafon for affirming, that
whatever miy have been the imprudencies or foibles of
Morus, it belonged not to Milton to animadvert upon
them as he did ; that the faft he aflumed as tlie original
ground was merely fupposititious, and thathe himfelf had
fufficient opportunity to know it f -, that althongh Morus
had been actuiilly accufcd and convicted of the alledged
crimes, neither the caufe Milton was defending, nor his
connexion, nor the laws of Chriftianity, or the honour of
religion, required or warranted him to proclaim them as
with the reiterated found of a trumpet to the world, with
apparent i\nisfa6lion, and airs of derison ; but that his
oifcnce was of a much more aggravated nature, in be-
coming himfelf the public accufer, upon vague reports,

f Ic is fcaice neceffary to notice what Bayle has in-
fertcd as an authority for afcribing the Clamor, ^c. to
Morus, that the Catalogue of the library at Oxford has
giv€U \t to hiai. This cannot be any apology tor Milton,
as ihe catalogue to which there is a reference was not
drawn up till the year 1674. Though th? arranger of
the catalogue beftowed nine years upon it, yet, amidlt
fuch a mais, there muit Iiave (till been many miftakes i
efpeclaliy in assigning names to anonymous publications.
Perhaps Mihon's-writings contributed to this miitake. .

1 85

iciandefline and partial informations, mixed with known
falflioods and inconsiftencies, and not only to continue
to accufe, but to fuftain every charge as if it had been
decidedly proven and judged, — while yet he^had not one
teftimoiiy to produce to eftablifli one article, that could
be received in any court of law or equity : for who will
fay, that any one of the witnefles to whom he appeals,
any one of the writers of letters which he quotes, has
fpoken dire£lly to the point of criminality, or faid upon
their own knowledge, and as they Ihould anfwer to God,
that he certainly was guilty of one single inftance ? AH
that they teftify is, what is but too evident, and which
Morus did not deny, that he had enemies, who laid
grievous things to his charge ; that they had heard fuch
things talked of, but whether truly or falfely the depo-
nents know not : but woe would be to thoufands, and
even to men of the bell chara£lers in the world, if the
mere fa£l of their being hated^ fufpe(5led, or evil-fpoken
of, by individuals, or a faftion, or even the world at
large, were fufficient to bring them in as guilty. It is
greatly in favour of Morus, that the reports or accufations
referred to, were either reckoned unworthy of judicial
inquiry, or that, after a trial or inquiry, he was legally
acquitted by ihe competent judges. In opposition to
thele, private opinions, furmifes, or public talk, are to
be accounted of little weight. In cafes of that kind, even
witliout inveiligation, charity will always be inclined to
the favourable side, as the law prefumes every man to
be innocent until he be found guilty : contrary however
to a perverfe, but too common difposition of mankind
to believe the word :

A a

i86

Confcia mens re6li fames mendacia ndtt {
Scd nos in vitium credala turba fumus.

OviJ.
But after a regular judgment and acquittal, againft which
nothing relevant can be brought to invalidate it, neither
chnrity nor juflice can permit the matter any longer to be
Considered as doubtful, or the charaûer of the perfott
as ambiguous, much lefs infamous in fociety. The cri-
tical Bayle, after veering a while, and balancing, in his
/"ceptical manner, ths evidences on both sides, had too
much difccrnment not to fee the frivoloufnefs of Mil-
ton's defences on this fubjeil:, and the culpability of
his condu6l, and has given at lad a jufler decision,
than feme others have done, particularly in Britain, who
have copied him in other things. It is in thefe words :

* But in fhort there are a great many more excep-
tions to be made to fuch defamatory reports, as an au-
thor like Miiton is capable of collecling, than to certifi.
cates. So when ail accounts are balanced, I fhould be
of opinion that, considering the rertificates which have
been produced, in favour of Mr Moruj by his party, and
an^ the inconveniences wliich might juitly be dreaded,
if vague accufations, and fuch as have no legal proof
on tlieir side, fliould be reckoned more valid than for-
mal juftifications ; I fay, I (liould be of opinion that
IMiUon ouglit to be considered as a public slanderer,
except where he can make good the fa6lshe advances by
fome nutb.entic acts. Particularly I am of opinion, that
tue liilllch v/liich he caufed to be inferred in the Lon-
don News-papers, deferves ta be declared a diabolicaï.
PIECE OF BUFt-ooNRRi".' And here he inferts the epigram
which was given above, in page I2i. He adds, ' Milton
was obflhiate cr.ough in his hatred, as appears bv a let-
ter wliich he wrote, December 20, 1-659, wlule Morus'a
atlair was in agitation before the national Synod of Lou«
dun. He was of opinion, tlvat though that Synod fhouM
decree nothing but die deposition of that minilter, ii:

i87

would have a liapj^ iflue, which never happened to any
other Synod.'

If fo much as one authentic a£l can be found pro-
duced by Milton, to exempt him in part frortf the odious
character, to which he is here fubjecled by the critic of
Amfterdam, let iiim have the full benefit of it. It muft
be fought for fome where elfe tlian in his defences. TJie
diftich, which fome may think barciy to read or quote, is.
fuflicient to fix a blot on the fubjedl: of it, Milton tells
us, he received from a well known author in Holland,
and he commends the humour of it. But who would
appeal to posts and fatirifts as authentic hidorians, or
as affording proper evidence of fa£ls ? The licence of
fatirifts and writers of epigrams overleaps all bounds.
For the fake of a witticifm or pun, they will fport with
any character, and not even fpare their friends, how
much lefs thofe to whom they have antipathv ? They
can caricature or dilîort any objedl in the mirror of play-
ful fancy, without the fmallefl regard to truth. In their
colours, Milton might have feen himfelf too, drawn as
hideous as any monfter, and as black as any Moor. A
certain French divine and orator of no fmall reputation,
has put his name on epigrammatic record in the follow-
ing lines : —

In Mihcnem.

N'l minim rabido si reges impetit ere, »

Milt©, vocat reges pagina facia Decs •

Eft atheus Miito, regum hinc accerimus hoflig
Veljet (jufppe omncs lollcrc poffc Decs.

Oravr, du Bofc, totn. i.

Are we therefore to believe Milton to Iiave been a
very 4theifi. ?

I confefs the character of tliis eminent man never ap-

A,a 2

•88

peared to me in fuch a defpicable light, nor his condu£l
in any thing fo bafe and dlflionourable, as in the fpirit
he difcovered, and the part he a<fl:ed in this conteft. It
is hard to reconcile them to the chara£ter of an honeft
and good man. His other errors, great as they were,
compared with this, appear venial. In them his judgment
might have milled him, and his political delinquencies
had the concurrence of thoufands, and the ihew of pub-
lic good for palliation : but in this is feen great depravity
of heart, rooted malice, and a feries of deliberate inju-
ries. What he intended againft his opponent, when
he faid, that * in his own name, and in the name of the
people of England, he would deliver him over to the
cenfure of all fucceeding ages,' either has, or ought to
have fallen upon himfelf. The arrows he throws, in-
ftead of doing execution, rebound, and wound none fo
deeply as himfelf. Dr Johnfon, in his life of this poet,
however opposite he was to his political opinions, is will-
ing to allow, that ♦ while he contented himfelf to write,
he perhaps did only what his confcience dictated, and if
he did not very vigilantly watch the influence of his own
passions, and the gradual prevalence of opinions, firft
willingly admitted, and then habitually indulged,, — if
desire fuperinduced convidtion, he yet fliared only the
common weaknefs of mankind, and might be no lefs
sincere than his opponents :' a plea, however, that can-
not be admitted as to many things in the writings we
have been considering. He proceeds to impeach his ho-
nefty, on fufpicion of his having inferted a prayer taken
lilt of the romance * Arcadia,' into the book imputed to
he king, * Icon Basilike,'— and * he charges the king
with the ufe it/' fays the biographer, * in the indecen?

(89

language with wli^ch profperlty liad enibolJencd the ad-
vocates of rebellion to infult all ti;at was venerable or
:;reat.' Had this forgery, with a view to reproach tlic
cing, been capable of proof againft l\im, it would yet
lave been of a trivial nature compared with thofe he
las evidently adopted, and openly defended in this caufe.
)ut the forgery qf the whole book referred to, may be
dearly traced to an epifcopal origin, and is more jultly
:harged on the royal party, however the dogmatic John-
fon, and even the fceptical Hume, might have been dif-
pofed, from the love they bore to arbitrary kings, to
think it the composition of his inajefty.

The Monthly Reviewers, while they find fault with the
Dodlor for charging Milton with this interpolation, go
to another extreme in Ids defence, and are unguarded
and ungrounded when they afl'ert, that * wliatever might
be his political errors, his moral character has been ever
unimpeached ; his regard to truth feems to have been
inviolable ; his religion appears to be free of every taint
of hypocrify f .' The afftrtions are either faife ; or they
mud be admitted with great abatement ; though we have
ao inclination to enlarge on fuch an ungrateful fubjeâ:.
We fee he has been impeached by different pens. In the
furvey of this controverfy, what inRances of the indul-
gence of evil passions, of difregard to truth, to purity, to
jharity, to juftice, forcibly obtrude themfelvcs to view ?
3f his belief of the holy Scriptures, and the great doc-
ines of Chriftianity, there is no reafon to doubt. But
;' the religion, or * wifdom that- cometh from above be
lot only pure, but peaceable, meek, and gentle, full of

t Vol. LXÏ. 84, 8s.

mercy, and good fruits without partiality, as well a«r
without hypocrify,' his was furely very defe<Slive. 0£
the sincerity of every man*s religion, it belongs to the
Omnifcient alone to judge. But his irreverence on cer-
tain fubje<n:s, his contemptuous ufage of men in eccle-
siaftical office, individually, or colle£lively, the counte-
nance he gave to meafures for depressing, if not abolifh-
ing, a regular (landing miniftry, his difregard, in the
latter part of his life, to divine inftitutions, and all pub-
lic and private forms of devotion, were certainly no fa-
vourable indications of his pradical piety. For his bio-
graphers tells us, that * he afTociated himfelf with no
denomination of proteftants ; and that we know rather
what he was not, than what he was,' in religion : * He
grew old without any visible worfhip. In the diftribu-
tion of his hours, there was no hour of prayer, either
folitary, or with his houfehold ; omitting public prayers,
he omitted all.' And on this Dr Johnfon, has juflly obfer-
ved, * To be of no church is dangerous. Religion of
which the rewards are diftant, and which is animated only
by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind,
unlefs it be invigorated and reimprefTed by external or-
dinances, by flated calls to worfliip, and the falutary
influence of example.' We (ay nothing here, left we
ofl'end the connoifleurs, or idolizers of Milton, of the
ilrange freedoms he has taken in his capital work, with
the religion of the bible, in intermixing with it fuch
bizarre imagery, fuch grofs fidlions, defcriptions fome-
times fo monftrous and abfurd, refpeéling the invisible
world, and invisible agents, as to fall lijtle fhort of the
fables and reveries of Homer.

In his Defence'^^f himfelf, he gives a farther inftartCfl
of his infolent and abusive fpirit in the manner in which
he treats Crantzius, on account of his introdu(Slory e-
{)i(lle, mentioned above, in which he expfefled his de-
teftation of Milton's falfehoods and calumnies, and ex-
culpated Morus. For this unpardonable fault he meets
with no milder ufage than his friend. He fpeaks of him
as a sick little do£lor, (dodtorculum nefcio quem Crant-
zium) with his bed and pillow laid in the way as a mound
or rampart to obftrudl his approach to the book he
was anfwering ', who could hardly raife himfelf in bed,
to vent his feverifh dreams ; — as one who had made his
teflament, becaufe he had faid, he had * fubfcribed with
his own hand, though sick in body.' Age jam tu, si vis,
animam nos resignemus.* * Let your foul now depart if
it pleafe you : we can easily fpare you/ He had indeed
expofed himfelf in part to the lafh of his fatire by his in-
cautious and incorre»^ manner of expressing himfelf *.

* He had faid, * In Salmasio vis ipsi iniraici aliud reqiii-
junt, quam quod fuerit iracundior, et male conjugatus.' Upon
which Milton fayj, Quis mentis compos aut fententiae fuae sic
loquitur ? Patere te doceri, dodorcule, quod pueruli fciant :
Non requirebant illi quod fuit, fed quod non fuit.'

He feoffs at him too, on account of what he had faid about
the allegation of eunuchifm : * Ais me eunuchum dix'i/fe Salma-
iium^ quod nunquam dixi. NilAl minus quam eunuchum fuilTc
affirmas : id mea nihil refcrt. Tu, tamen quid hac in parte
folus tarn audadler pronuncies, cave : Adeone Icgum nefcius
ac rudis es, nt uUam rem difHcilius probare te poffe sine duo-
bus teftibus arbitreris.'

When he had mentioned Salmasius's pofthumous book that
might fometime be published, he had exclaimed, ' Dij boni !
quam niger eft Miltonius, si fides Salmasio.' Milton juflly
askei the doftor of facred theology, How many good gods
he wor/hipped ? and was afraid, that in this he dcferv^-d rather

192

From the manner in' which Crantz had praifed Morus,
he thinks he v/as but little obliged to him, as he had in-
terfperfed his commendations with fo many blemiflies,
that he might fcem to have difmifled non Morum^ fed
Morioncm ; as he exprefl'us it, in his punning manner.
And he takes leave of him, by tellng him, that he had
been more hrge in his animadversions, that he might
pay his refpe61:s to him as a do£lor of divinity with a very
broad phylaQery ; ' Do(£loribus autem mirifice deleftor :*
* for I am wonderfully charmed with do£lors %•* The
Ufurpcr's Secretary, indeed, though he had not told us,
has manifefted this in more inftances and ways than one.
Since we arc on the fubjeâ: of Milton's delinquencies
againfl the clergy, we may notice the farcafms thrown
out againft the Presbyterians, and the Scotch Commis-
sioners at London» in feme of his (horter poems ; from
whicli it may appear that this was an old, and had be-
come an iiiveterate habit with him ; and we do this the
rather, that his commentators feem greatly at a lofs to
underftand fome of his references to names, and one of
the mofl. eminent of them has indulged in fome blundet-
ing conje(f>ures. Thefe pieces certainly add nothing to
his character in a poetical, and Hill lefs in a political. or
religious view. They are evidently the efi'uslons of fpleeii
and fermenting fa6lion, without regard to truth, deco-
rum, or the dignity of writing. Some <ai thofe againft
whom they are levelled, were very active in the great
change, in behalf of the fubjt (Si's liberty, and to them,

to be called a catechumen, than doftor : adding, Tibi si Dïj
boni fuiitj crit fortassis et bona Dea^ cujus te faccrdos,' &c.

Milt. O^cr Lat, fol. p. 1 15.
X Uf Sii^ra, p . 1 1 6\

Ï93

and the party tliej afled with, any progrefs that was
made in ecclesiaftical reformation was chiefly owing.
They profecuted the great design in a more consistent,
legal, and honeft manner, than the fa^lion.^with which
this author embarked, and who were remarkable for
nothing more than for their artifices, intrigues, treach-
ery, dissimulation^ and unprincipled, but fuccefsful in-
novations.' Some of the men who are treated with wan-
tonnefs, in point of piety, were far that author's fupe-
riors ; and fome of them, though unequal in polite let-
ters, were not behind him in the moft ufeful and folid
parts of learning. In this number may be mentioned
the names of Rutherford, Henderfon, Gillefpie, fo dif-
rcfpeftfuUy introduced in the xixth of the Mifcellane-
ous Poems. Becaufe they oppofed the feftaries, and
his own novel doctrines, this made him vent his refent-
ment in no very fublime ftrains :

Men whofe life, learning, faith, and pure intent
Would have been held in high efteem \Titli Paul,
Mull no AT be nam'd and printed heretics.
By {hallow Edwards, and Scotch What d'ye call.

A book was wrote of late call'd Tetrachordon
And woven clofe, both matter, form and ftile,— -

What a word on

A title page is this ? •

Why is it harder. Sirs, than Gordon,
Colkitto, or M'Donel, or Galafp ?
Thofc rugged names to our like mouths grow fleek.
That would have made Quirtilio ftarc and gafp.

Hear the commentators ; * What d'ye call/ fays Dr New-
ton, * might be perhaps Alexander Henderfon, or, as that
B b

194

expression implies fome hard name, G. Gillefp're, a
Scotch Commissioner, called Gelafpe, in Whitlock, and
Galafp in one of the author's fonnets.' — But A. Hcnder»
fon did not publlfh on thefe controversies, though Bail-
lie, Rutherford, Gillefpie, and A. Stewart, a Scotch
writer, did. Is Giliefpie indeed a hard name ?

Gordon, Colkitto, M'Donel, and Galafp, fays the fame
annotator, ' we may fuppofe were perfons of note and
eminence amongft the Scotch minillers, who were for
pressing and enforcing the Covenant. Galafpe, we know,
was one of the Scotch minillers and commissioners f .*
He was -, — but I have never heard of any of the others
named, among the eminent miniilers of that time. But
they may be found among the eminent chieftains, who,
at the order of the king, maflacred the people who had
taken the covenants. The bifhop perhaps had not heard
of Sir Donald Goram, alias M'Donald, and the M'Do-
nalds, and the Kittochs, who headed the band of Irifk
cut-throats that invaded Argyle(hire, and wafted Scot-
land about that time, with fire and fword, in conjunc-
tion with the popifh Gordons ? In Walker's Hiflory of
Indepencfency, I think, there will be found a fufBcient
key to rhc hard name and ftory of Colkitto.

Had thefe divines indeed been chargeable, as is insi*'
nuated, with renouncing prelacy and a liturgy, with a
view ^

To fci/.e the widovv'd wliore plurality
From them whofe sin they envied, not abhorred ;

thev miglit be faid to deferve this ufage ; but wlio thâf;
knows the principles of the long parliament, while près»»

f Newton's Milton, vol. iv.

^95-

byterian, or is acqu»^inted with the plan of reformation
then adopted by the miniflers of that denomination, will .
venture to fay, that fuch abufes as thofc arising from plu-
ralities were either pled for, or permitted awong them.
Had they meant to force confciences by the fword in
matters of religion,

And ride us with a classic hierarchy

Taught them by mere A. S. and Rutherford ;

fome degree of this feverity might alfo be allowed to fall
to their (hare : an eftablifliment civil and ecclesiaftical,
doubtlefs, they contended for, in opposition to anabap-
tiftical anarchy. But the fentiments and meafures adopt-
ed by them on that fubjedl, and that of liberty of ccn-
fcience, were fuch as then had the general fancStion of
the procédant i^ates and churches of Europe. The tedi-
ous conteft carried on under the infpe£tion of parliament,
about what is called Toleration, will be found, when
narrowly examined, to liave little relation to the proper
ftate of that queftion, but for the mofl: part to be foreign to
the fubje6t as now underftood. Though there were un-
juftifiablc fentiments maintained by Presbyterians, and
though fome intolerant acls, were pafl, by authority of
that parliament, in which Presbyterians for a time had
considerable influence, yet fome of the mod obnoxious
of them, might be (liown to have proceeded from men
of other principles, and another defcription, than p/esby-
terians.

The Annotator faya, * he knows not who is meant by
A. S. in the line lafl quoted, though Rutherford is fuf-
ficiently well known, and is particularly levellfd at here
for hiA. books on Church Government and Liberty of
Confcience. Some book, he thinks might be intended
Bb 2

196

signed by thofe letters, and perhaps an equivoque might
alfo be intended.' Here he is more fortunate in his con-
je6tures. But if he had met with a poHtical pamphlet
againft the Covenanters, publifhed foine time before,
and written by the depofed Bifhcp Maxwell, under the
feigned name of Lysimachus Nicanor, to which Ruther-
ford made a full reply in his Lex Rex, he would
have feen the enigma explained. There was one Alex-
ander Sempill, it feems, whom the bifhop reprefented
as a very infamous perfon, who had written, what he
terms a foolifh but feditious ballad, called * The Bifliop's
Bridles :' * And I marvel more,' fays he, * that the Cove-
nanters have made this pattern of wickednefs, to be their
iitteft man to prefent to England and Ireland their fat-
lern of the mount,'' There is a reference here to an expref-
sion in a paper of the Covenanters in anfwer to the Lord
Commissioner's proclamation, wherein they fay, * they
had never fought to impofe their difcipline upon Eng-
land and Ireland, but only recommended to them the
pattern fliewn on the mount |,' meaning the rule of Scrip-
ture. This man Sempill, we are told on the margin of
the Epiftle, printed himfelf A. S., which gave occasion
to the equivocal ufe of thefe letters ; for it there follows»
* This A. S., or Alexander Sempill, is fo bealtly and apifh,
that he can find no other matter or fubjedl: for his ballad,
but to allude to one Rew's preaching on Balaam's afs,
\rhieh they make to be the church of Scotland, that have
thrown off the Bifhops, their riders ; and therefore mufh
fell their bridles. This preacher Rew, did not put fliame

% Epift. Congratulory of Lysim. Nie. to the Covenanteis,
p. 74> &e. -

197

enough upon tha^ church, but this A S. mud fécond
him and continue its fliame. That of the wifeman is
fit for them,' A whip for the horfe, a bridle for the Afs,
and a rod for the fools back ;' with more u> the fame
purpof;^, where the equivoque is kept up, and the phra-
fes of the wild afs in the wildernefs, the afs knowing his
mailer's crib, Saul's feeking his father's alTes, and the
burial of an afs, are hauled in. By the bye this fcems to
account for the language employed by Mr Rutherford,
who had a (harp tho* not very polifhed wit, in anfwering
another of Billiop Maxwell's libels againft the Scotch
Reformers, in Lex Rex, where he has repeatedly among
other namesj called him an afs, retorting ilius his own
language and low wit upon him.

But if this may not be thought the dirctl key for open-
ing the fatirical cypher, tli^; following is at tlie Itrvice of
future annotators, taken from the public difputes of that
time. After the • Apologetical Narration' of the five In-
dependent minifters in the "Weltminfler allembly, ad-
drefled to the parliament, was published in 1643, fevtral
anfwers foon appeared : besides that by the Scotch com-
inissioners, there was one by Edwards, who afterwards
publiflied the Gangrena, the fame v/hom Milton calls
ihallow Edwards, and another under the title * Obferva-
tions and Annotations upon the Apol. Narration,' in 1644,
to which the author, Andrew Stewart, only prefixed the
initials of his nanie, A. S. In this, and in another tra£l,
the fame year, intitkd, * An anfwtr to a libel,' &c. he
defended classical presbytery in opposition to the Inde-
pendent model, and flawed the danger cf the fchifm
andjicence for which that party were pleading. To
this he prefixed his name. A reply was made, intitledj

198

M. S. 10 A. S.> with a plea for liberty of confcience îii
a church way, againft the cavils of A. S.' Throughout
the pamphlet, Mr Stewart, is always addrefled and quot-
ed by the initials of his name, which are fometimc ufed
too in the equivocal fenfe ; and doubtlefs were fo by
Milton, who had a wonderful refpedl to do<ftors, for
fuch too, this A. S. was, having been chofen by the
university of Leyden to be a profeflbr there. This again
was followed by ^ Zerubbabel to Sanballat and Tobiah,
or a Duply to M. S., alias Two brethren, by Adam Stew-
art : whereunto was added, * The judgment of the Re-
formed churches of France, Switzerland, Geneva, &c.
concerning Indépendants, who condemn them with an
unanimous confent, publifhed by David^Stewart, 1645/
It is dedicated to certain lords, and men in public ad-
miniflration in Holland, by A. S.

Here Milton, then, took occasion to vent his fatire,.
at once againft particular men, and any model of national
church-government, in room of prelacy, ihen aboliflied,
which was the important work then in hand : he and his
party, reprefenting Presbytery, as a classical hierarchy.
They became the principal obftru^ors of the public
fettlement of it : as they afterwards, when the power
was in their hands, reftrided the freedom of the higher
ccclesiaftic courts, in Scotland.

As among the letters from foreign" chujches, expres-
sing their judgment of the principles and condud of the
Independents, inferted in the lafl mentioned publication
by A. S., there is one from Geneva, written at the or-
der of the consiftory, by Mr Morus, and fubfcribed by
him in their name, declaring the warrant, authority, and
utility of classical and fynodical aflemblies, and flronglj^

199

Wptobating anarchy, it is possible that then, If not be-
fore, Milton became acquainted with the name of his
hated oponent *, and it is not improbable that this decid-
ed condemnation of a faction and fcheme lj£ was now
abetting, might contribute to that antipathy and viru-
lence he afterwards difcovered againft him.

To conlude this long fe£lion, Morus certainly was
intitled to have the matter of his reply as particularly fta-
ted as our limits could permit, not only as he was the
defendant and fo deeply interefted, but alfo as his book
is feldom to be met with, and is known to very few ;
while thofe of his adverfary have been more than once
re-printed, and are ftill in the hands of the learned.
The* after the public vindication he had received, Morus
fays, any other from him might appear needlefs, yet he
gave it, not only to Milton's importunity, but from re-
gard to the ignorance and weaknefs of fuch as at a
diftance, had drunk in the poifon of calumny ; all whom,
efpecially his friends and fellow-citizens, he inireated
and obtefled by all that was facred, not haftily to give
credit to report, much lefs to letterswhich his adverfaries
might fend thro' all countries, or Milton might colled,
thinking, after they were driven from their fubtcrfuges
where they resided, they might more easily make their lies
to pafs in places remote. He might at leafl; expect, that
perfons of candour and impartiality would fufpend their
judgment, until a fair narration of the matter written
truly and freely by a friend, might readi them, the pub-
lication of which had hitherto been kept back only at liis
earned intreaties. — Whether this narrative to which the
author refersi ever appeared, the writer of this does not
know.

Under the cruel reproaches' and perfccution that this
minifter fuffered, (one of the heavieft which a good mart
can be expofed to,) he difcovered a fpirit of patient re-
signation to the will of God, and of Chriftian forgive-
nefs. Having mentioned towards the clofe, the profes-
sion of ecclesiaftical hisltory, in which he was with fatis-
fa6lion engaged, he fays, amongfl: other advantages de-
rived from it, he was furniflied with many examples to
fortify his mind again ft fuch adverfaries as Milton, and
to teacli him to bear without impatience what fo many
Chriftian worthies formerly endured. As the Lord had
faid, * Woe would be to thofe of whom all men {hould
fpeak well,' fo the whole courfe of facred hiftory proved
it. And here he recurrs to the indances of Jerom, and
Nazienzen, on whom criminal condu£t was charged ; —
the accufation againft Chryfoftom before the Synod of
Conftantinople -, and Athanasius in the Synod of Tyre,
with the greateft effronrery maintained by fuborned wit-
nefles, and who was named by the fury of fa£lion, Sa-
thanasius ; with others of the fame kind : eminent men,
who, through honour and diflionour, good report and
bad rcporr, amidft flrife and envy, taught Chrift. Since
the heavenly endowments of fuch men, fays he, could
not fecure them from calumny, why fliould fuch weak-
lings as we, M'ho ftruggle continually with fo many in-
firmitie?, desire better treatment ? Whatever difference
there be in otiier refpe(fl:s ; and though we be inferior
to fuch great heroic fouls in alnioft an infinite degree,
yet in one thing we may venture to claim a similitude,
in that we fuffer innocently.

In this manner does he, like Job, finifh his defence,
maintaining his integrity before men, and aflerting that

lus heart did not condemn him as to any of tliofe crimes,'
yet he devoutly falls down, and charges himfclf before
God, in the following appeal : — ^

* Having already produced abundance of human tef-
timonics, what remains but to appeal to the divine-
^f confcience be inftead of a thoufand witnefTes, inftead
of how many mufl: God be ! ' My witnefs is in heaven ;*
— to adopt the words of the mod patient of men. * Let
them think of Auguftine whatever they pleafe ; my con-
fcience alone does not accufe me before God.' Thus
fpoke Auguftine. I on the contrary will fay, let men
fpeak, write, or think as they pleafe, I am not confcious
of any thing : yet I am not therefore juftified -, my con-
fcience alone accufes me in the sight of God. Milton,
Thou hart overcome ! I am brought to confession ; — ■
confessing many things, and even more grievous than
the falfe charges you have produced, feeing there were
fo many that were true, remaining. If neither my folemn
afTevcration?, nor public teRimony be fufficiently credit-
ed, as the laft rcfort I take thee, Lord God, for witnefs i
Thou fearcher of hearts, who tried the reins, and ex-
ploreft the innermoft receffes of the foul, to whom all is
naked and open ; I call thee, O God, even thee for
witnefs, who hereafter wilt be my judge, and the judge
of all, whether or not men do not fee in this heart, what:
thou feed not ! I widi that thou alfo mighted not fee:
in the fame heart, what they cannot ! But woe is me ?
that I fliould indeed be far more vile, than they feign.
I humbly revere thy divine providence that judly per-
mitG, that I fhould be falfely accufed before men, on
account of fo many fecret faults of which I am verily-
guilty before thee. Thou, Lord, faidd to Shemei, curfe
David. Glory be to thy name, that had been pleafed.
to preferve me, exercifed to fo many griefs, that I might
ferve thee. Here a great sin prefents itfelf to my mind,
which I confefs before all the world. I have not hitherto
{"erv#d thee to the utmolt of my power. That fmall ta-
lent, which of thy free bounty, thou had deigned to
cntrud to me, I have not yet put to ufury : whether by

Cc

203f

I^urfirînp; too much amuslnsj ftudies [am^snitaies fludio-^
rum] or in repelling tlie reproaches of the malevolent,
to which, (fo it has been thy will) I have been continu-
ally fet for a mark, I have wafted too much time and
labour. Overlook what is paft, and diredl in what is to
come. Though cleared before men, I C7\n never be fo
before thee, unlefs thy vnercy fuccour. Againft thee, I
confefs, I have sinned, and will do fo no more. Thoa
feefl this paper on which I now write all wet with my
tears ; pardon me, my Redeemer -, and alfo grant that the
vow I now make to thee, may be religiouHy performed.
Let a thoufand dogs bark at me, a thoufand bulls of Ba-
fhan run upon me, let as many lions roar againfi; my
foul, with a view to deftroy my darling ; — I will make
no farther reply, being fufficiently defended, if only I
may find thee propitious. The time that is due to thee,
and devoted to thee, I will not fpend in trifles nor lofe
in driving away troublefome butterflies. What remain-
ing years thou mayeft, be pleafed to allow, the whole I
give, and dedicate to thee, and to thy church. In tliis
way we will be avenged on enemies!.. Convert us all.
Thou who alone can do it. Forgive us, and forgive them,
and neither to us, or them, but to thy name be glory.*

But did this produce the lead relenting in the heart of
Milton ? Far from it. — As the Pfalmifl: complained that
his humiliation and tears were turned to his (hame, and
when he wore fackcloth, he became a proverb, fo to this
adverfinry the miniftcr's devotion and tears are made mat-
ter of reproach. * All at once,* fays he, * you become
another man; from the rhetoric of the' devil you pafe
to that of Julian, faying, flcisti Mihone.* But he makes
ro account of his confession, if he would not acknow-
ledge all that he had been charged with, that he was the

X • Quicquid fuperefle volueris œvi, totum tibi, tptuni
ecclesifs tiisf?, dico, r^ddico. Sic ulcis-çamur inimicos.'

Fhl. p. 235—13«.

203

^ubllfher of the lîbtl againfl: the people of Englanc., anJ
all the relb ' You confefs many things, bewail many
things,— but all thefe we have no concern with, being
aJiogether fecret : but even thefe can hardly \K faid to be
confefsed ; — had îhisbeen done in your clofet, we might
have begun to hope well of you -, but when it is done in
the open (Ireet, it may be considered as designed for
men rather than God ; ' et quasi ultima jacentis tute
fidei publico fufpiria judiearim ;' — and I may take thefe
for the lad sighs of your expiring public faith. Thus
you would endeavour to wipe out known sins by un-
known, the clear by the hidden : you confefs the uncer-
tain and concealed, that you may with greater impu«
tjence, deny the certain and manifefl : you defcend fo-
low as to write this criminal libel againll youifelf, that
hereby you may more easily evade the true accufation of
others J.' £xit Milton.

Let the Chriflian reader judge, who has a£led the
moft culpable part, and which of the two has difcovcrcd
jnoft of the fpirit of Chriftianity.

i Page 146.

Cc 2

204

SECTION SEVENTH.

Moras receives and accepts of a call to the church of Paris— ^
Is accusedy and cited to the Walloon Synod — Declines ansiucr-.
ing to them-— Their censure of him — Proceedings in the consis"
tor y of Charenton and the Synods in Francs as to his admission
— The appeal and final judgment of his cause before the Na-
iionat Synad of Louduny in 1659.

After the public conted with Milton terminated,
Morus continued but a few years in Amftcrdnm. In
his reply, he had exprefled himfelf as pleafed with his
situation ; and whether he considered his predeceflbrs,
or colleagues in his charge, or what Milton had alone
jeferred to, the annexed falary, he thought it fufficient-
]y honourable, and rather above than below his defert.
There was no feat in the United Provinces, in his opi-
nion, more desirable than that in which he was fettled j
not becaufe elfewhcre his labours might be heavier, or
becaufe the emoluments might be much lefs, for things
of that kind, he faid, he did nor greatly mind ; but the
fplendor of the city, the love of the nobles, and above
all, the refpeft to his office, which engaged him in the
delightful and ufeful employment of unfolding and ex-
plaining the records of paft ages, attaclîtd him to Am-
flerdam.

But even after the former troublefome procefles were
ended, he was not here long allowed to tallc the fweets
of repofe. Scarce was the ftorm allayed than a new one
arofe. * The jealoufy of the Walloon Synod,' fays Sene-
bier, * involved him in a thoufand broils.* As to the pre-

cîfe origin or fubje6l of thefe, however, wc are in a greaÇ
meafure left in the dark. If they had» indeed, iheir
rife from jealoufy^ they were lefs deferving of regard ^
bur they alTumed a very fcrious, and threatening appear-,
ance againft our author, and were carried lo a great
extent. There is great reafon to think that thefe new
contentions arofe out of the embers of the old. Moras,
we have feen, had nirinv who had no good will to him -,
the former faction was itill alive, and would be waiting
for fome advantages, againft him. Tiie impudent af-
fertions and inventives contained in, the writings of Mil-
ton, induftrioudy circulated, however deftdlive in proof,
may be fuppofcd to have prcduced impressions on a
number, not in his favour : and might tend tvcn to excite
jealoufy in the minds of a majority of Ids brethren, left
the odious imputations» true or faifc, might bring difcre-
dit upon the body : and might difpofe them, if they were
not difpofed before, to majce him a facrif.ce to allay the;
wide fpread fama clamosa^ as Jonah's alîociates, did him.
to allay the temped. It is ever an unhappinefs to be
taken up in the mouth of reproaching talkers, and to be
brought under fufpicions ; it is attended with tliis dif-
agreeable effedt, that the perfon's conduct is more nar-
rowly watched, and every motion, word, or look is fub-
jedled to the mod rigorous conftruction, and every new
furmife is more readily liflened to : And who can ftand
before envy ?

But before he was publicly accufed before the Synod
in Holland, fteps had been taken in France for his tranf-
portation to Paris. The church there, one of the moft
numg^ous, and in feme refpects, the molt considerable
in that kingdom, previous lo the year 1657, had flourifli-

2o6

cJ under the joint infpe£lion of five eminent paftors, JÎ
Daille, J. Mcftrezat, Faucheur, Drelincourt, and Gâches,
all of them known to theological fcholars by their fer-
mons, or other writings. In April that year, two or
them, namely, Meftrezat and Faucheur, were carried
off within the fpace of three weeks, and application was
made immediately after for fuch as were thought fit to
fupply their place. It was at that time, that the consis-
tory gave an invitation to Morus, and fent Mr Daille and
other deputies to profecute the design to the Synod of
the Ifle of Fr<ince, that met that year at Ferte under
Jouare, though it was not till two years after that the
affair w?.s finally determined. The following year they
fcnt a deputation to Caen, to obtain Mr Du Bofc, mi-
niller there, reckoned then one of the moft eloquent
preachers of that time ; but their application, though,
powerfully inforced, and at different times afterwards
repeated, proved unfuccefsful : Du Bofc always refusing
to remove without confent of his own church, by whom
he was greatly btloved, and became ftill more fo in con-
fequence of this declaration of fleady attachment towards
them. The tranflation of minifters was, according to the
difcipllne, very properly referred to the determination of
the claffes and fynods ; but though the consiftory fome
time afterwards carried a renewed call before a provincial
fynod for Mr. Du Bofc, he declared, that though the
fynod (hould appoint his removal, if his church fhould
enter an appeal againft it to a National Synod, he would
reckon himfelf obliged to adhere to itj. But the Pari-
sians obtained, in 1658, Mr Daille, the fon, who had

■Jj. Vie du Bofc, torn, u

2Q7

hscn fettled for five years one of the mlnifters of Rochelle,
to fupply one of the vacant places.

When the deptities from Charenton prcfented the call
to Morus to the Synod of La Ferte, at which time he
was not loofed from his charge in the fchool of Amfter-
dam, it appears that fome impeachment had'heen brought
againft him, and they appoinced that a licence to depart
(hould be procured from the Curators, without requiring
of him a teftimonial from the church ; for this, and for
proceeding to judge in his caufe, when he was not un-
der their jurifdidtion, they were afterwards found fault
with in the National Synod.

The Walloon Synod that met at Tergou, in April
1659, fummoned him to attend, and anfwer to fome
complaints that had been made againft him. But though
he went to Tergou, he did not think fie to appear in
Synod j but gave the company to underftand, that hence-
forth he depended only upon the French churches with
which he had engaged himfelf. But this did not hinder
them from proceeding to a condemnatory fentence a-
gainft him. If he hoped by his declining them as judges
to efcape, as Bayle fays, he was difappointed. It cannot
be inferred from this ftep, that he either expcded or
wifhed wholly to avoid a judgment of his caufe. All
that he could reafonably propofe was to obtain a sift or
delay of judgment, by an appeal to another, and a fupe-
rior, though foreign court : no doubt, from the know-
ledge he had, or the apprehension he entertained, juft
or unjuft, that they would not altogether prove his im-
partial judges. We hear nothing of this fynod calling for
evidence of the facts, or waiting to hear what defence
he might make in any form or place, before fentence was

given ; nor can we learn what were tlie fpeclfic charges j
but tliere is reafon to think, from the terme of the fen-
tencc, as well as that afterwnrds paiïf'd at his exculpa-
tion, that fome of them might be the dying echoes of
fome of thofe that had lately been fo loudly circulanng,
or fomething of the fame kind, as well as offtjices given
fome by lu^ fpecches or writing. Perhaps irritated by the
appeal, as much as moved by other offences, they hur-
ried on, without any formal inquiry, to declare, * That
he was not to be allowed to exercife any minifterial func-
tion among them, or to communicate with them, until
he ftiould make fatisfaclion for the great offtnce he had
given f.' This fentence doubtlefs tended to give a deeper
wound to the reputation of Morus, than any thing he
had yet met with 5 and had not the whole caufe af-
terwards been brought under deliberate review, before
an aflembly the mod fit and competent to judge of it
that could any where be found, equity would require
that, in deference to the declaration of a fynod, we (hould
leave him under all the odium of it. But this having
been rather the commencement of a procefs, than any
regular termination of it, a temporary fufpension on their
part depending on a condition, and an appeal on his
part, juftice equally di:clates, that we fliould (till fufpend
our judgmenr, until the full refult be heard before the
tribunal, to which it was afterwards remitted, by the
confcnt of all parties.

In the mean time, this procedure tended greatly to

f ' La compagnie a declare que le dit A. M. etoit incapa-
ble d' exeiccr aucune fondion du Ste minillere de I'cvanglle au
milieu de nous, et d' y f.articiper a la fainte cene du Seigneur,
jufqucs a ce que par une sincere repentance de fes péchez il a't
repaie tant de fcandales qu'il nous a donnez,' Sec. Art. 27.

log

criibarrafs the caufe. The profefTor thought, in the cir-
cumdances in which he v/as placed, that their authority
and cenfure weçe null, and he did not desift on that
account, from exercising hib miniflry as formerly, ac-
cording as he had a call. In France there w;as no prac-
tical regard paid to the fentence : the churjth of Charen- ' "
ton ftill eagerly persifted in demanding his admission
among them : although, as might have been expefted,
a party appeared there, and in other places, opposing
his admission ; at leaft till he had been regularly cleared.
The provincial Synod convened at Ai, in Champagne,
on the very month following that of Tergou, M.iy 8th
1659 ; to which Mr Daille and other deputies were
again font, to insid upon his being admitted among them.
This Synod were not ignorant of what had been done
at Tergou ; and they queftioned the competency of that
Synod to judge in that caufe ; and fome fevere fpeeches
were made reflecliing on their procedure and the judg-
ment they had given ; nor did they think it proper that
MrMorus fliould be remitted back to anfwer to them, as
he was willing to have done, if it were reckoned needful :
And notwithftanding the opposition made, the Synod
enjoined the admission of Morus to be carried into eflecl.
Againfl: this appointment an appeal was made to the
National Synod, that was to meet in the end of that
year, by two members. Elders in the consistory. Not-
withftanding which, the consistory proceeded to admis-
sion according to the order of the Synod,

The diflention ran high between the two parties at
Charenton When the consistory proceeded to the ad-
mission, Meflrs. Papillon, and Beauchamp, advocates in
parliament, and Elders in ihat church, the fame who had
Dd

2IO

appealed from the fente^icc of the Syrtod of Ai, entered
an appeal from the refolution of the consiftory, for fixuig
Morus in the charge, notwithflanding their appeal, and
for refusing to give him leave, which he had demanded,
to return into Holland, according to his promife, there
to jufiify himfelf from tlie imputations laid upon him.
But inflesd of regarding this opposition and appeal, the
consiftory inflicled cenfure on thefe gentlemen on that
account. They alfo difpatched letters to Holland, to
advertifii the Walloon fynod of what had been done i
another fynod had been convened there, in September
the fame year, at Nimeguen ; when the letter intimating
Morus's admission to the church of Paris, accompanied
with the afl of the fynod of Ai, in May, ratifying it,
were laid before them. That fynod, however, without
farther proceeding in the caufe, thought proper to de-
clare, * that they judged the company in the former
fynod had fuflîcLent reafon for pronouncing that fentence
contained in the 27th article, which they approved and
ratified anew.'

As the Walloon fynods had an independent jurif-
di£lion within their own territories, they might be jea-
lous of any encroachment upon it, as the proceedings in
France might appear to be, on which account they might
thii)k it needful exprcfsly to approve and confirm in this
meeting, what had been done in the laft at Tergôu.
'J'he procedure on both sides had a tendency to mar the
friendly correfpondence and communion that fubsifted
l)etv/een thofc churclies : but as a National Synod was
to convene in France, by permission of the king, within
two months, and the Synod of Nimeguen, underftand-
ing th.it the afiair of INIorus would come before it by the

211

appeal from Paris, they made an addition to their aâ:,
which is of importance in the caufe, though Bayle has
omitted to mention it : — They agreed * to remit tlic
whole Caufe unto the prudence, difcretion, and charity
of the National Aflembly of tlie French churches to meet
at Loudun, and to do in it what it fhould coficeive would
mod contribute to the glory of God, the advancement
of the kingdom of Chrill, and the preferving that lioly
correfpondence, which had always been betwixt the re-
formed churches of France, and tiiofe of the United Pro-
vinces.* And this a(Sl was tranfmitted (together with
all other papers that they thought ncceflary for calling
light upon the caufe, and for their own vindication) to
that fynod when it met, and was read in their prcfence,
before they proceeded to judgment upon it.

This acl was very expedient, conducive to peace, and
while it was no resignation of their own particular rights,
was confonant to the fpirit and general rules of the eccle-
siaftical difcipiine and presbyterial government. 'Ine
common bond fubsiRing between tlie feveral parts of the
Chriftian church, and general edification, require that
sifter churches, whether confticutcd on the congre-
gational or classical pl.m of government, though acknow-
ledging no direct fubordination, fliouJd.be ready to give
account of their procedure for the fatisfadion of one an-
other, efpecially in matters of common concern, and wlien
differences and offences intervene. Besides, it is aKvays
desirable, and the presbyterial form of government pro-
vides for it in the best possible manner, that churches
on a /.«;-, and when they are parties, fhould have fome
common authority to which tliey may refer their dif-
ferences, and when thefe cannot be terminated ui meet-
Dd 2

212

jngs or courts consisting of a fmall number, that the
more extensive judgment of the church by her rulers,
ought to be fought, and acquisfced in, unltfs there be
valid reafons for the contrary. Though particular orga-
nized churches are obliged to hold a more immediate and
Striker fellowfiiip, for better gaining all th: more ordi-
nary ends of unior.jand tho' they are of necessity, as well
as for the fake of conveniency, restri£led within defined
limits, narrower or larger, according to circumstances j
yet as the church is one, of which all the particular
churches are but members, and eithv^r have, or ouglit to.
have the fame faith, worfliip, and great rules of difcipline,
iheir external communion and co-operation, overleaping
all thefe narrower limits, ought to be as extensive as
pradlicable, and as the common good, and particular
cafes, may demand. A variety of caufes has hindered
this extensive co-operation j particularly the confound-
ing or combining together too much the ideas of civil
and ccclesiaflical polity, and the little jealousies of prin-
ces for their prerogatives and independence ; which re-
markably appeared in France, producing not only edi^s
prohibiting divines from assisting at fynods without the
kingdom, and forbidding the admission of any not natives,
or educated wltliin it, to offices, but even rellraining tlic
National AflTemblies ol the F/ench churches from their Ji-
berty of meeting, as often as needful. And this had been
]ong the cafe before the indiding the Synod of Loudun.
For 15 years before they had been allowed none, th.ough
often requefted. In the long interval, grievances had ac-
cumulated, and many appeals from provincial fynods had
been lying over. All were glad at obtaining the much de-
sired opportunity ; and the variety of-businefs that came

213

tefore them, occupied them for two months. And this
fynod was memorable on another account : it was ihe
laft the proteftants there ever enjoyed.

Refpeclable as the. Walloon fynods were>they were not
to be compared with an aflembly consisting of t]\e deputies
of all the churches, throughout that extensive kingdom :
they were but on a level with one of the provincial fy-
nods tiicre, and by this voluntary reference they gave op-
portunity for all parties who had intereftin the caufe, to
be heard before a judic.itory, which all by their principles
pillowed to be higher in tlit; fcale of government, and
in which the members might be fuppofed Ids liable to
be influenced by the local prejudices, or peifonal animo-
sities, which had becft prevailing for a long time in Hol-
land : the contideralion of wliich, as well as that any {{.n-
tence which might have been p.Tfied by a fynod there after
trial, would have been reckoned final, precluding the li-
berty of appeal, probably were the chief inducements
with Morus for declining to appear.

The party in opposition at Paris were indufiriou?,
before tlie meeting, to obtain al! the information and
papers from Ilolijnd, or any other quarter, relating to
the condu(ft of Morus, which they tlicught might juf-
tify their appeal. Several minifters in France alfo took
part with them, and were prepared by the corrcfpon-
dcnce they held, to join in the attack upon him. Nor
were Milton's wilhes or good offices for his being ex-
pelled with difgrace, yet wanting, and his former la-
bours, no doubt, had not been altogether without their
effe£l in raising or increasing the viole'ucs of the florm.
We learn from one of his letters, that fome copies of
his Defences had been fent to Saumur, and were re-

214

lifhed by fome there. And what eager hopes he ex-
preflcd ui feeing his wiflies gratified at the meeting of
the Synod of Loudun, we have already heard, that by
fuch an a£l they might be an exception to all other
fynods in doing fome good, as to which his faith was
not greater than that of Nazienzen.

The ambiguous manner in which the author of the
Hiftorical and Critical Didtionary fpeaks of the proce-
dure in this caufe, and the determination of it in this
venerable fynod, again deferves animadversion. ' In
the church of Paris,' fays he, * there ti^ere a great many
who wiflied to fee Mr Morus ; there was alfo a great
number who oppofed hun, and who prefented them-
felves before fome provincial fynods, and afterwards to
the national fynod of Loudun, laden with whole bags full
papers againft him. All their accufations were eluded
or found void : for he was received minifter of the church
of Paris.' This is too vague an account, and leaves the
matter in an unneceflary degree of uncertainty. There
is a very great difference furely between charges being
eluded, and being upon a fair trial, found void : and if
they were merely eluded, either by the party accufed, or
by judges partial, artful, or over-awed, he could not be
faid ever to have been honourably cleared from them.
But if it was otherwife, after a full difcussion, this ought
to have been fairly ftaled. It is needful therefore to en-
quht a little, which of thefe two wag the cafe ; as neither
Mr Bayle, nor Mr Benoit, in his hiftory of/ the Edidl; of
Nantes, whom he quotes, have given, on this eflential
part of the caufe, fuch a fatisfadlory account as in juflice
they ought to have done.

Even without the dire£l evidence of authentic records,

215

the nature of the caufe, and ftate of parties, as abovô
rcprefented, afford a ftrong prefumptive evidence that
the charges neither were, nor could well be eluded^ by
aroiding inquiry, or withholding needful information.
It was not in the power, nor does it appear to have been
the wifli, of the accufed, to have done it.,. When the
fama had been fo widely fpread, and already brought
before different fynods, it was neither consilient with
the fettled and ftritl rules of their difcipline, nor with
their own credit or that of the caufe of proteftantifm,
that the national fynod (hould have eluded inquiry, or
raflily eflablifhed one in fuch a public office, and in
fuch a confpicuous ftation, without due care to have
him ptevioufly cleared, by a regular judgment, from
criminal charges. The eyes of the churches, — of vigi-
lant enemies, ever feeking a pretext to accufe, — the eyes
of all claffes of men, and of the whole world, were upon
them. To have eluded, or flightly looked into the charges,
and what was advanced in fupport of them in order to
found a judgment, was hardly possible, considering how
many had intereft, and were now parties in the caufe, and
with what heat it was profecuted on both sides; efpecially,
as thofe who were at the head of the opposition were not
deflitute of ability or skill to manage it, nor unacquaint-
ed with legal forms of procedure ; and we were juft told
that they had fpared no pains to collecl and amafs papers
from all quarters. It was peculiarly their part to fee that
juRice fhould not be evaded.

But was free difcussion and judgment precluded by
the interposition of the royal authority ? So the authors
above referred to, feem to insinuate. Was the king,
too, in a confederacy with the friends of Morus, to fcreen

2l6

him from ccufure ? The klnçr had no vote in the eccle-
siaftical afl^niblies of the proten.ants : niuch lefs had he
power to controul their decisions in caiifes ecclesiaflical.
His encroach^tients, indeed, were unqueftionable and
frequent: hut what appeared at this time, were in con-
fequence of general views and edi£ls, and not designed
to ferve a purpofe, or a parry, in this particular caufe :
but whatever was the design of the court, the fynod af-
ferted and exercifed ics own rights ; and not without ef-
fect in this caufe. If a free judgment was prevented,
it mud have been either by the prohibition of foreign
correfpondence, or of remitting any "oï" the fubjedls of
France to be judged by any foreign authority. But whe-
ther in confequence of any of thefe, the full inveftiga-
tion or free judgment of the National Synod washindred,
or juflice evaded^ will bed appear from a ftateraent of
fa(fls.

The policy of the French court had, before this time,
made it take feveral fleps in order to weaken the power
of tlie protedant party, particularly by difcharging all
mixed aflembles, or meetings of deputies from provinces
for confultiug about their common interetl and dangers,
or even circular letters to pafs between them, as had at a
former period been in ufe : it Rrove alfo, fo far as in its
power, to break the common ecclesiallical union between
the reformed churches without and thofe within the
kingdom of France, by refusing to admit any deputies
from otiiei churches to sit in tlie French fynods, or any to
be fent to assift as correfpondents with them, which had
alfo for fome time been allowed. The four delegates
that had been appointed to the aflembly of Dort, were
ilopt by the king's order when fetting out or on their way.

il 7

excessive fear ever haunts the palaces of tyrants : and
jealoufy like the Hefpcrian dragon mud ever guard
their thrones, againtl even the mod diftant and often
fancied dangers/ This was at lail carried fo far as to
prohibit the fynods from free correfpondence by letters,
or fending any young men to dud y in foreign universities,
even in ftaies that were in friendfliip and alliance with
France ; efpecially thofe in which they might breathe
the air of liberty, which, if possible, was dreaded ftill
more than herefy. Left the effluvia of this, as a moft
deadly plague, fhould be imported and fpread thoughout
the kingdom, every avenue was to be (hut, every port
gunrded, with no lefs precaution than that which is ufed
ngainft the acimission of any part of the cargo of a veflel
arriving from one of the moft infefted places of the Le-
vant, when not one of the pafTengers muft be permitted
to fet a foot on (hore without fubmitting to quarantine,
nor a letter taken from any of the crew but by the medi-
um of iron tongs, nor read, nor any bale opened, until
duely fmoked. The modern defpot is not more intent
upon hindering all communication with Britain, and to
exclude from every port Britifti manufa£lures, than Lewis
and the crafty. Mazarine were, at that jundlure, to cut
off even ecclesiaftical and literary intercourfe with neigh-
bouring proteftant churches. Such, it is granted, was
the ftate of things at the time of the convocation of the
iynod of Loudun; which fat down Nov. loth, 1659.

Loudun is a town in the province of Anjou. After
Mr Defloges, paftor of the church there, had opened
the fynod by prayer, the Lord of Ruvigny, who had been
appointed General Deputy of the churches, {though for-
n^rly the deputy was clefted by them,) but recommend-
Ec

2l8

ed fo tîie fynod and approved by it, prefentect his majef-
ty's writ for Calling it, under tne ufual reftriftions, that
no other alTairs fliould h-:: debated in it, than thofe war-
ranted by the ediâis, and in prefence of the commission-
er appointed by the kinjT, as had always been praflifed*
After wliich the letters of commission from 15 provinces
were given in by the deputies, who were two pallors,
for the mod part, from each ; and as many gentlemen in
the chara£lcr of elders, among whom were feveral lords,
and advocates, fome jud;,j;es and doctors of civil law.
When the votes were taken for the moderator, Mr Daillc
was chofen, and Mr de L'Angle for affefTor. The royal
commissioner to this aflembly, was the Lord de Magda-
laine, counfcUor in the parliament of Paris ; who had
profeiTed the protefhant religion from his infancy, and
was now in advanced years : whom the moderator, in
reply to his fpeech, complimented, as one * who for piety
and integrity, for faith and virtue, was renowned not only
in tlieir churches, but in t)ie world itfelf.' After he had
delivered the letters patent, he made a long fpeech, and
declared the in{lru6lions he had received, feveral of
which were only a renewal of thofe given to fome for-
mer fynods, and particularly the lafl; at Charenton, in
164). Among others, he was ordered, —

To forbid them to (reat on any account of any fecular
or ft, ite- mailers, or of juftice directly cr indirecllv, but
only of church difcipline and of rt formaticm of manners :
—To forbid their reception of foreigners into the minif-
try among them, or their admission intb their fynod?,
or that they fliould fo much as fpeak of their matters and
rcfloration, v/ho had been tjocfled out of their churches,
by virtue of tl.e decrees of parliament, and of his majcf-
ty's letters. —

* And to prevent that aycTùion to monarchy, which is

219

contracted by tliem wlia»tollow their {ladies in forcigrt
ftates and common- wealtlis, inch as Geneva, Switzer-
land, England, ^and Holland, tlicre fhall be a canon ex-
prfhly made to tliis purpofe, and obferved, that fiich
pcrfons as have lludied in any foreign universities, and
ofl'ii themlclves to bt ordained, fliall not at all be admit-
ted.

And it is his majedy's will, that no letters fliall be read
in open aflembly, tdl tlicy have iirlt been communicated
to nie, and tliat I Jiave been acquainted with their con-
tents, and that I fuffer none to be read, which coi7ie
from any foreigner.'

* I received very lately,' he ad.ied, * in my letters, ?.a
exprefs and particular order. There is an abufc com-
mitted by the provinces, in fending and communicating
by their deputies letters from ftrangtrs. 1 his his ma-
jefty declares to be contrary to his edicts, and prejudicial
to the public peace and his own fervice. Wiierefore I
am commanded to be very careful, that none other mat-
ters be dcbatfd but fuch as ought of riglit to be fo by all
the deputies of the pi evinces of th.h Ivmgdoni, and thofe
matters only which concern the provinces ; and that you
neither receive any letters from, nor hold any correlpon-
dence vviih /hangers in any way or manner', or ior any
caufe or busincfs whatfocvcr, and you mult be Itridlly
forbidden to receive any writings of'what quality focver
coming from foreign countries, not under his Ui.^jcdy's
jurifdidion, nor may any one dare, durnig tliC anting
of this fynod, to publilh or fprcad them abro,.d, in tins
town of Loudun. And in cale fuch a tiling ihculd hap-
pen, and fuch papers be found, I am enjoined ur-mcdi-
ately to fupprefs tl.cm, and to proceed rigoroufiy agamit
fuch as vend or dillnbute them.'

To the fpeech of the commissioner, the moderator
returned a refpeclful and appropriate anhver i and after
the aficmbly had deliberated upon the fcvcrai articles of
inilructiont, he, in their name, declared, ' that they never
had deliberated upon «ny niattcrs but fuch as were purely
ecclesiaRical, nor would allow it;— that though his mu.
jelly's predeceilbrs had allowed foreigners to be chofen
pallors in their churches, who had always deported
disjsjieives as dutifully as native fubjtds, yet uacc tne pju-
£ e 2

220

hibîtîon by the late king, they bad forborn to làâmh
them, and they had petitioned that a dil'tiinction (iioild
be made between thofe who were wholly ftrapij r«, a^-d
the fons of ftrangers, born in the kingdom, whom tl-.e
parliaments in all qucllions about inhiritancts and i'uc-
cession, and other privileges, had equalized with o;l er
fubje6ls ; and thougli fome of them had been educ.;r( i
in commonwealths, yet their religion t.Tught them tc nvj-
mit thcmfelves wiih all reverence to ihc luperio? p.)wtrs
under all forms of government.

* As for letters which may be fent by ftrangers ;o this
aflembly, although there is rone of our reJ..gion,' iif- l-iid,
* in any nation, that folicit us to a£l toncrary to our
duty ; we cannot but acknowledge that in fome ri;fpe6ti,.
as for public order's fake, the lords cornmis-sicncrs may
receive and difpofe of rhem according to his jrajelly's
"will ; but yet as to matters concernmg cur religi(ii, ve
hope that his majefty will fufP=r us to hoid co.T.munion
and correfpondence with our brethren. For oiler let-
ters coming from his majefty's fubjetls to this viirembly,,
relating to ccclesiaftical matters, we doubt not but that
he will allow us to receive thofe letters and nien:)oirs
^vhich contain their information and inft.ru(flions to us.*
He farther reprefented, that their churches had formerly
been allowed to hold correipondence with their neigh-
bours in matters concerning their religion and difcipline,
and as occasion offered, to fend deputies to them ; and
that their correfpondence with G*:neva, &c. had never
afforded reafon for compbint, nor proved in the leaft
prejudical to the royal authority ; nor would it, fliculd
the fame liberty be granted them, together with licence
for their ftudcnts to visit foreign universities, which
they humbly requefted.

As for letters or writings from foreign parts, he faid,
they would not receive or perufe any of thtm, withouc
the approbation ot his majedy's commissioner.*

None of thefe inftru£lions were given, nor refolu-
tions made, with any view to defeat or weaken the
profecution againll Morus. In the former national fy-
nod, letters had been received from the profcffors of

221

Geneva, and Leyden, and from Dlodatl, with reference
to his version of the bible, which were not opened, until
they had been firft deUvered into the hands of the com-
missioner, who was pleafed to permit the reading of them
in the fynod, but. at the fame time, intimated, that it
was his majefty's will they (liould not return^ny anfwers
to them. Inaead of obftruQing a free examination of
this affair, the commissioner departed from the ilria
rigour of his inRruaions as to the perufal of letters and
papers, from abroad, in order that it might be fully be-
fore them. A committee being appointed to infped all
papers, and prepare the caufe for the afTembly, tlie com-
missioner found writings communlcatedy to it by the ap-
pellants, which had been tranfmltied from Holland, in
defence of the proceedings of the fynods there, which,
^fter perufal, he left with the committee, without detain-
ing one of them in his hands, that they might be able to
make a report of the whole matter : and when the caufe
came to the a public hearing in fynod, he declared, that
he had, in that inftance, exceeded his commission, and
that the delegates had alfo full liberty to perufe thefe
papers and evidences as they thought meet, and freely
to judge of it, according to the difcipline and the edias ;
but that they fliould not fubjea themfelves to any foreign
juiifdiaion, nor fend Morus, who was the king's fubjea,
out of the kingdom, to be tried and judged.

The fynod considering themfelves as having rightful
authority to take cognizance of this whole aflair, and in
fo far confirmed the judgment of the inferior courts,
which had reckoned It improper that Mr Mcrus fliould
be remitted to Holland ; and agalnft this, there could
now be no reafonable objeaion, since the fynod there

222

had confented to a reference of it, and had, no doubt,
tranfmitted whatever was in their possession to vindicate
their cenfure. All papers were read ; the appellants, and
all parties were heard -, Morus was allowed to make his
own defence, which he did at 5 or 6 sittings ; after which
the caufe was freely debated, on both sides, and thre«
days fpent upon it, before the court gave judgment.

The following abftraft of the proceedings and fentencc
of the Synod, is given in the words of their own minutes,
as recorded by Qu_ick :^

* My lord, his majefty's commissioner, before the com-
mitte appointed for the affair of Monsieur Morus had
begun to debate it, and bring in their opinion upon it,
declared unto the afTcmbly, that before ever this bubinefs
was pleaded, he had permitted both patties to produce
all evidences that they fhould fee fitting and needful for
them ; and having since found in the hands of the faid
commitee writings, papers, and copies which were pro-
duced by the Sieur Papillon, and which the faid commis-
sioner took notice of having been tranfmitted from Hol-
land in defence of the fynods held at Tergow and Nime-
guen againfl Mr Morus, which faid writings and letters
he the faid lord comnàssioner had left with the commit-
tee, that they migbt be the better enabled to mske a re-
port of the whole matter, without ever detainirg any of
thtm in his hands, alihough he had order from, bis ma-
jefty to fupprefs all letters that were fent from Holland,
or irom foreign parts without the kingdom; and that he
fliould not fuffcr them to be divulged or fold in this city
of Loudun -, and this he did, that neither the parties con-
cerned, nor the fynod itfelf ibould complain, that with-
out thofe papers, pieces, and writings, they could not
come to a perfedt knowledge of the bottom of this af^
fair, and to judge aright of it. In purfuance hereof,
for thefe considerations, before mentioned, the faid lord
commissioner declared, that he did now alfo give full
liberty to all the deputies who were in this fynod judges
of this matter, to perufe thofe aforefaid papers and cvi-

213

fences as they Ihould think meet, and give judgment ac»
ording to the privileges granted by his majefty to his fub-
jedts of the reformed religion by the edi£ls, and according
to the difcipline received in our churches, and approved
in France by the laws and cuftorns of the kingdom ; but
without allowing them to fubjecl themfelves to any fo-
reign authority, jurifdidlions, or judgments -, or to fend
Monsieur Morus unto any other judges than jLhofe of his
faid kingdom to be tried by them, and to undergo their
judicial fentence, this being prejudicial to his majefty's
authority, to his ordinances and edifts, as alfo to the
weal, and rights, and priviledges of his fubjedls. All
which it was his lordfhip's pleafure ihould be inferted
into the a£l: containing the judgment of this national fy-
nod upon this affair.

The Sieur Papillon, advocate, in parliament, and elder
in the church of Paris, being admitted to produce his
arguments in defence of thofe appeals brought both in
his own name, and in that of Monsieur Beauchamp, an
advocate and elder alfo in the fame church, from the
judgments given in the fynod of the Isle of France *,
held at Ai, in May laft of this year now current, 1659,
(by which Monsieur Morus was conferred upon the
church of Paris, to be their minifler,) and from thofe
members of the consiftory of that church, who had or-
dained the faid Mr Morus, to be confirmed in it, not-
withftanding their appeal, and for refusing to give him
leave, which he had demanded, to pafs into Holland ac-
cording to hir, promife, there to juftify himfelf from thofe
imputations laid upon him ; and for that they cenfured
him the faid Papillon, for appealing from them : he
was heard in this aflembly, and the alTembly took notice
of what he urged on behalf of his appeal, and heard him
patiently in whatever he had to ofl'cr againft thofe judg-
ments aforefaid. And alfo Monsieur Morus was heard
defend himfelf, and explaining matters relating to him,
as were the deputies of the province of the Isle of France,
and thofe of the consiftory of the church of Paris, iti
defence of their judgment, and in their demand of the

* The Ifle of France is the name of the province in which
Paris is situated.

i24

minirtry of the faid Monsieur Moms. And tfiere wâ9
heard the report made by the conrnittee apnoinied for
a more exaâ: reiding and verification of all papers ?.nd
writinjTs, and what jud<j;ment had been pall on the ftxcufrrij
and denial) of both sides ; the examination of this im-
portant businefs, nle up feveral days- This aflemSly hav-
ing rit;htful authority to judge herein, (and the rather
for that tlie fynod of Nimeguen, whofe a-t was now
read, had remitted the whole unto the prudence, difcre-
tion, and charity of this aff^mbly, to do in it what it
fhould conceive would mod contribute to the glory of
God, the advancement of the kingdom of Chrift, and
the upholding of that holy correfpondence, which hath
been betwixt the teformed churches of France, and thofe
of the United Provinces,) did take and retain the cogni-
zance of this afFlur unto itfelf ; and declared, that it found
no caufe obliging it to condemn the faid Sieur Morus,
nor to blafl. the reputation of his perfon or miniftry ; but
on the contrary, that it had fufhcient reafons to difmifs
him, juftified from all thofe grievous flanders and ac-
cufations which were brought into this afltmbly againft
him. Wherefore it dcclareth him innocent of thofe
crimes whieh were impofed on him ; and having perufed
thofe advantagious teftimonials given him by the magif-
trates, paftors, and profeflbrs of divinity in the city of
■Geneva by the paftors and profeflbrs of divinity in the
city of Middlf.burgh, by the burgomafters and curators
of the city and illuftrious fchool of Amfterdam, and by
divers paftors, and fundry other private perfons, whofe
names and probity are celehrious, and well known to
this nffembly ; and considering the great edification- which
the church of Paris received from his miniflry, and thtir
vehement desires urged with the greateft importunity
that he may be continued to them, this aflembly doth efta-
blifti and confirm him in the faid church todifchargt the
office, and perform the duties of an ordinary paftor in
it. And making rcfledlions upon what had been tranf-

+ There are different places hearing the name of Ferte in
France. This feems to be the fame with Ferte under Jouare,
mentioned before, a city in Ic 13iie Champeuoife, on the river
Marne.

225

i£led în the fynods of La Ferte au Col f , and d'Aï, and
in the consistory of the church of Paris, on occasion of
the faid Monsieur Morus, it cenfureth that fynod of La
Ferte, for having judged the faid Monsieur Morus, when
he belonged not unto them, nor was under their jurifdic-
lion, and only becaufe an impeachment againft him had
been brought before them, and that they n'^ver exa£led
of him in order to his induction into the church of Paris,
but a simple licence of departure from the curators of the
illuftrious fchool of Amfterdam, without making men-
tion of his teftimonial from the church. And the fynod o£
Ai is cenfured for afluming to themfelves a power of judg-
ing the competency or incompetency of the fynod of Ter-
gou, over which they had no authority ; and that in
fpeaking of that fynod, they ufed very unbecoming ex-
pressions, and refledled unhandfomely upon their judg-
ment, and confirming the cenfures iflued out by the faid
fynod of La Ferte againft the consistory of the church
of Paris, it doth ordain that the canons of our difcipline
about the election and confirmation of paftors {hall be
obferved with greater exaQnefs than hath been done in
this call given unto, and reception of Monsieur Morus
by tlie church of Paris. And as for the Sieur Papillon,
the aflembly hath taken off the cenfure inflided on him
by the consiftory of the church of Paris, and do fully ac-
quit him from it $ and declareth that there was no reafon
for denouncing any cenfure againft Monsieur Beauchamp.
And after grave and ferions counfels and admonitions
given unto Monsieur Morus, about his converfation,
which was not managed with that circumfpeâ:ion as was
requisite, and advice unto him to be more careful for the
future, that the mouth of calumny which hath been wide
and loud opened againft him may be ftopped, he was
injoined more particularly ro look to it, that he offended
no man by his words or writings, and that he labour to
the utmoft of his power to preferve peace, and to calm
and reconcile the fpirits of men of all perfuasions to him-
ielf, and to regain their love and amity from whom he
is departed.'

The following explanatory a£l was afterwards added;
— * It being reprefented unto this affembly, that their a£t
made about Mr Morus, has been by fomc perfon misiu

Ff

226

terpred ; and tliat therefore they would be pleafed to eX-*
plain their fenfe and intentions of it. This alTembly
did explain itfclf thus ; that by thofe grievous crimes and
accufations, whereof there ia mention made in their a£l,
they underflood all matters whatfoever relating to the
purity of life and converfation of the faid Monsieur Mo-
rus, of all which he was abfolutely judged innocents
And as to thofe other points whereof he was impeached,
as fome fliarp words fpoken or written againfl: his bre-
thren, the afTembly declarcth, that the remonftrances
and couiifels were given him upon this account ; and
which having been accepted by him, he was alfo in this
refpedl abfolved and difcharged.*

The author of the Hiftory of the Edifl, after mention-
ing that the king's commiflary, * did not oppofc the read-
ing the informations fent from Holland againft Morus,
but even agreed that in examining them, the tenor of
thcfe a£ls fliould be kept to ; and he caufed to be infert-
ed in the fentence of the fynod a kind of proteftation,
importing that judgment (hould be given according to
the laws of difcipline, and the cufloms of the kingdom,
without fubmitting the caufe to any foreign jurifdi£tion
or judgment,' fays, * by this means it was rather the
commiflary than the fynod that judged of the affair, be-
caufe, as the procefs was not prepared where the accu-
fation arofe, and the commiflary's protefl made it im-
praticable to fend back Mr Morus to juflify himfelf
there, they could not procure informations fufficient to
convi£l him. lie was therefore abfolved ; and confirm-
ed in the vocation that had been addrefled him |.' But
was there reafon for fpeaking fo ? Was there any undue
reflraint laid upon the fynod in their inquiry ? And were
they not fuflained as the proper, the fole, and the fupreme

■\: Tom. iii. 1. 5. p. 115.

227

judges in the caufe ? The proteftation was but a matter
of courfe ; and did not oblige them to adopt any meafure
that they were notj>iof their own accord, difpofed to, and
upon other considerations did approve. No good end could
have been gained by remitting Morus to Holland ; nor
does it appear that any farther evidence coulé have been
adduced there, but what had been coliedled during the
dependence of the caufe, and was now before the national
fynod ; besides, Morus had been for fome time connected
with the French churches, and was under their immediate
jurifdiiflion. It is not always praticable that accufatioiis
iliould be tried, and determined, in the places where they
originated ; efpecially where there is an extensive jurif-
ditlion, and where appeals are carried before higlier
courts : nor is this eflcntial to a fair examination and
judgment. Written evidence, the documents and pro-
ceedings of inferior courts, and accefs for parties to be
heard by papers, agents, or proxies j are, in many cafes,
reckoned fufficient to proceed upon in judgment, both in
civil and ecclesiaftical courts. Do not the courts of lait
refort in every kingdom, reckon themfelves competent
to determine appeals brought before them, frqm the nioft
diftant parts, without calling ior parok evidence, and in-
ftituting a judicial inquiry into every particular de uq^o ?
Are not caufes brought before the courts or councils of
the imperial kingdoms of Europe, who have remote de-
pendencies, and determined by them, from all parts of
the world, Asia, Africa, or America, without remitting
them back to the places whence they originated ?

But besides the informations that had been fent up by
the Walloon fynods, or brought by any of the parties, to
the fynod of Loudun, other methods had been taken by
Ff :;

226

the civil authorities, about the time of its meeting, in
order to procure the fulled account of what had been
tranfaûed in this affair, in Holland. Monf. de Thou,
who was at that time the French ambaflador at the
Hague, whether in confequence of any application from
the consiftory of Paris, or any of the French fynods to
the king, is not faid, intereftcd himfelf in favour of Mo-
rus. He prefented a large memorial to the States Ge-
neral, upon the fubje£l: ; and they, by an zd: of April
the 6th, 1660, which was communicated to the fynodof
Haerlem, ordered that they lliouid give, them an ac-
count of their proceedings in that affair. The fynod
deputed three paflors and two elders to the States Ge-
neral, to give them the information they demanded. * I
believe,' fays Bayle, * they were fatisfied with it, and
made no further inquiï^.' But the national fynod ia
France by this time was over : it rofe on the loth of Jan.
"3660. Though the affair in this manner was termi-
nated for the prefcnt, favourable in the main articles to
Morus, there is fome reafon to fufpeft that it was flill
covertly kept alive by fome of the adverfe party, and
it might be the fame revived, that fo foon after gave fuch
trouble to the minifter, and to the whole church of Pa«.
lis, as in a little we will have occasion to notice.

No decision however well-founded and impartial, in
fuch circumflances, can be fuppofed to have been plea-
sing to all ; nor could a ferment that had rifen fo high
among jarring parties, be foon altogether allayed. What
ISlr Benoit, has farther obferved, may be very jufl ; * It
would be hard to fay whether that vocation did more
good or ill, becaufe it occasioned fo great a division in
the consiftory, and in the church, that the one party

229

called that edification which the other narr.ed fcandal :
there appeared great want of moderation on the one side,
and great fufpicion of partiaHty on the other *, too much
fineffe to deRroy Morus, and too much violence to fup-
port him.* This is but too often fcen, when party con-
tefta prevaili But the equity of a decision i5^„not to be
judged by the eficclis that may follow : when there is
danger of offence on both side?, the kail possible is to
be given, and the edification of the greater part to be
ftudied. But it may be admitted as a rulf, in reference
to this part of church-policy, which experience and the
hiftory of churches fanciion, that when there is a large
minority of the people in a congregation, much more
when there is a majority, againfl: the admission of a mi.
nifter among them, the fcttlcment of him by authority
feldom turns out for comfort and editlcation.

"When the fame author adds immediately after, * that
a provincial fynod of the province of Berri determined
the affair, by the king's permission ; and that this fynod
was charged with having been fomewhat partial in favour
of the accufed, and having taken too much plcafure in
mortifying a consistory fo celebrated as that of Charenton,
which for the merit and capacity of its members, was at
that time, as it were, the oracle of all the churches * i* he
muft here be confounding two proctiTcs diftin£t from
each other, and different in time, and anticipating im-
properly the decision of the laft of them ; or elfe he con-
sidered the two as materially tlie fame, and the great di-
vision that afterwards arofe at Cliarentori, as owing to
the former caufe, and flowing from the old animosity.

* Ut Supra i ann, 1659.

But in this procefs before the national fynod, the consi-
tory of Charenton gained their main objeû, and were
on the side of Morus ; in the latter, it was otherwife -,
and the determination of it by the fynod of Berri, did
not take place till the year 1 664.

In one of the letters of Mr Chevreau, author of a Hif-
of the World and other works, to Faber, at Saumur,
he mentions the affair of Morus as being at tliat time
before the fynod of Loudun ; and fays, * your minifler
has preached here }' and after a remark upon his man-
ner of preaching, formerly noticed, he adds, * the national
fynod is drawing to a clofe, and Morus will be avenged in
it of all his enemies, by the aid of Mr Daille, who is his
patron, and who will only need to fpeak to reduce them
to silence. Madam de la Tremouille fupports his caufe
with all her credit. See then Mr Morus out of court,
and free from his procefs |,' This lecter is dated from
Loudun, the 13th of Auguft, 1661. But there muft
certainly be a miftake in the date of the letter as printed,
feeing the national fynod ended in the fpring of the pre-
ceding year ; and there was no other national fynod held
in that place afterwards, nor in any other city : nor can
we fuppofe that this refers to the new procefs, which had
its commencement within two years after his fettlement
at Paris, for that was not brought before either a national
or provincial fynod at Loudun, nor was Daille in it ap-
pearing as his patron, nor was he there acquitted from
it, nor for a long time after. But under.the firft, as he
continued to preach, he probably had been appointed to
do fo before the national fynod rofe.

+ * Les Synode National eft fur fa fin, et Morus y fera
vange de fes encmjs,' &c. Ouvrés Mekes, torn, i. p. 60, 61.

»3*

The duchefs de la Tremoullle was allied by marriage
to one of the moft honourable families in France, de-
scended, by her father, from the illuftrious houfe o£
Bouillon, and by hfer mother, from William I. prince of
Orange. She was highly refpefled, and had great in-
fluence among the proteftants. Several of the fermons
and other writings of piety, by their moft eminent di-
vines in that period, were dedicated to her. Du Bofc, in
one addrefled to her, fays, « All France was acquainted
with the greatnefs of her foul, and the remarkable en«
dowments of her mind : — and that he muft be a ftranger
in the church of God who had not heard a tlioufand times
the panegyric of her Ihining virtues.*

Mr Daille, for his a£live appearances in behalf of
Morus, was foon after expofed, along with him, to the
reproach of fome envenomed pens of the Romifli party,
particularly of Mr Cottiby and F. Adams. But in order
to judge what account ought to be made of accufations
on one hand, or of praifes on the other, it is often of
confequence to know from what quarter they come, and
what is the character and ftate of mind of thofe who
vent -them. This Cottiby was the fon of a refpedlablc
minifter among the reformed, had himfelf officiated as
one of the minifters of Poitiers ; and was a deputy in
that national fynod, in which the affair of Morus was dif-
cufled. But like another Judas among the difciples, tho*
he had already formed the design of facrificing his reli-
gion to his worldly purpofes, he yet thought proper for
a little to keep on the mask, and waited only for an op-
portunity to publifh his apoftacy. A national faft had
. been enjoined by that fynod throughout their churches :
he went home, and chofe the faft day as the fitteft time

231

to declare himfeif before his. people, a profelyte to Rome ;
and declaimed agaiiill the fynod and his brethren. He
ran greedily, like Balaam, after the wages of iniquity ;
and foon after openly abjured. Such a man as this, in
fuch circumftances, had viewed all their proceedings
witli a malignant eye, difpofed to carry away the worfl
report possible, to gratify thofe whofe favour he was
courting. As none are more inveterate in their enmity,
or more fliamelefs in their abufe, than familiar friends
when turned to be enemies, or more fpiteful in their in-
vcQives than aportates, he publifhed what he called an
apology, in which he coUefled together whatever he
thought might bring odium on the caufe he once profef-
fed, and on his former brethren. Among other things
he introduced the caufe of Morus, as a handle of abufe
againft Daille. In this, and in the management of the
controverfy, he was fupported and influenced by F. A-
danis the Jcfuit (on whom the witticifm pafled, that he
was ' not the firft of men.') Thefe attacks produced an
able and fpirited reply by Daille to both their books,
wkich appeared in 1662 i and gave great fatisfadion to
the friends of truth, and covered his anagonifts with
(hame. It may be proper to infert the pafiage relating to
the fubjett, in which this eminent man was not afliamed
(lill to avow the part he had adled, and the full convic-
tion he had upon his mind,, even after long reflection,
of the innocence of the acculcd.

Cottiby had faid, ' It furprifes me to find myfelf ac-
cufed by you, Sir, from whom I fliould have expecftcd
the utmoft protection and fupport, if I fhould have had
the misfortune to have committed fome fuch fault, as
might have obliged mc to appear before thofe tribunals.

"where yoa ufually hold fuch an eminent rank : for what
might I not reafonably expect of a man, who in the per-
fon of one of hi^. bicthren> has declared himfelf the de-
fend ;r and advocate of a man who has led the moll de-
bauched life in the world ; and wh:), after having plead-
ed his caufe in a provincial fynod of the Ifle^of France,
has alfo had afTarance enough, in the national fynod, of
which he was the head, (a head worthy of fuch a body,)
to fupport him with the greated vigour, I (hall not fay
againft the faithful memorials of the minifters of Rouen,
Caen, and Lyons, but what is more aftonilhing, againft:
a crowd of accufations of fome entire provinces, and all
this by I know not how many sinlfter methods of a much
lefs innocent nature than the villany of a lying tongue.*
F. Adams had fpoke in a similar (train. To which Mr
Daille anfwered ; * For what caufe would you have had
me to have condemned him, or judged him unworthy
of flic offices, which in charity we owe all our neighbours
in time of need, — we, who have heard him, and not on-
ly fo, but who, after having exactly informed myfelf of
his caufe, with all the diligence and application I am capa-
ble of, remain convinced of his innocence ? Tho* I owed
thefe little duties only to my own confcience, its dictates
are fufficient to juftify me againil the violences and the
{Irange reproaches with which your profclyte attacks me
upon this occasion. But you and he are fo much the
more unjuft to blame my conduct in this affair, that I
have done olhces, which you impute not properly to my
private opinion, but to tiic orders of my fuperiors ; firft,
to the orders of the consiltory of my church, which
charged me and her other deputies with that affair ia
the lile of France, which was that held at Ferte, under

Gg

^J4

Joiiare,.. în die year 1657 ; and two years afterwards "by
the orders not only of our consiftory and church, but al-
fo of the whole fynod of thofe provinces held at Ai, in
Champagne, in 1659. — I have done what the focieties
upon which I depend cxprefsly enjoined and command-
ed mc, and what my confciencc, inftead of being fhocked
at, approved of as juft and reafonablc. "What crime
have I committed in this ? Certainly if the defendant
were as guilty as I believe him to be innocent, it is ftill
evident that I {hould have no part in the injuftice, which
in that cafe would appear in the two decisions which
have juftified him-, for all my blame would have been
this, that I defended a caufe, which I then believed, and
do fiill believe to be very jufl: : I neither had nor could
have any vote in the fentencc which was then pronoun-
ced. I did the office of an advocate, not that of a judge.
It is necefTary that I add, that I did not aft in quality
of either the one or the other in the national fynod,
Vîhich paffld the decisive fentence in that affair ; for the
defendant, who v/as prefent, pleaded his own caufe him-
f-!f, bcfc.rt- five or six full audiences, with fo much force
a!ul evidence, (hat, thanks to God, he had no need of
any cûmï assiilance f.*

v7e may here add a few words concerning the after
life and i :il y, this convert to the Romifli faith,

.ind the friiitj i.c reaped from his apoftacy. His change
for a time affurdtd gr^-at triumph to the catholics, as
if they had gained a great conquefl:. JBut neither his
cxaniple nor vv-ritings had influence to carry one of lus
people along witli him : even his own wife ftedfaftly per-

4- R-plique ?.u P. Adam, part iii, p. 154.

235

fevered in- her religion after his (kH^rtion. For his rv*-
ward, he had the oiTice of king's advocate, in Rochelle,
conferred on him« in conjundion with a colleague. He
exercifed it with little honour : his colleague did all the
businefs, and did not fo much as confult him in it. He
ufually resided in a country houfe belongin|^ to his wife,
and only came into the city for forms fake, at the opening
of the fessions, to make a fpecch. , Ginning, and the com-
pany of the ladies, chiefly employed his time after he be-
came catholic : and money quickly failed him ; what little
he liad (for he was neither rich nor happy,) he fquandered
away at play. Refpsdled by neither party, he died fudden-
ly ; having gone down alone into his wine-cellar to visit
it, he was found dead in itj no one knowing how it liad
happened f .

SECTION EIGHT H.

Of the Church of Charenlon-^Morui s suuaùon in Paru — Kc^
troubles — His jouriuy ta England-^He is accused^ and impend-
ed by the consistory of Paris — Violent disorders in consequence
—-The interposition of the civil potver-— His cause before a CoL
îoquy and Syuojs^^ Peace restored.

Though the ed;a that was ratified at N.mtcs, it the
clofe of the civil wars, and the eltabiiihment oi Henry
IV., on the throne of France, v/htch he owtd in a great
meafure to the attachment and adivity of the Protef-
tants, fecured pvotedion and many legal privileges to
them, yet thefe were granted under feveral reflridioas,
fome of which were felt as great grievances, and bt-

■\ Benoit, Hift. del'Editjtom. ii(. L. 5. p. 323, 324, 525.
G g 2

236

came injurious to the interefts of their churches. Thaè
article which rr:ftri£lecl them to certain place? nominated
for holding their religious affcmblies, without liberty of
building new places ot worfliip, as there might be occa-
sion for them, or in situarions molt commodious for their
people, was one of that kmd. Thty were not permitted
to hold their afllmblies in the cities or toM ns v^here the
kii.g and the court had their residence : in confcquence
of this, they were excluded from meeting within tiie
walls of Paris. The preachers of the gofpcl of truth
were thus laid under an interdi£l, similar to that in-
timated to an ancient prophet in îfrael, when it was,
faid to him, * O thou feer, go, flee thee away into the
land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophecy there.
But prophecy not again any m.ore at Bethel : for it is the
king's chapel, and it is the king's court f .' This might
have been more' easily borne, if they had not t>een fub-
je£ted to other reftraints throughout the kingdom, which
tended to prevent their increafe. Thofc who enibraced
their communion, when remote from their aliott< d places
of worlhip, were obliged to change their dwellings, or
to travel to a great diftance to enjoy the gofpel, or to live
without the ordinary hem fit of it : while in fcveral of
the more populous towns, their congregations became
difproportionably and inconveniently large. In fome-of
them, as we have feen, a number of pallors were requir-
ed to perform the neceflnry duties : and it was vith dit-
ficulty» that fuch muiîitudes as were often convened in
one place, could be accommodated, or made to hear. Our
author, I think, mentions occasionally in one of his fer-

l Amos, vii. 12, 15.

237

mons %f that the audience he orcUnarily addreflcd, con-
si'.ttd of about 7000 perfons.

In feveral citie^, towns, and bailiwicks where the
profession of the reformed religion was allowird, they
were obliged to build their clmrches feme leagues dif-
tant from the cities. The dlrtance assi-^nt^ by the e-
dic^ for the Protcftants in Paris, was no lefs tîian five
leagues ; but afterwards, by indulgence, they were al-
lowed to have thtir meetings nearer the city. Tbe
large village, or town of Charenton, situated near the
confluence of the river Seine and the Marne, not above
three miles from Paris, became the fixed place of wor-
(hip for the church in that city and neighbourhood.
It may then be fuppcfed to have been one of the moft
diftinguilhed in the kingdom, for numbers, as well as
on account of the quality of many of its members :
The principal nobility, gentlemen, and citizens, profes-
sing that religion, many of whom were engaged in the
departments of the law, or employed in various offices
under government, and who ordinarily or occaiionally
resided in the capital, belonging to it. Four, fonie-
times five minillcrs, officiated in it, who were assisted
in the consistory, by a number of men rtfpeftable for
their knowledge and talents, as fome of them alfo
were for tlieir station in civil fociety. The charge of
this church, iii feveral repeals, was the most impor-
tant and difficult of any in the kingdom. Placed in
the vicinity, and continually under the eye of an ill-
afFefted and insidious court, which, in conjuntflion with
an intriguing and intolerant clergy, was ever watching

"[ Sur le viii, ch^p. aux Rom.

2^S

for pretexts for new invasions upon their rightS} and la-
tent upon the deftruftion of the whole body j placed
in and near a city where learning and politencfs were
cultivated as much as in any in Europe ; in the midst
of the utmost corruption of manners, and v/herc every
mode of temptation and artifice was employed to fe-
duce the flock, both in refpe£l of religious principle
and praiftice, it called for tlie mod folicitous attention,
and required men of the first abilitiesj of firmnefs and
seal, accompanied with eminent wifdom and prudence.

At the time when Mr Morus was admitted to take
a fliare in the fuperintendance of that congregation, a
greater burden had devolved upon the ministers and
consistory there, in confequence of the prohibition of
national fynods for the time to come, and the new
and more violent meafures that began to be taken for
the fupprcssion of the reformed. Then they had not on-
ly to guard against the dangers to which their own flock
was expofed, but they were alio called upon for ad-
vice and assistance to their brethren in all other parts>
when litigious caufes were multiplied, and frequent
applications were made to the court or chambers, on ac-
count of daily infradions of the edi£t.

At any rate, capital or large cities, though en fome
accounts they may appear to many a desirable resi-
dence, yet to the diligent and tender-hearted pastor,
they are not the most eligible situation for exercising a
ministry, though not a few have beep fo imprudent
as to covet it. Efpecially, there can be little profpeft
of repofc and lasting peace, in entering upon public
labours where the embers of dilTcntion are still warm,
and ever ready to kindle a- new. ,

239

The late fentence of the national fynod, confirrtiing
the fettlcment of Morus in Paris, would be highly ac-
ceptable to the far greater part of the people, who had
fo earnestly desired him : his admission too appears to
have been with the hearty concurrence and good- will
of his colleagues ; and the repeal of the ceijXures that
had been pafled against tbe appellants that headed the
opposition, with the difapprobation exprefled with the
uncanonical mode of procedure in the admission, would
moderate the heat of that party, and tend to reconcile
them. It may be prefumed, that there was for a time
an agreeable calm. Public broils having fubsided, a-
midst the labours of his charge, and the difastrous oc-
currences of the period, it must have afforded our di-
vine no fmall fatisfa<Slion, in the place where he had
taken up his residence for life, to enjoy the intimate
fellowfhip of fuch excellent and venerable men, as thofe
with whom he was aflociated, and the converfation of
fo many eminent peifons in that church, fome of whom
were of poliflied manners, and of high rank. A man
of his erudition and taste, would reckon it an addi-
tional gratification to havCv frequent opportunities of
intercourfe with a number of distinguiihed chara6lers,
of both religions, addidcd to letters, either resident in
the place, or occsionally visiting it. With thefe, wc
learn, he had now and then private interviews, or cor-
refpondence by letters, in which they were wont to
dlfcufs, as in earlier years, fome point of criticifm, or
literary queflion. There were fome among the catholics
then, who were raifcd above the bigotry of that age, who
lived in the liablts of literary intimacy, fometimes in
formed focieties, with learned proteftants, as Bochart,

240

Blûndel, Conrart, to wlioin we may add our author,--i-
whofe acquaintance was fought, and for whom they have
left tcjiiinionies of their efteem. Of this dcfcription
were Huetius, afterwards bifliop of Avranches, Chev-
reau mentioned above, fome time preceptor to the prince
of Maine, who as well as the former had travelled in the
north of Europe, and converfed and resided for fomc

time among proteftants in S^veden and Holland ;

the noted Peliflbn, even after his revolt, Menage, and
otiiers. In the mifcellaneous works of Mr Chevreau,
we have two letters of his to Mr Morus, and others
to their common friend Le Fevre, of Saumur, in which
are fome things relating to him. In one of the former,
he fpeaks of a fort of literary challenge fent from their
friend of Saumur ; * but/ fays he, * as you want neither
force, nor addrcfs, to bring you off in fuch a combat, let
it be agreed that I fliould leave to you all the glory, and
after you have done me the honour to choofe me for your
feconil, I will act my part a la mode d'Allemagne. I
(hould injure you, fliould I do otherwife -, and if I were
to pique myfelf upon an indifcreet zeal in a rencounter,
in whicli the firne arms are prefentcd to you with which
hitherto you have been accultomed to beat others.— You
need only to enter the lifts, and it will perhaps be faid of
you, what ahillorian faid of the Roman people, * IntroifTc,
viaoria fuit/ In that Cafe, we Ihall take particular care
of all thofe things that your virtnry will demand ;
Nee semel dicemus, Jo Iriuniphe.
The redoutable adventurer that now defies you, is at
prefent a rural man, though urbanity be natural to him,
and for the fhort time that he continues to cultivate his
flowers and trees, it is not unlikely that he will give us

241

obfervatlons upon Varro, Palladlus, and Columella. — r-
iPerhaps one of thefe days, I fhall find you in the fame
ftate, three league^ from this ; and being taken in the
facl, I fliall hear you inftantly exclaim ; ' Sic agrestes Cu-
rii,* &c. J. This was dated from Loudun, the 24th of
March, 1660. This city was the native pla«e of Chev-
reau, where he now resided. In another, written in
May the fame year, in latin, to our author, he reminds
him of 41 promife he had made him of writing to him,
as foon as he fliould arrive in the city ; and complains
of his being difappointed ; — forming, however, an ex-
cufe for him, from the returning duties of his public
fun£lion, his intenfe ftudies, and a multitude of other
things occurring to occupy him, and engrofs all his at-
tention, upon his recent arrival, fo as not to leave him
a moment for writing, and to render perhaps his fleep
(horter. * Nor can I deny,' fays he, * but thofe, who
now partake by turns of your company, to compenfate
for your long abfence, may avenge themfelves in their
manner, and indulge their earned desire for your fociety,
tliough at our expeucc. Let them therefore at leifurc
and fecurely enjoy your learned converfe ; and gather
and lay up, thofc precious (lores of your mind and geni-
us, which we now want by your departure. May thofc
to whom fuch felicity is alloted, love you, and we will

love them on your account.' When, at length, you

may be more at liberty, you may perhaps remember an
abfcnt friend : but fliould you ftill be hindered from writ-

f Oeuvres Melees, torn. i. p. 40, 41.

Hh

«42

ingt — this will not abate any thing of my former regard
for you J.'

At the time that this learned man wrote this letter to
Morus, he wrote another in French to Mr le Fevre. It
is to it and another that BayJe refers, when he fays,
that ' the jndgment which Chevreau has paffed upon
the charaiSler of Morus, is. very agreeable to feveral other
judges, and flicws at the fame time that people do not
always write in the fame ftrain concerning one to others,
that they do to himfelf/ That letter alfo fiiews, with
what applaufe Morus commenced his miniftry in the
church of Paris : it farther affords a proof of the mutual
eOeem that fubsifted at that time between him and Mr
Daille, and is a refutation of what fome alledged againft
him, ' that he thought nothing to be well done, but what
was done by hlmfslf.' We therefore infert it.

' I have wrote to M. Morus, and you may examine,
if you pleafe, my letter vi'ith all the feverity of your cri-
ticifai. It is of a flattering ftrain, more fo perhaps than
I could have wiflied, for the ftile jjf a panegyrift, is not

:{; * Adeo pcne in eo fui ut illud folenne exclamarem Uli
fides ? Sed alternata ofiiciorum tuorum nécessitas, fed ftudia
acri'js repct'ta, ct fcxcenta alia qoeis modo adveniens obrueris.
tfinpora, quorum vcl particnlam nobis feponcre poteras, tibi
fiibducunt; ct fommim faciunt fortaflfe brcviorem. Neque vero
recufarim, quiii ifli, qui nunc te per vices partiuntur, tarn diu-
tinam abfcntiam qiix tc 'psis eripuerat in nos fuo modo ultif-
cantur, et acre tut dcaiderinm vcl malo ctiam noftro explcant.
Otiofe itaque ac fccurc frucntur dodo ill» tuo congreffu ; pre-
tiofas illas animi atque ingciilj opes, queis ex ab'tu tna care-
mus, collîgant, condant. Si quid in ijs jequTtatis erit, hoc for-
laflV meminerint, fe nobis ejus boni ufum quod publicum sit,
iuvidere, qui ct doélum illud et amabile literarum tuarnm
conuncrcium nobis invidcant. — 'Tc etiam ante amavi quam ad
me icripsiflcs; idem ego te silentem vencrabor. Vale More
clîirissime.

245

(ultable either to my inclination, or talent, and b:caufe
in^this kind one never fays enough, unlefs he fay too
much. But you knçw there are men who naturally love
incenfe from whatever quarter it comes, who demand
it as their due, and are fo accuftomed to it, that one
cannot pleafe them, but with a cenfcr in hand. It is a
weaknel's to be pitied; but it is a human cue: besides
our friend's profound erudition in the Liclles Lettres, his
exa(ft knowledge of the Greek, and all the oriental lan-
guages, give him a title to be considered and diltinguifh-
ed from fo many others, who refemble him only in his de-
feat. What has always plcafed me in the frccjucnt con-
vcrfations we have had together, is, that he always told me
sincerely, that he reckoned himfelf infinitely inferior co
Mr Dallle, whom he thought to be a more folid divine than
your Calvin. For all this, a certain probationer of your
acquaintance, lately aiTured me, that Mr Morus is allow-
ed by all to outflrip Mr Daille ; that his flights and fal-
lies of imagination in his fermons pleafe much more by
their novelty, than the eloquence of Mr Daille, w-ho
was fit to be his mafler. But as I have no side to take
among them, we know, and it is no new difcovery, that
the voice of the populace is not ordinarily the voice of
the wife j and if it be faid in a verfe of Ecclesiafles ac-
cording to the vulgate, that the number of fools is in-
finite, it is not furprising if fome of them may be met
with among the many judges at Charenton. My fear is,
left lie fliould be intoxicated with thefe extraordinary
spplaufes ; and that he fhould not have refolution to lay
the leafl reflraint upon himfelf in his free humour, but
give way to his intimation — without regard to his cha-
racterj his reputation or his fortune, -^h dlcîiim fapkr.ù
sat ejî : Dtj variant bene quod agat §.''

But this divine was not long allowed quietly to con-
verfe with the mufes, to entertain himfelf or others with
literary combats, or to enjoy long rcpofe in the learned
or religious circles of Paris : he was called again to more

^ § Ul supra, p 48, &c.

H h 2

244

ferious confli£ls; and inftead of receiving the incenfe of
unmixed applaufe in private or public, his ears are again
afTailed with loud reproaches, and the jarring voice of
fa£lion, which for a time had been fuppressed. * Hatred
and envy,' fays Sennebier, * travelled with Morus §. He.
was at length embroiled with Daille himfelf ; and if we
believe this author, it was * parce qu' il fe attiroit la foule
a fes fermons ;' — ' beeaufe he drew the crowd to his fer-
mons.' But though all men have their w^eakncfles, wc
ought not rafhly to believe that this gave rife to the frefh
troubles at Charenton, or made the breach between thefe
eminent men, whatever influence it might have to in-
creafe them after they liad begun, and to caufe a tempo-
lary alienation. The very favourable teftiraony given by
Daille to his colleague, produced a little ago, was publifli-
cd poftcrior to the date of the commencement of the new
charges prcfentcd to the consiftory, as given by Bayle,
which was in Sept. 1 66 1 . But Bayle's account, too, con-
tains an insinuation, unfavourable to both thefe minifters,
as if the quarrel between them had been chiefly perfonal,
and produced the party-contells in the congregation.
• Mr Daille,' fays he, * who had ferved him with all his
intereft in feveral fynods, was not long before he repen-
ted of what he had done. There arofe a very violent
quarrel between them, which occasioned a thoufand par-
tialities among the flock.' I know no authority but this
of Bayle for faying, that Daille ever repented of the good
offices he had done, which he fo ftrongly afferts to have
been nothing more than his duty; and if, indeed, a violent
quarrel arofe between them, it is more probable that this

§ HiH. Liter, p. 200;

245

iras occasioned by the party-differences in the congrega»
tion, than the c?.ufe producing them.

* In general/ as* Mr Bayle goes on, * Mr Morus, a-
itiidft the applaufes which his inimitable manner of
preaching procured him from an extraordinary crowd of
hearers, had the mortification, at Paris» to fee his repu-
tation attacked by perfons of merit : — in September 1661,
complaints were made of him to the consiftory, but they
came to nothing ; and perhaps this was owing,' he adds,
* to his desiring leave to go to England, in December that
yean*

I find no account of the particular matter of thefe
complaints : Benoit only fays, that * they rcfpe£ted his
conduct, ' qu'on foupconnoit de n'être pas régulière,' — •
which was fufpeÉled not to be regular.' The f;xme au-
thor adds, * he believed that this ftorm would dissi-
pate of its own accord, and took this time to make a voy-
age to England, either with a vitw of finding a fettle-
ment there, or in the expe£Vation that the rumour which
had been fpread againft his honour, would have been
forgotten at his return. But neither the one, nor the
other took place §.' It is not very probable that Morus came
over with any view of feeking a fettlement in England.
He had formerly been invited to London, and had declin-
ed to accept. The French church there was not in fuch
a flate as to afford him any tempting profpe£ls ; efpecial-
ly to one who was now fixed in fuch an eminent dation.
His intimate connections, and chief friendfliips, had
been formed and long fubsifted on the continent. All
things in church and ftate had, by thai time, undergone

§ Hifloire, &c. torn. iii. p 454.

246

3 complete revolution in England, in confequcncc of the
reftoration -• though the change in fome things» might
have been agreeable to his mind, in others it muft have
been the reverfe. There is no reafon to believe that he
who was by education and principle a presbyterian, and
had lived fo long in the foreign churches of that defcrip-
tion, was prepared, though offers had been made him,
to fubfcribe to the terms of conformity to the Englifli re-
cftabliflied church, to fubmit to re-ordinaiion, or to
take the oath of canonical obedience : and though he had
been fo difpofed, his little practice in the Englifh lan-
guage, muft have, in a great meafure, difqualificd him
for performing the ollice of a preacher in it. He had
been acquainted with many of the Britifh, both of the
epifcopalian and presbyterian perfuasion, who, during the
interregnum, had fled beyond feas ; and he might have a
desire to pay them a visit, and to witnefs the new order of
things, when fome of them were in oiBces and advanced
to honour, and the royal caufe was now triumphant ;
which had partly occasioned his late illuûige. Nor did
he want fome who had -influence at court to have made
application in his favour, if he had chofen to avail him-
felf of it, with a view to fettle in England, which we
do not hear that he ever did. He has left a memorial
of his acquaintance with that excellent ftatefman and pa-
triot, Lord Denzil Hollis, who had been expelled the
houfe of commons by the Cromwclian fatlion, and had
been chofen fpcrtker in tlie convention parliament, that
recalled the king. In one of his poetical produflions,
in latin, intitled, * Soteria, Laus Chrifti nafcentis ex
voto,' which was publiflied next year, after his return
to Paris, he exprcflcd his refpcd for that Lord, in the

H7

t^dicatîon to him, who was at that time ambaflador extfa-
ordinary at the French court. Nor is there reafon to doubt
but that he had been perfonally known to the king in his
peregrinations abroad : as an evidence of his being fa-
vourably received, he was employed to preach before the
king and his attendants, foon after his arrival in London,
on the noted 30th of January, lately appointed and now
begun to be celebrated, as a perpetual faft, in comme-
moration of the execution of the late king. This dif-
courfe, upon the text in Rom. viii. verfe 28, is among
his pofthumous fermons ; a fliort extraft from which,
in the original, will be given in the appendix, as a fpeci-
men of his flyle and manner.

The tables were now turned : and there was reafon to
recall to mind, the public admonition our author had gi-
ven, as to the uncertainty and inftability of a profperous
fortune, to the latin Secretary of the prote£lor, who had
manifefted fuch an infolent Ipirit when in ofRce, and
treated him with fuch indignity. He had heard with
chagrin of Morus's admission to Paris ; and in one of his
letters to a young gentleman atSaumur,in 1657, when he
heard of his being called there, he had declared, he would
rather wifli any other to have heard him in Charon's boat,
than that he fhould have heard him in Charenton §. The
man whom he had repeatedly consigned to the gibbet, he

§ To H. Oldenburgh ;

* Quod autcm audifti accersitum Ecclesiac tarn illuflri

crudlendx antiftltcm tam Infamem, id mallem quivis alius
in Charontis, quani tu in Charentonis cymba audifTes : veren-
«jum enim ell valde no totocselo dcvius fruftrctur, qnifquis tam
ftcdo aulpicc peiventurum fe unqnani ad fuperos putat. Vse
illi ecclesire (Deus modo avertat omen) ubi tales miniitri aurium
caufa potissinuim placent, quos Eccles'a, si reformata verc vult
drfi, cjiccrct rccî'^ius qoam co-optaret.' Milt, Oj)er. p. 335.

24B

îiad rivecî to fee honoured even at the Brltifli courtjf
where he himfelf dur ft not now appear, but was glad to
lurk in obfcuricy, having hardly cfcaped the axe.

I think I have (ten it mentioned fome where, that
Morus was engaged in the publication of one of his book»
when in London, which might be a reafon for his coming
over. However, he did not ftay there many months,
but returned to Paris in 1662. Soon after, the former
complaints were revived j the consiftory received them,
and after diflerent proceedings, they ordered that Mr
Morus fliould be heard in his own vindication, but while
the caufe v/as depending, that he fliould abftain from
preaching. This order enraged the minds of thofe who
fapported him, to fuch a degree, that a fcene of diforder
fnfued, feldom feen in any religious aflembly on the
Lord's day. That party insifted that he (hould continue
to preach in fnite of the consiftory : and on the Sabbath
following all the avenues and ftairs of the pulpit were
taken poflession of by mufqueteers, aided by many of
the lower clafs of people, who ranged themfelves around-
When the hour for beginning fermon was come, fome
laid hold upon Daille, the fon, who was to have preached
that day, and puflied him back with violence : others
feized upon Morus, and would have carried him into the
pulpit, in order that he might officiate as preacher. After
great noife, and a fcandal unprecedented, fome perfons of
influence appeafed the mufqueteers, and made them re-
tire. The difturbance was fo great, that there was no
fermon that morning ; and every one was intent upon'
using means to prevent the confequences of the fedition.

The violence of the mufqueteers, bçing reported, Wa»
very ill- taken at court i and afibrded a pretext' for the

249

Ur»g, to cafliier all the reformed who ferved in the two
companies of the iiighcr and inferior order. The officers
of juftice were inclined to intermeddle in this affair as
well as the men of the fword ; and two counfellors pre-
fented themfelves to the consiftory, to assift in the deli-
berations and meafures which they might take about it :
but that company refufed to admit them ; giving as a
reafon, the prohibition in their difcipline to call any there
except the minifters and elders. The counfellors did not
insift, but left the consiftory to confult and vote at li-
berty.

But fome of the more determined partlzans of Morus,
perceiving that their violence had not been attended
with fuccefs, but that, on the contrary, as they might
easily have foreseen, it had injured the caufe of their
friend, who would be held refponsible for the fcandaJ,
md fufpeded, whether juftly or injuftly, to have had
fome intelligence with the authors of it,— thought next
to prote£l him by applying to a court of juftice. They
prefentcd a petition to the chamber of the edi£l, demand-
ing the annulling of the proceedings of the consiftory,
and the rc-eftablifliment of Mr Morus. They v/crc fup-
ported in this application by 500 perfons in the congre-
gation, who authorifed them to make this demand. The
plea they employed was, that the consiftory had not ob-
fervcd due forms, and that it had exceeded its powers
in fufpending from the miniftry .

It may be proper for the information of fome readers,
to notice, that in certain cities, chambers were appoint-
ed by the edia of Nantes, for the greater fecurity that
juftice might be impartially adminiftered to the reformed,
in wil and criminal caufes in which they were parties,

li

250

wherein one half of the counfellors were Roman cath**
lies» and the other half proteftants, with a president ;
on which account they were called mixed, or chambers
of the ediifVi The eaufes which were referred to them^
among which thofe properly ecclesiaftical, were not in-
cluded, they had a power to decide without an appeal.
The chamber of Paris was to con sift of sixteen counfel-
lors in parliament besides the president. The jurifdic-
tion of thefe chambers was attacked, gradually weakened,
and at laft abolifhed.

After hearing the pleadings of the advocates for both
parties, in this caufe, Talon, the advocate- general, made
a long fpeech upon it : After giving an abridged hiftory
of the procefs, he maintained i

« That the consiftories were rtot fubjc^led in their
proceedings to the forms of ordinary juftice ; that they
were boond to obferve no other in them than thofe of
their difcipline ; that they were companies lawfufiy con-
vened, in ordcir to lnfpe£k the fcandr.ls which might arife
among thofe of their own religion •, that the minifters of
whom they were compofcd. with the perfons who assift-
cd them in eccksïaflical funéïtctis, Were as fathers in
their family, who might con&itler what was proper for
them to do v/ith refpeâ: to the coaduft of their children ;
that they had a right of fufpending from, and depriving
of the facraments, in the cafe of private perfons, and
confequently alfo over their brethren in office, who might
be guilty of a fault, and fo much the more as they were
under flricler obligations to lead an exemplary life than
Others ; and when they may a<fl contrary to this obliga-
tion, there v/as greater reafon for their being fubjeded
to difcipline than private perfons :-— * A dillindion muft
be made,' he faid, * between a definitive fufpension, and
one that is provisional, which is only a fort of exliorta-
tion and v/arning, to avoid confusion and fcandal, which
he compared to perfonal adjournments decreed againft
fome ofticcr of juftice, which imported an intcrdidlion.

^5 *'

from the exercife of his cliarge unf^U he iljould hr*7C com-
pcarcd ; that the'lulpension of Morus was of this nature,
to which his own modefty and prudence Ihould have
taught him to pay deference; that it was to be prefumed,
the consiftory wouJd not have carried matters to fuch
exiremicy, without fome weighty considérations j and
even though the consiftory might have erred, Morus,
neverthelffs, fliould have fubmittcd i becaufe a colloquy
might be held to review the judgment of the consiflory ;
and altho' fynods do not meet but once in 2 years, there
was lefs inconvenience in keeping a fufpecftcd pcrfon from
the minifterial fundlions, during the intervening time,
than in re-eftabliOung him before the fufpicions enter-
tained of his condu6t had been removed.' In conclu-
sion, he gave it as his judgment, with refpefl to this pe-
tition, ' that tlicre was caufs for difmissing out of court,
the parties and tlie pvocefs.'

After this fentence, an order was given that the caufe
fljould be referred to a Colloquy ^,. and one was appoint-
ed, with confent of the king, to meet within three weeks,
at which a minifter and elder from the consiftory of
Charenton, not fufpe<fted of partiality on either side,
ihould assift. The fpeech of the advocate-general, and
the verdi£l of the court, have been considered by t!ic
impartial as equitable. The judgintnt of tlie caufe was
hereby left to the ecclesiaflical courts, over whofe fcn-
tences, .as fuch, the fecular court did rot afiume, and
had no right to exercife jurifdiction ; wliilc at tlie fame
time, mesfures were taken in concert with it, for termi-
nating the \iolent difordcrs, and the rci'ioiaricn cf ex-
ternal peace and order in the chnrch, for which f>urpofes
civil authority is competent. ' If thofe in power, had

§ Colloquy is a name ufed for a Prcsbvten,', ^.s consistory
is forji congregational court, or Session, whcliicr one aDi.i^icr,
or more belong 10 it.

Ii2

253

alvirays (hewed the fame juftice to the reformed ' fays the
author of the Hiftory of the edi£l:, * as they did in this
cafe, their churches might have enjoyed a long tranquili-
ty in France. But it deferves to be remarked, that they
entertained at court the fame fentiments to the laft in
regard to the obfervation of the difcipline ; and that two
years before the revocation of the edi6b, when, amidft
the broils that arofe, they would have carried complaints
againft the cenfures of the consiftories or fynods, to the
parliaments, or council, they were not difpofed to liften
to them. What is yet more ftrange, the very fame judges
who refufed to take cognizance of thefe complaints, did
not fail to fay, that the consiftories and fynods had nq
right to difgracc by their cenfures the fubje£ts of the
king. But the fecret motive of this eondnft was not fo
much to maintain the difcipline. of the reformed, as to
cxafperate the individuals againft the cenfures, and to
let them fee what they might obtain by becoming ca-
tholics, namely, a relief from the punifhment which
they could not évite in continuing in the reformed re-
ligion Ç

Talon, the advocate-general, who diftinguifhed him-
felf in the above caufe, was defcended from a family
originally from Ireland ; a gentleman of that name,' a
colonel of a regiment, having fettled in France, in
the reign of Charles IX. There were feveral eminent
men of that name and of the fame family, in the 17th
and the following century, efpecially in the law depart-
ment. Denys Talon, who now occupied that high
office, as his father and uncle had done, was the fon of

j Benoit, torn. iii. I. 7. p. 454 — 457.

253

©mer Talon, who died in 1652. As he fuccccded his
father in his chîirge, he alfo inherited his talents and
reputation. Ho was afterwards made President a MortUr
in the parliament of Paris, in 1689, and died in 169!.
Some of his public pitadings were publiflftd, as well as
thofe of his father. He was a ftrenuous defender of
what were called the liberties of the Gallican church,
and the Regale, againft the ufurpations and extravagant
maxims of the court of Rome. * At the time of the dif-
ference between the king and the pope, about tlie fran-
chifcs of the ambafladors, when the pontiff excommuni-
cated Lavardin, and refufed to grant invcftiture to any of
the French bifhops named by the king, who had signed
the noted articles of the clergy in 1682, denying the pa-
pal infallibility, &c., he made a fpirltcd fpeech in oppo-
sition to the pretensions and arrogant proceedings at
Rome, in confcqucnce of which, he affirmed, there were,
at that time, no fewer than thirty- five cathedral churche»
deftitute of their ovcrfeers, being a third part of the whole
in the kingdom ; a very difrefpe£Hul and ungrateful
return, he obferved, to him who bore the glorious title
of the elded fon of the cliurch. As he had partici-
pated in the guilt of the court in reference to the
protestants, fo, on that occaiion he facrificed his better
fenfe, his honour, and regard to truth, by joining in
offering up the abomini.ble incenfe, at that time fo
common, to the perfidious tyrant and perfecutor on the
throne, as the most pious monarch, little lefs than al-
mighty, who * by his favours and juflice united, had
confummated an cnterprife that had been deemed im-
possible, by re-uniting near two, millions of perfons,
ft'ho had returned to the bofom of the church, and

'54

now acknowledged the legitimate authority of the fçet
of Rome, which ihey had fliaken off.' A declaratioa
fufficient to caft under a deep fliade the mofl brilliant
reputation, to blot out the memory of many fine fayings
and great adions, and to consign a man to perpetual
infamy, in the moral world, though his talents were * an-
gel-bright §.'

But let us fee what was the refult of thefe commotions,
and the procefs raifed at Charenton ; * We muft again
behold Morus,' to ufe the words of the Literary hiftorian
of Geneva, * compearing before fynods, to hear his ac-
cuferi, to make apologies ; this was ftiil his hiftory : he
cfcaped again, however, though through a thoufand diffi«

§ The writer of this has a treatife bearing the name of
Talon, the advocate-general and president, intitkd, * Traitt
de r avthorite des Rois touchant I* administration de V église :' or,
* The power of kings in Ecclesiail'cal matters ;' printed at
Amfterdam, 1700, in 8vo. It consifls of feveral diflertations,
with the fpeech in parliament, juil referred to, in the front.
The fubjeâ; is considered both in point of right, and faft, ia
regard to the diftinft jurjfdiftions, the temporal and fpiritual ;
on which the author difplays learning, and refearch into hif-
tory. While he fliews the ablurdity of the church afluming
temporal power, and aflerts in the fullcft extent the fpirituali-
ty of the cliurch, yet it is fo explained as to be incompatible. .
with its external fubsillence as a fociety with diftinct judica- .
tivcj powers ; very different from the principle on which hç
defended the independent authority of the consiftory of Cha-
fenton : and while one fort of fuprcmacy is overthrown, an-
other is eflab'iflied. to be exercifed by princes over the church
as a political conltitution, or a department of the Hate, though
not as myftically considered : common errors on the complica-
ted fuhjcft, in modern times, cfpecially among politi«;ians,
whether conncfted with, or fcpcratcd from Rome.

lint it has been faid by fome that thcfc diflertations were
not written by president 'J'alon, but by ore Rulur.ù le Vaycr de
Boutigny, who was Int<ndaRt of Soiffons, and died in 1685.
tjce Le Grande Di&. Histor. dc Mureri. Edit. Amft, 1740.

255

cultieSi from the efforts of his enemies.* * He efcapcd/
fays Bayle, * but fo as by fire.* The colloquy that met
could not terminate the affair. The writer laft named
fays, it was determined in it, that Morus {hould be fuf-
pended from preaching for a year. It was carried by ap-
peal, or reference» to the next provincial fynod of the Isle
of France, where Morus was not cleared -, the former fen-
tence,* it is faid, * was confirmed, and even aggravated by
it.* The only refource now left) for obtaining a revifal
and redrefs, was to appeal to the provincial fynod of an-
other province i as this was the provision made, in the
profpe£l of national fynods being difcoiitinued, by the
laft which met at Loudun, when caufea could not be ter-
minated by the authority of a fynod in one province, that
partie* aggrieved fhould be allowed to chufe one of two
fynods in neighbouring provinces, which was empower-
ed to review the fentence appealed from ; whofe Judg-
ment was to be final, at leaft to continue in force provi-
sionally, until it should be reverfed by a national fynod,
when it might be permitted to meet. The deprivation of
minifters, and excommunication, were among the caufes
as to which thefe appeals were allowed. Morus, having
it in his option to fubmit his caufe to the fynod of Nor-
mandy, or that of the province of Berry, made choice
of the latter. One was accordingly convened there on
the 8th of May 1664, the king having granted his letters
exprefs for that purpofe. After an inveftigation^ that
fynod exculpated Morus, and reftored him to the exer-
cife of his miniftry •, and commissioners were fent from
the fynod to effe£t a reconciliation between him and the
consiftory of Charenton, and to intimate the a£l: of paci-
fication to the church there, which was accordinglv done,

256

fooh iifter, by Mr James Gantois, minifter of Sancerr«|^
with happy effect.

The fermon that was preached on that occasion, at
Charcnton, by Mr Guniois, was printed that year, at
Sedan. As I have met with a copy of that rare difcourfe,
imw lying before nie, and as it is much more pleafant to
hear the voice of peace, than the noife of tumult and
fierce debates among brethren, let us accompany this he-
rald of peace, and fuppofe ourfelves, for a few moments,
tranfportcd to that place, once fo famous and venerable,
but which has since been fo long deferted, like the tents
of Shiloh ; let us fuppofe ouifeives prefent in that augufl:
aflembly, lillening to fome of the words that were then
fpokcn §.

The preacher took for his text, the words of the A-
jx)ftle Paul to the Corinthians, i Epift. chap. i. ver. 10.
* Now, I befeech you, brethren, by the name of the
Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye all fpeak the fame thirtg, and
that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be per-
fectly joined together in the fame mind, and in the fame
judgment.' After beginning the exordium with the la-
mentation, uttered by the Saviour with tears, over Je-
rufalem, at the profpeft of her calamities, and for re-
jc6ling the things that did belong to her peace, on which'
he briefly commented, he thus addrefled that large af-
fembly j

* My brethren, when I caft mine eyes upon this
church, I cannot give it another name than the Jerufa-

§ The fermon v/zi delivered the 6th of July, 1664, and
feparately publiihcd .— * Sur 1' imprime a Sedan, et fe vend
par 0:ivi';r dt Varcnnes, demeurant îju palaig, en gaikric de»
prjfonnicrs, au vale d'dr. 1664.'

257

ïem of God. Yes, you are his Jerufalem ; his oracles
have been commk;ted unto you, his worthip is eftablifh-
cd among you in all its purity. This is the place where
the one facrifice of Jefns Chrift is brought back again to
you by the preaching of the gofpel. Here is the abode
of priefts who bear the Urim and Thuiffmim, whofe
iDiiids arc enlightened by the fun of righteoufnefs, and
whofe inftruâions * are able to make you perfeà, and
furniflied for every good work.' God treats you as his
Jerufalem by the care which he take» of you. ^ He has
for a long time * engraven you on the palm of his hand,
and ke has * fct you as a feal upon his heart, and a feal
upon his arm.' What had he done to Jerufalem, in his
mercies, which he has not done to you ? Yea, has he
not done more to you than to her ? You have the body
and rhe truth of thofe things of which (he had only the
Ihadow and the figure.

But in admiring the kindnefles of God towards you, I
acknowledge that there is alfo reafon to pour out tears,
and to exprefs wiflics and regrets. ' O that thou,' alfo
• hadst known, at least in this thy day the things v/hich
belong to thy peace 1' I do not fay, well- beloved brethren,
that you have oppofed yourfelves to the Prince of peace.
It is your glory to follow him : you have opened to him
the gates of this temple, the doors of your houfes and
of your hearts. And you well know that it is in his com-
pany, we have peace, both in life and in death. Not-
withilandlng, you will not be dlfpleafed if I fay, and I
am obliged to do it, * You have not known the things
which belong to your peace.' For that peace is accom-
panied with the peace of confcience, and peace with
nv'in. That peace which is the daughter of heaven, the
place of repofe, when it is well eftablifhcd on earth, forms
■and difpofes men to tranquility. But where has been
that tranquility for fome time pafl ? Her enemy has ba-
niflicd her ; or at leall: has fo much confined or fettered
her, that (lie has fcarcely been feen to appear. Can you
have kept this peace in your confciences, and experienced
its fweets ? Surely as a perfon who is sick favours not the
fweetnefs of meats when his mouth is full of bitiernefs,
ouf cannot well tafte that of God, when the foul is taint-
ed with the bitternefs of irritation, hatred, and vengeance
K k

258

It Is not witli bitter herbs that this lamb is eaten. It «
on this accounr, dear brethren, that we ought not to be
fparing of tears ; and this makes them feafonable. What ?
Fire is in the temple of God, and (hall we behold the
flames with dry eyes ? The cry is heard to arms ; and
Ihall we feel no emotion ? The fAn(fluary and its court
are in trouble, — all is confusion, and (hall we not be
deeply affected and grieved ? The report of your difor-
ders has pierced the hearts of the good as foon as it reach-
ed their ears. Your brethren have bev/ailed them ; o»
ther churches have been greatly diftrelTed on account of
them ; and it is to teftify the part which thofe of our
province t.-ifce in your affairs, tliat they have fent us to
you to fay, * at leaft in this day know the things that be-
long to your peace/ V^e with, fay they, by our mouth,
that all division may be extinguiihed ; — that the Prince
of peace may form you to his own temper, and that his
holy Spirit fneddinj» forth the oil of his peace and love in
your fouls, you may carry the fymbol of it, the olive
branch, in your hands. We regret what is pafl : Give
lis hopes for the time to come : in demanding of you this
confolation, we already feel it in our hearts. For we
fneak to the children of the God of peace 5 — to Chriftians
v.'ho know by experience the difference between peace
and war ; fo that we perfuade ourfelves, that we flial!
not have rcafon to add, with Jefus Chrift, * But now
thofe things are hid from your eyes:' but that knowing the
importance of a true and lading reconciliation, you will
make it appear in the sight of God and his angels, in the
view of the world, to the edification of all the churches,
and to the rcpofe of your own fouls j that fo wc may-have
c.uifc to fay, in parting from yoU, * Ye are our joy and
erov/n.' It 1$ in order to difpofe you to this, that in exe-
cuting the orders we have received from our province»
verted, in the matter for which we are deputed, with
the authority of a national fynody to which you owe rc-
fpet.'f, and with a view to fulfil that article, which injoin»
us to endeavour a reconclliatton among you, we have
reckoned that wc might and ought, as indeed we have
the right, to afcend the pulpit, and to exhort you to it irt
the name of him who presides in all the holy aflcmblies»

259

Hnder whofe authority, all of you ou_?,ht to bow. For
ihis purpofe I hate chufen the words of the apollle,' &c.

After difcoursing on the different parts of the text,
with a reference to that particular design^the miniftcr,
towards the conclusion, again addreflcd the difîcrent
parties in that alTembly, in the following terms : —

* My brethren, wc arc not apoftles ; but we are fervents
of God, who have a lij^ht to fpeak in his name, antl to
prefs his authority to procure the obedience of thoTe
whom we in(lru(ft by our niiniltry. Wherefore, wc
whom you fee in your affenibly, might we not go far-
ther than merely to fay, • We befeech you r' For you
are not ignorant of our commission : it has proceeded
from a company which has a right to command ; and
this I think will not be difputed. Yes, wc are deputed
from a body, to fay it yet again, which has authority over
you, feeing it rcprefents a national fynod ; — froni a body
which you have acknowledged for jndges, with a promiie
to acquiefce in what it fiiould ordain. We might there-
make ufe of thefe terms, We enjoii) you ; ï-t mull be.
But we have not hitherto made ufe of this authority, fo
we chufe rather to fay, ' W"c befeech you/ Sec. — We
befeech you as brethren, as Paul did the Coiinthians ; —
a term of kindnefs by which the apoCtlos were accultom-

cd to gain men's hearts. — : The pafior and the fiock,

in ths rcfpeiSl, hold the fame rank in the church of God :
they are all brethren — a multitude of brtthren, conduded
by a brother. Ccnfures Hîould be accounted brotherly
warnings. As Jofeph was fent to fee how his brethren
fared ; fo are paltor^i lent to fee if the fiocks of jefus Cluiil
arc doing well. — Tiicir common relation atid intereil as
one family give thcni right to intermeddle in the allairs
of one another.'

* Allow me, fir^, to addrefs you, My very dear and
honoured bretiiren and f.itliers, conipaniims in the work
of the Lord. Sptak all th>> fame bngunge. Acquiefce
in tlic judgment which we have given ui the fear of God,
the j^dge of the world, to whom we h^ve to give an ac-
ççuji.t of our aclions, — i-i the alFair which has eivcn fo^
Kk2

26a

mucK vexation, and caufed fuch d'lfquiet and apprehen-i
sions to this church. Receive, as you have proniifed by
your deputies,— receive into your venerable company

•HÎM WHOM WE HAVE JUDGED INNOCENT^ noi being ab'c

to determine otherwile,. without aÔing contrary to tha
■difbates of our own confciences §. Give him the hand of
a sincere fellowfhip to take his part in the adminiftration
committed to you. Let there be this day a holy agree-
ment between your hearts, your mouths, and your hands,
and apply all together (he {houldcr to bear the ark of
'God. I take it not upon me to give you inihutlions ;
l)ut I intreat you to do in this conjun£lure what you would
counfel others to do ; and to sign all with one accord a
peace allied to that of God, which is true and lading.
How will angels rejoice to fee the men of his good will
pronouncing a part of their fong, * Peace on earth I' They
^vould immediately repeat the other, and we with thfiin,
■ Glory to God in the higheft !' How will the devils be
confounded, when they (hall fee their design fruftrated :
for they attempted to ruin this church, thinking to over-
throw many others with it : — this church, I fay, whofe
charity affords fupport and confolacion to the houfehold
of faith. O what fatisfadtion will the faithful have, when
ihey fliall fee the houfe of their Father free from debate

and contention ! And O what joy will it give to you,

"the ambafladors of heavenly peace, to fee the temped
ceafed, the fea calm, and that you can condu£l the vef-
•fel of Jefus Chrifl into the haven of falvation without
apprehension of rocks and fhipwreck 1'

I addrefs myfelf to you in particular, my brother, who
Jiave experienced the help (le fecours) of God, after the
the trials with which he has visited you. He lays to you
this day by my mouth, * Feed my flieep.* Nourilh them
then with heavenly nutriment ; hinder not the ellicacy
of it by bad conduft ; and think on the account you
ïiave to give of their fouls unto God. Cultivate peace
with your colleagues. Prevent them with honour and

§ * Recevez dans votre venerable compagnie celui que nous
avons juge Innocent, ne pouvans pas pronouncer autrement,
a moins que de trahir les mouvemens de notre confciencc'
Serm., &c. p. 42.

iGi

Vcîpe£ï. Love them, and enter again into good agree»-
mcnt and union with all the body, which rcprcfents thif
church.

You arc doubtlefs difpofcd to concord, my brethren,
who are eiders, whom God hath called to the guidance
of this flock. This day is a day of good ti^ngs, feeing
it brings peace ; and fljall you keep silence ? Speak all
the fame language. If any high tones or difagreeablc
fpeech have been passing among you, let all pronounce
the pleasing word of peace : and oppofe yourfelves, as
your ofhce obliges you, to thofe who would caufc or keep
up divisions among you. * O how good and how plea-
fant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity !'

1 fpeak next to you, my brethren, Chriftians and faith-
ful in this churcli, * Speak ye aij the fame thing.' Let
not fliarp and angry words be heard any more. Let there
be no more any design in opposition to a company who
ought to rule you : * Let all things be done withont mur-
murings and difputings.' Therefore let thcfe criminal
voices no more be heard, which have profaned the holy
fongs of David, and made them fubfetvicnt to your pas-
sions. That royal prophet employed them formerly to
calm the foul of Saul, and to drive away the evil fpirit
that troubled him : You have dreadfully perverted the
ufe of them: And can I dare to fpeak it ? Were you ani-
mated by the Spirit of the Lord, when you difturbcd the
devotion of fouls by your inconsiderate and unfeafonablc
singing, and when you interrupted the fervice of God ?
Love his fervants who have grown old in labour in this
houfe ; who have fought as good foldiers of Chrift : who
have furnifhed, and llill furnin\ the tabernacle of God
with arm.s tor us and for your pofteriiy, for the ruin of
falfehood, vices, and the corruption of the age. En-
courage others to the fame labours. Entertain fenti-
mcnts of refpc£l for all your paflors ; accounting of them
* as fiewards of the mylteries of God :'— — I^eavc the
handling of the cenfer to him who has received it of God ;
and by continuing every one in h'\i calling, things no
doubt will go bettL-r.

You who hold a particular rank in this church by yoyr
offices, your birth, credit, riches, or undcrftanding, em-
ploy all thefe things for its confolation. If you have at

a62

any time procured peace to it, let the warmth of youf
zeal be redoubled. Let Plato be your friend, Socrates
your friend ; but let peace be your well- beloved : It is
in her reign, that truth and lighteoufncfs, daughters
of heaven whom you cherifli, appear in all their beauty.
Rear every where the altar of Gideon, Jehovah Sha-
lom. Seek the peace of the Lord ; a peace accompanied
with juftice and holinefs. Let thefc three sifters kifs
each other, and infeparably accompany one another. In
a word, we who are ambafladors of Chrift, as if Cod did
befeech you by us, we intreat you in Chrifl's Head, to
be reconciled. I befeech you, in the name of the Lord
Jefus, * if there be any confolation in Chrift, if there be
any comfort of love, if there be any fcllowfhip of the
Spirit, if there be any bowels and mercies fulhl ye my

joy,' &c. Phil. ii. i, 2. O happy moment of our lives,

if we all fay prefently to God, m ho calls for peace,—
Yes, Lord, 1 obey thee without resiftance, I am ready
to sign it ! And as I wifii to efTuce, by the tears of a sin-
cere repentance, the fcandalous diforder M'hich has been
too apparent, I intreat thee to blot out in thy love all the
offences which have been committed by me and my bre-
thren againft Chriftian peace.' Thus you will anfwer to
the design of Jefus Chrift, who came * to reconcile all
things by the blood of the crofs, and to make of all men
but one new man :' — and who has given us Lis Holy Spi-
rit, the Spirit of peace, who defcended upon the difci-
ples, v/hen, on the day of Pentecoft, * they were all with
one accord in one plac.-.* * Lord ! (fubjoined the fer-
vent minifter) Give peace to this church. Prefervc to
it, its liberty, the bright lights which iiluminate it, thé
zealous and faithful paftcvs who conduû it. Load with
thy favours all the fan/iUes and pcrfcns of whom it is
compofed. Grant to them all to pcrfcvere in the faith
of thy Son, in calling upon the fame Saviour, in the pro-
fession of the fame truth ; until we all meet togetlitr in
thy houfc, in which there arc many manfions, — where
there is neither forrow, nor crying, nor pain, — no war,
nor rumour of war ; wliere peace Ihall be eternal, chari-
ty pcrfedl, holinefs complete, and * God fliall be all is
9ll. To the Father/ &c.

^3

After fcrmon, the reconciliation was folcmnly made
in the church of Charenton f .

Benoit has told u?, * that fome reckoned this fynod
fomewhat partial in favour of the accufed / but I know
not on what ground. Do the commissioners from it de-
fcrve no credit, when they declared, that the fentcncc
they pafled was that alone which their confclences would
permit them to pronounce ? The fame author adds,

* Peace was rcftored to the church by this judgment,'
and by the prudence of thofe who thought themfelves
not fo well ufcd. Morus preached afterwards for fome
years with mnch reputation ; though his manner did not
pleafe every body, and his imitators almofl: always failed

of fuccefs.' * I could not refufc this {hort digression

to a man vvhofe name has made fuch noife, and who,
as his device bore, had been fo equally loaded with blame
and praifes, that it would be diflicult to fay which of
the two parties had prevailed, that of his accufers, or"
that of his panegyrifts %.*

f This notification is added at the end of the fcrmon j
' Apres cette exhortation, la reconciliation, que le fynode dc
Berry tenu a Sancerre le 8. jour de May, et fulvans, avoit ju-
gée neceffaire pour le bien de leglife reformée de Paris qui fc
recueille a Charenton, s' cil faite folennellemçnt dans le temple
iiudit lieu.' P. 53.

± Tom. iii. I. 7. p. 316.

2^4

SECTION NINTH.

ï^rom the acquittal of Moras ly the Synod of Berry to his deëth
• — The deceate if his aged colleagues — He pronounces their
Juneral orations — Increasing discouragements and dangers of
that time— ^Morns' s stedfasiness in his religion — His siciness»
and edifying death — Account of his lajl conversations ^ and dy-
ing luords^ as taken from his mouth.

A.S in the hiftory of dates and kingdoms, fcenes of
public aftion, commotions, and broils, fupply the molt
copious matter for narrative, and draw the attention of
readers, more than the ftate of tranquility, and the ordi-
nary tenor of life, fo fomething similar may be obferved
in the account of particular perfons. After the troubles
were allayed, and the contefts over, which marked the
former period of our author's life, there is little re-
rnarkable to be recorded during the remaining years of
it. After the reconciliation fofolemnly ratified, it does
not appear that the harmony between him and his bre-
thren, or between the different parties in the congrega-
tion, was ever after visibly interrupted ; or that refent-
ment on either side was retained. One of his colleagues,
]\îr Raymond Gachss, was foon after removed by death ;
and Morus, in a fcrmon he delivered on the day of his
interment, improved that event in a very ftriking and af-
fe£ling manr.er. How feelingly he fpokc of the lofs, and
what regard he teftified for the chara<fter of the deceafed,
the reader may fee from the difcourfe itfclf, as it is à-
mong the fcie<St fermons that are tranflated. He took

265

occflsîon from it particularly to recommend to his bre-
thren the duty of the mod cordial union and love in their
minifterial fervice in view of their approaching diflblu*
tion, even as their brother, when dying, had charged it
upon them f .

On the deceafe of the aged Drelincourt, a few years
after, Morus paid a similar rcfpeft to his memory : his ad-
drefs to the people, on that occasion, may alfo be found
among the tranflated Extrafts, fubjoined to the Sele£b
Sermons. He lived alfo to perform the fame office to
Daille the father, whom he furvived but a fhort time.
If animosity for a time had fubsifted in that venerable
fraternity, none of them carried their refentment to
the grave : * In their death they were not divided.' This
divine had an admirable talent for adapting his dif-
courfes to particular occurrences ; and on occasions oi
this kind, inftead of affording any ground to charge him
with being too fparing of juft commendation, he may
be thought rather fometimes to have exceeded in his
applaufe.

In 1666, the celebrated Mr Claude, after he was pro-
hibited the exercife of his miniftry at Montauban, was
Called to take part in the miniftry at Paris, and to fup-
ply, I fuppofe, the vacancy occasioned by the death o£
Mr Gâches. Our author was not infensible of his worth,

f * Unifions nous de plus en plus au fervice de Dieu, et
portons fon arche d' un même cœur, et d'une même épaule,
pour 1' amour de ce frère que noua allons porter en terre, qui
nous en conjure : aimons nous, embraflbns nous, et de bonne
foi renonçons a tous les mouvemens de la chair et du fang.
N'entendes vous pas la voix qui crie, Nous portons ce trefor,
«•n def vaifleaux de terres ; aimes vous l'une l'autre, aime» vous
l'une l'autre.' Serm, ii. fies Roi, çh. n ^.

Ll

îintî fo far from fliewlng any jealoufy of his rising merîtj
lie concurred heartily in his fettlement. It was he who
expreffed the fmart faying, after Claude had been preach-
in^j among them on trial, whofe voice was not fine,—
' That every voice would be for him, except his own.'

Mr Robert Robertfon fays, in his life of Claude, thaf
* he had then far his colleagues at Charenton, Meflrs. dc
L'Angle, D.iille, and Allix |.' But this author was too
vivacious, and often fpoke iaud wrote with too much
rapidity, to be always accurate in point of argument or
fa^ls ; and as he here feems to write from memory, in
this he is not corre£t. Mr Daille the father, indeed, was
ftill alive, and continued to ofRciate for three years after ,
as was alfo his fon. Drelincourt too was a colleague
with him till November 1669» And Morus was one
of his aflbciates for four years, or upwards. But neither
Allix nor L'Angle, were fettled there for fome time,
and not till after the death of Daille the elder, in 1670,
vrhenMelT. Menard and Allix were chofcn. Mr L*AngIc
was called to Paris the year following, after he had been 2tj
years a colleague with his father in the church of Rouen.
A few days after the death of Drelincourt, Adrian
Daille, the fon, met with a dreadful accident by burn-
ing, by which he long fufFered fevere diftrefs, and was
difiibled from walking, or performing his office, one of
Ills legs having been almoft wholly confumed, while he
yet resided in his father's houfe. Very foon after this,
Morus was feized with indifposition, fo as to be alfo
rendered unfit for public work for the remainder of that
winter : fo that the great burden of the ferviccs for z

% Lire prefixed to ElTay, kc, Tol. î. p. 2i,

2^6 J^

time fell almoft wholly upon the aged Dallle, who was
^hen about the f7th year of his lifc> and upon Mr
Claude. Thus Mr Daille the younger complains, in the
abridged life of his father, that the church of Charen-
ton, at the time of liis death, whicli fcH'out in April
following in 1670, inftead of five which were ordinarily
lequired for the fervice of it, had fcarce one left, ex-
cept Mr Claude, for officiating, < Mr Morus not being
then fully recovered from his malady §.' There were
Several, however, that gave their aasiltance occasioaiilïy»
in that time of fcarcity, as Du Bofc, Sarrau, Jaquelot, af-
terwards chaplain to tlie king of Prussia at Berlin, and
who was for a time employed as an assillan.t ia the place
of Adrian Daille, during his confinement f .

Mr Morus was not fully re-inftated in his health.,
when he was employed to preach on the day of Mr
Bailie's interment j which in itfelf was an evidence that
the breach had been entirely healed, as well as the man-
ner in which he acquitt^d.hijxifelf in delineating the cha-
ra<n:er, and embalming the memory of the deceafed- It
is not ufual to employ enemies or thofc known to be
at, variance, for fuch a purpofe. The fon, who had met
with fome perfonal infult in the fçrmer conflidl of par-
ties, recoi'ds, in terms of praifc, Morus^'-s pcrforxnance
of this lall office to his beloved parent. * After the fer-
mon,' fays he, ' delivered by Mr Morus, who introduced
in it a magnificent culogium upon th.e deceafec!, in
w|iich he touched at moll of the things which we have-
above rcprefented, but incomparably better than we have
defcribed them, the whole church being, in tears ton-

'•^ Abrège, &o. p. 54. ^
f 1^'Ancillon, îylcmoires H'stor., Sec. p. 105,

Liz

36»

«Juried him to the cemetery at the side of the temple/
and faw him there interred beside his wife, and nigh
to Mr Meftrezatf.

Besides his admired talent for preaching, Morus was
noted for his acutenefs in fcholaftic controverfy, and
his readinefs in managing a difpute, which made him
a formidable antagonifl; to the Romanifts. There was
a ftory that pafled current in Paris, of an adventure
"which he is faid to have had in the college of the Sor-
bonne, which at lead fliews what opinion was generally
entertained of his erudition and the promptnefs of his
genius in that way, and which his enterprising and
fomewhat cxcentric fpirit might render credible, though
it is not fufficiently attefted. Perhaps his early and
fuccefsful competition at Geneva, might be only reviv-
ed in this new drefs, or have given rife to it. It waSj
however, inferted in a publication in Holland, in ho-
nour of his memory, feveral years after his death. We
iliall give the anecdote as told by that author, and
«juoted by Bayle, with that critic*^S remark upon it.
Speaking of the ftrength of Morus's genius, the ano-
nymous author fays,

** The Sorbonne was one day quite furprifed by at)
** accident which did great honour to Mr Morus, and
** put all the do6tors of that fociety out of counte-
*' nance, and was efteemed a kind of inchantment.
*' A certain perfon whofe face was altogether unknowa
*' to them, and whom they took at ftrll sight for fome
** country prieft, being prcfent at their diiputes desir-
*' ed the profeïïbr, who presided at that ailcmbly to
*' give him leave to propofe fome arguments. Wliick
*' being granted, he acquitted himfelf fo well, that he

•f Abrège de la Fie de M. D. p. 76.

i6g

♦« foon gained the efteem of all the cloftors : and ar
** this new antag^oniil urged his arguments, with a fur-
" prizing force, and beyond what could be cxpeded
** from him, their efteem was changed into admiration.
«« But when they faw that this powerful eçemy puHied
•* them too hard, and that they could Hand again ft the
«' force of his reafons no longer, all their admiration
*< and edeem changed into anjrcr and indignation -, and
" the difpute grew fo hot, that if he had not wifcl/
♦' got out of fo dangerous a place, lie had reafon to
*' apprehend fome mifchicf, lîul; he imiiated Jesus
«' Christ our great master, when he went out of the
•« temple to avoid the fnnres of the Pharifees, whom
«« he had confounded. In like manner our Morus, af-
*' ter he had stopped the mouths of the riiarifecs o^
•< thefe latter ages, amufed ihem wiiii foft words, went
«' out of their fyn.igogue, and fo left them. After he
•< had made his efcape, they ordered one of iheit
*« fcholars to follow him at a dillance, and watch where
4< he went in, and afterwards enquire what kinxl of man
*< this was w!io knew more than all the Sorbonne toge-
*« ther : which being ohferved by him whom they Id
" much desired to know, he turned about to him who
i' followed him, and faid only tliofe two words nu-merf»
«' Moriy and wçnt on : from whence thofe who fent
*' him prefenily concluded, that he who had given thent
<* fo much trouble, was that famous man who was one of
<« the pillars of the church of Charenton, and the terror of
«' the Romilh church."—* Ihis is what I hnd in a book,"
fays Baylc, < publiflied about a year ago, well worth read-
ing. It is now five and twenty years since I told this

in the prefence of a dodor of divinity, curate oi R- ,

a man of wit, and well verfed in the cuttoms of his re-
ligion. I was perfuadcd ot the truth of the faÛ, for I
had heard it told upon feveral occasions by men of good
fenfe -, and at the age I was then of, I fcarce^ diilruftcd
any thing that came from fuch perfons. The doCtoj:
anfwered me, it is a very pretty llory, and concludes
very ingeniously : but aflure yourfelf it is a romance^
for.*they who propofe arguments againll the thefts that
■ui^e maintained in the Sorboime, are always fuch p,eiv-
fons as are well known, and graduates in the faculty,

270

cmd obliged to wear the habits or robes belonging^ t<%
their fociety. Had the author of this (lory known thus
much, he would have changed his fccne.*

After all, the reafon assigned by the curate is no ef-
fe^lual refutation of the ftory. It is told as a singular
occurrence ; and it is possible the singularity of the ad-
venture and requeft, might make the faculty willing, for
the fake of experiment, to difpenfe in one inftance with
an academical ftatute about the ornaments and badges
of their degrees. This kind of fcholaftic difputes, then
managed by grave dodors as well as their fcholars, was
often like the tilts and tournaments of former times»
more for a triaj of skill, or for entertainment, in which.
a knight-errant might be allowed to enter the lifts, andv
break a lance, than ferions combats in defence of truth,
or for the real improvement of the mind : and they are
happily now almoft baniflied from the fchools.

It is one of the grievous and unavoidable accompani-
tnents of advanced years, that one muft fee fo many of
his former friends, and intimate aflbciates of every clafs
carried away, and laid one after another in the duft.
Though Morus lived not to extreme age, yet he had often
this grief to bear. And in the later period of his life,
besides the infirmities of body to which he was fubje<f^-
ed, and J^is other perfonal and more private affliélions»
he had an increasing burden of the public evils that were
falling upon the churches fuperadded. If he furvived
all thefe aged colleagues a fhort time, it was only to
be a forrowful witnefs of the farther and daily progrefs
of the infernal fcheme purfued by the dominant clergy,
and perfidious profligate court, for the total deftruûioa
the reformed. New intrigues» and fcenes of falfe-

iteoàt injuftice, and cruelty, were from day to day (ïîf*
clofcd ; which areMefcribcd in detail in every account of
that church, particularly in the hiftory of the edi£l:. Their
houfes of worfliip were, on the moft frivolous and falfc
pretences, condemned and (hut up, and greatly reduced
in their number •• Every art was ufed to harrafs and
vex the minifters ; — to infringe their freedom of fpeech
againft the errors and corruption of the Roman fyna-
gogue. Unwearied efforts were employed to feduce their
flocks, and to prevent them from making any more pro-
felytes. Commissioned fpics were fent to all their wor-
ihipping aflemblies, and bigotted monks and missionaries
were allowed to pefter every houfe on the design of
making converts. The door to pods of honour, or lu-
crative office*, was gradually fhut upon thofe who would
»ot turn. Proffers of gain and preferment were made
with lamentable fuccefs to thofe of higher rank ; while
the inferior clafg were wearied out with accumulated
grievances, dunned with importunity, or tempted by
paltry bribes. The simple were impofed upon by the
fubtiltics of crafty wranglers, or the insidious conces-
sions and fmoothing explications employed by the priefU
to draw them in.

Their churches internally as well as externally were

* In the fpacc of twelve years previous to 1673, ^bout one
îialf of the churches of the protcftants were taken from them.
Of 123 in Beam, there were left but 20. Of 63 in Poiftoii,
.there remained but one uncondemned ; fo that 80.000 people
there were obliged to live without any public worfliip. In
Guienne, only 3 of 80 were left. In the counti-y of Gex 23
were reduced to two. In Normandy only 3 remained : AuS.
in Provence, only 3 of 16. Some were under the necessity of
travelling 40 miles or upwards, to Ijavc the difpenfation of bap-
Ufin, or otlier ordinances.

272

visibly d.*cilning. Former zeal and courage in maintaining:^
the faith were but found among few. The ftriclnefs of dif-
cipline was reluctantly borne, and was gradually relaxed.
Apoftacies became frequent. The contagion of licenti-
ous manners fpread among the higher and lower clafTes ;
and a fpirit of conformity to the world, and to any form
of religion in faihion, became apparent. Faithful minif- '
ters may be continued, and ' a name to live' be re-
tained, for a time, in churches who are dead, or ready
to die. N^ar the time when the temple was to be made
a ruin, the carnal Jews admired its external ftrudlrure,
faying, * Behold what goodly ftones, and what manner
of building are thefe ,' fo when the perfons and gifts of
men, and the artificial embelliftiments of difcourfe, are
more regarded than the fpiritual glory, the wholefome
truths, and hidden riches of the gofpel -, — when it is
iillened to as a lovely fong,' — or as a founding brafs or
the tinkling of cymbals ; when people facliously divide as
the Corinthians did, faying, * I am of Paul, or I am of
Apolloc,' — it is a glaring proof that they « are carnal, and
walk as men ;' deftitute of fpiritual rehfli for the divine
word, having the form without the power of godlinefs.

Symtoins of fucli evils were become too apparent irt
the church of Cliarenton, that was placed fo near the
vortex of corruption -, of which this divine complains in
:fomc of his dicourfes delivered there near the end of his
minitlry. In thofe on the catechifm, a courfe of which
was regularjy kept up, he taxes them with wearying of
the length of public fervices, of coming ta hear from cu-
riosity, ard with critical or cenforious ears; with lift-
Icfsnefs jind inattention wjien a portion of the fcriptures
was publicly read from the de&k, according to another

*73

•uftom obferved in that chutch ; — of the reading of the
tible in their houfes, giving place to that of plays nhd
novels ; — of their slighting the explication of the plain
doftrines of the catechifm, and of the gentry hurrying
away home to Paris, in their carriages, from thefe after-
noon diets, that they might not lofe a city-dinner. He
charged them wkh the facrilege of Ananias, in withold-
ing one half of the Lord's day ; or rather they reduced
that day to an hour, though that hour feemed as long to
them as a day %.

The faithful Watchmen, who could hot but dlfcern
the approach of the general calamity, artd anxiously look-
ed for the breaking of a ftorm that had been fo long col-
le£ling, gave frequent warnings of it ; of whom this

J Ce lefteur n'est non plus écoute, que s'ill ifoit un livre
commun, et ordinaire : Je ne fcai pas même s'il n'y a pas tel
Jivre commun et ordinaire qui rencontreroit plus de silence,
et plus d'attcntiort,' Sec.

* Nous mettons au deflus de la Bible un roman ; après le

chapitre un fonnet, après le pfaume une comédie.' Serm.

23. sur le Catech p. 94. 98. tom 2.

* C'cft affes de venir ici le matin, difcnt nos gens a carofTo,
mais après dinee ce n'eft qu'un catechifm : si bien qu'on s'en
retourne, avant midi ; bien plus vite qu'on eft venu : Et il n'y
a perfonne qui ait rien a faire de meilleur, qui croiroient ft:
faire tort, et a leur qualité, si'ls paflbient ici toote la journée.
Cela ne leur arrive que quatre fois l'an, parce qu'alors 'l n'y a
point de catechifme. — Ils committent le facrilege en défalquant
la moitié du jour du Seigneur. Que disje la moitié ? Ils font
ce jour d'une heure, de je ne fcai qu'elle devotion. Il efl vrsi
que cette heure leur dure autant qu'un jour, et qu'en s'en re-
tournant, ils difont, que le prtche a ete bien long ; mais il n':i
garde d avoir ete aussi long que leur fahat a etc court. Ils
perdent le catechifme pour ne perdre pas nu difner a la ville ;
mais pour augmenter tant foit peu leurs rentes, il n'y a point
de repas ni corporel ni spirituel qu'ils ne perdent volontiers.'
Ibid- Serm. î. torn i p. 32. See alfo the Extradas added t
iJcléîl Sermons, p. 156, &c.

M m

274

paflor was one. The apprehension he exprefled, in fucH
a feeling manner, upon the death of Mr Drelincourt, he
Jived to fee in part realifed -, though his wifh was granted,
to be removed from the world before the final cataflrophe,
that haftened on more rapidly from the year in which
he was laid in his grave. The churches had a refpite
for about fifteen years longer, but it was only to fufFer a
more lingering death.

It may be accounted, in fome refpe£ls, a greater trial
of faith and refolution, for minifters or private Chriftians,
to continue (ledfaft in their profession, under a conti-
nued feries of perfecuting meafures, and feverities, tho*
of a kiTcr kind, than when the attack is more dire£t and
violent : and their integrity and firmnefs may be faid to
be more put to the proof in a declining ftate of a church,
and in the wane and difgrace of a public caufe, and a-
midft daily inftances of defertion and falling, than in
the beginning of a reformation, when it is rising like
the morning light with luftre, and power, amidft the
furrounding darknefs, and in the face of ferocious and
liatcd tyranny, awakening refentment and indignation
in almoft every mind, by inhuman butcheries. Difco-
veries of truth, when they appear new, take fafter hold,
of the heart, zeal newly kindled has a fiercer blaze, and
liopes of fuccefs are then more lively and ardent. The
fufFcrings of tliofe who lead the way, and even the death
of fuch as fall martyrs in the good caufe, render it more
confpicuoiis, attrafl: admiration, and have often animated
others to maintain or engage in the fame conflidl : and
they will be long remembered and celebrated among a
numerous train of followers, when they reap the fruit»
of their Libour and fufierings. But it is otherwife wbe»

275

the brîghtnefs of the morning, and the vigour and fplen-
dor of the meri<iian have difappeared, and the fun is
hafting to go down. Men's minds are differently affeft-
cd : and nothing but difcouraging profpeds appear be-
fore them. Their efforts, are ready to gri^jy languid in
proportion as thty appear to be fruitlefs \- and their zeal
to abate as the caufe feems hopelefs. The language of
thofe mentioned by the prophet, is then heard, « Wo
unto us, for the day pafTeth aviray ; and the fhadows of
the evening are (Iretched out.'

But inftances of fidelity, in fuch circumûances, are
peculiarly noble, and thofe who then keep the word ot
Chrid's patience, are worthy of praifc ; as to maintain
allegiance to a prince in a time of general confpiracy
and treafon, is more honourable than at other times.
To endure a long protraded siege, when the walls arc
under-mined, when breaches are daily made, and poll
after poll taken, to retain courage, and persift in a vigo-
rous defence to the laft, even when there may be no
profpe<ft of eventual fuccefs, is no kfs heroic than to
mount the breach in an afTault, fluftied with the hopes
of conqueft, or to difperfe the forces of the enemy in the
field, and to feize his ilandard with the hazard of life,
amidft the (bouts and applaufe attending vidory-

Not a few of the minifters and Chriftians among the
reformed in France, in the period referred to, became
thus worthy coufeffors, fome of them defcrvlng to be
numbered among thofe who had pcrifhed on the feaifold,
had been flain by the fword, or expired in fire's; and
thofe who endured the previous trials, and ptrfcvered
unto the end, when all to appearance was fad going to
wrack, and every hope of being favcd was taken away,
M m 2

2y6

though they lived not to fee all the houfes of God in thé
laud, rafed to the foundation, may be ranked with them
who afterwards fufFered baniftiment, the lofs of their
goods, imprifonmcnts, or tortures, for the fame caufe.
Of this number was Morus.

When the aeal for profelytifm ran fo high, not only
among the clergy, but at court, and among many of the
quality, attempts were made to gain over any who
were eminent for reputation and learning. We need
not wonder therefore that he was assiduously courted,
and had tempting offers repeatedly made to him, and had
he been fo difpofed, he might have obtained, according
to the language and cftimate of the world, good terms
for himfelf. He was expofed particularly to thefe folici-
tations, when his procefs was depending, and variance
fubsifting between him and his brethren. But neither
the chagrin, or what he might reckon the hard ufage,
that he endured among thofe of his own profession, nor
the flattering proffers made to him, could ever fhake bis
attachment to the proteftant faith. A writer of the other
religion, and one of his literary acqainlances bears wit-
nefs of this. Manage, of the French academy, fays, ' Mr
Morus declared before his death, that no one had tempt-
ed him more than he had done to change his religion.
The duchefs d'Aiguillon ordered me to ofïêr him a pen-
sion of 4000 livres from her. I prevailed with the abbe
Goudin to mention that affair to Mr de Perefixe then
aichbifhop of Paris, and he fpoke of it to the king. His
majefty faid upon that fubjed, that it was not a proper
feafon, that it would be doing him an injury to attempt
it at a time when he had a procefs depending with his
brethren-* That writer adds, who could not, however^

277

"be a competent judge of the origin of the fornfier difputes,
* Morus occasioned difputes wherever he went. He had
raifed fchifms in Holland and all other places, and even
at Paris. One might compare him to Helen, who kindled
wars wherever (he went §.' ^

If Morus was able to officiate during the fummer after
his lingering indifposition, in autumn he was fcized with
his lafl: illnefs, which put a period to his troubJefome
courfe, and carried him where men's love and hatred, and
ftrife, perilh. Under the continuance of his malady, he
enjoyed the free e:(ercife of his faculties and fpeech, and
employed them much to the edification of thofc who at-
tended him, or came to fee him. Upon the intimation
given him by the physicians of his approaching end, he
not only fliewed the greateft; resignation and willingnefs
to depart, but exprefTed the highift comfort and joy at the
profpedl:. While he made a folcmn declaration of his
innocence as to the matters of which he had been accuf-
ed, he, at the fame tim:?, declared, that he had forgot-
ten all paft injuries, and heartily forgave even thofe who
had been moft keenly engaged in opposition to him. He
invited them to come among others to visit him, that he
might aflure them of this with his own mouth. Perfons
of all ranks, and of both religions, tcftified their regard
for him under his distrefs, and many visited him.

Among others, the Marefchal Grammont, one of the
peers of France, and brother to the count de Gram-
mont, whofe adventures are not unknown to Englifli
readers if, having been fent by the king's order to visit

^ Menaglana, p. 153.

\ He married a lady belcMiging to the family of the Duke
pf Ifemilton. The « Memoirs of the Count dc Grammont,'

278

him in his extremity, upon his return, his majefty askeiâ
him how he did ? The Msrefchal replied, • Sire, I faw
him expire : He has died a good Huguenot : but what
makes me regret him the more is, that he has died in %
religion, which is as unfafhionable now-a-days as a fugar-
loaf-hatt-'

He died in September, 1670, in the houfe of the
Duchefs of Rohan, who was one who continued firmly
attached to the protestant caufe, as her illustrious family
had long done ; and who interefted herfelf in the wel-
fare of the fufFering church in that kingdom, after fo
many, through timidity, or love of the world, had ' put
away a good confcience, and concerning faith had made
(hip- wreck.*

As Mr Morus never was married, it does not appear
that he had, in France at least, kept a feparate houfe
and family of his own. His prudence in this may be
questioned. The single life, however favourable, in fome
refpe^ls, to literary and studious perfons, is yet lefs fuit-
able, in other refpe£ls, to thofe in public office, and who
are obliged to move in the focial circle : besides, as it ex-
pofes perfons more to temptation, and to reproach, this
might have given the rumours difadvantageous to him,
more ready currency. But whatever men's fentiments
might be before, the manner of his death fo edifying,
tended to obliterate all unfavourable impressions : * It
was accompanied with fuch circumstances,' fays Benoit,
^ as fatisfied even thofe whom he called his enemies § *

•were embellifhed by the pen of Count Hamilton, one of the
fafhionable writers of the age of Lewis XIV.

'I Suite (ie Menageana, p. 82.

§ Histoire, &;c. Tom. 3. 1. 3. p. 316,

279

vyi v.». ".^o. interesting concluding fcene, we (hall
translate and infert licre part of the more circumstantial
account that was given of it, and fome of his difcourfe
preceding, by one who attended him ; which was after-
wards publifhed, but is now rarely ro be met with in Bri-
tain, under the title,

Le« derniers discours de m. morus J, &c.
7he last DlsCTurses of Mr Morus, reported in a Letter written
from Paris the 7/A of Oaober, 1670 ; by a gentleman of qna-

llty to hts mother.

* Madam,

* It is with extreme grief, I inform you of
the lofs of my deareft friend that I had in the world,
the illuftrious Mr Morus, our dear paftor, who died the
8th of September laft, aged 54 years. He ended his
days at 8 o'clock in the evening ; and thus finifliing his
€ourfe at the fetting of the fun, he faw the fun of righ-
teoufnefs arife to enlighten the firft day of his eternal
reft. I attempt not to reprefcnt him fuch as he now is
in heaven all (hining in glory : I wifh only to Ihow him
to you fuch as he was in his earthly pilgrimage. I con-
fefs, I have not colours fufficiently lively to paint him to
the life : but I- (hall effay, to give at leaft a faint sketch
of his charafter.

* This faithful minlfter of Jefus Chrift had a great
and rare genius, and an elevation of fpirit altogether
singular. Nothing efcaped his knowledge, or his me-
mory. He appeared at his outfet fo extraordinary, thac
he faw himfclf both minifter and profefTor, at an age

X Amsterd. ches Dan. Elzevîer, i63o. There ij a copv"
in the*Advocates Library, Edinburgh.

28o

■wîvcn the mofl excellent wits are only fcholars. Ttom.
the'f: glorious beglnninjrs, he continutd to make fuch
progrefs, that his reputation fprcad, in a little time> thro*
■;ill Europe, of which he became the admiration. Swit»
2crlj»ul, Holland, Italy, Sweden, and England, gave
the mofl authentic tokens of it ; and their republics,
princes, and kings, beftowed glorious monuments of
their liberality, God had enriched him with fuch ex-
cellent taletits for preaching the gofpel with eihcacy,
and for eflablifliing the truth of our religion, that he
condrained mens minds by a gentle violence, and fully
perfuaded their hearts. He had a manly eloquence,
which foothcd not the fenfes, but penetrated to the very
bottom of the foul. Nothing could resist the admirable
force of his reafoning. He awakened the moft flcepy
confciences ; and if the adverfaries, who came very oftea
to heir him, durrt not confefs their defeat, they were
forced at lead to admire him. He always preached with
applaufe. Who among us ever heard him, without hav"
iiig the heart touchcti, and without returning to his houfe
edified ? Did not our heart burn within us, while he
opened to us the fcripturcs .' Would to God we could dill
hear that voice of thunder arraigning vice and falfehood,
with fuch awe, in the chair of verity. The ancients clip-
ped the wings of viclory for fear it fliould have fled away
from them. 15ut it would hare been unjull, as it was
impossible, in order to have detained mat great man a-
mong us, to have clipped the wings of his faith, by which
he was carried up to heaven.

• With thefe great gifts, he had alfo his thorn j Icaft,
no doubt, he fliould become too proud of them. His
life had been travjrrfed with great and vexatious troubles.

i8i

to much the more infupporiable in a làan of his profei*
sion, as he was innobent of the things laid to his charge.
He had the lot of extraordinary men to be attacked by
cnyy; but he had alfo the advantage of confounding
ît» efforts ; and in dying he finifhed his triumph over
it. I have always obfcrved in him much of opennefs
and freedom, which feldom can accommodate to the
age : but above all, a fund of admirable probity.

* It is difficult to find words to cxprefs adequately his
merit. All that I have faid is only a faint (hadow of
that excellent man. It is nothing to hear one fpeak-
ing of him : it would be needful to have heard himfclf^
difcoursing on the principal myfteries of falvationj and
the grounds of the Chriftian religion.

* I have profitcdi to my great comfort, by his falu-
tary and edifying convcrfatlons during his illnefs, par-
ticularly in the interval of an apparent convalefcence»
which for fifteen days made us hope for the re-efta-
blifliment of his health. He fpoke to me fo many ex-
cellent things at different times j and uttered fo many
to thofe illuftrlous minlflers of his church, who crowd-
ed in to fee him during the lafl days of his life, that I
cannot refrain from Imparting fome of them to you,
as a precious antidote agalnft the vanity of this world,
and as food proper for nouriflilng the Chrldian life.

* He fpoke particularly agalnft the vanities of the
world.— He (hewed the. truth of the Reformed religion,
and its conformity to that of the holy Apoftles. — He
vindicated the clearnefs of the holy fcrlptures. — He de-
plored the blindnefs of the men of the world. — And
from the consideration of his own condition, took oc-

Nn

182

casîon to fpeak of the manner of comforting the af-'-'
fliaed.

* I fliall report/ fays the writer of the narrative, * his
own w>ords, from which you may fee that this illuftrious
man when dying, preferved to the extremity of his Hfe,
the fame genius, full of fire, and all burning with love
lôr heaven, which made hiiii to be admired.'

The narrator, then, at fome length, records the fpeech-
es that dropt from his mouth, on each of thefe fubje^ts,
of which, though worthy of being detailed to the Chrif-
tlan readeir at large, we can only here give a few extrafts
as a fpecimen.

On the fir ft of thefe, he faid, * Solomon, the wifcft
of men, after having considered the vaft extent and in-*
ftability of this lower world, juftly cried out, 'Vanity
of vanities, all is vanity.' In reality the glory of this
World is only a vapour, which dissipates as it rifes. It
is a (hadow that flies ; à dream that paflès, and which
leaves nothing more than a light impression of imaginary
enjoyments with which it flattered our hopes. Our hands
are empty and vi^earied in our courfe ; and our desire, in-
fiitiable after the treafures which it believed it poflefled,
complains aiid is grieved in having fouiid nothing but
Vi'ind.'

Having obferved that no condition in which mortals
can be placed, or employment in which they may be
engaged, is exempted fri)m vexation and trouble in the
world, he exemplified this in the office in which hè
liimfclf had been engaged, — that of the holy miniftry,
and in the public civil oflice in which the perfon he ad-
drcflcid hrmfelf to was employed. After having noticed
the excellence, and authority of the gofpel- miniftry, iix

283'

tht: language of the New Teftament, as the light of tlxe^
world, the enibafsy from heaven, &c — he touched on
the cares, the labours and painful duties and requisite
qualities of thofe that exercifc it : the opposition and con-
tempt to which they are expofed from the world ; he
added, * We may fay truly» that our reign is not of this
world : on the contrary, our Lord faid to his ApolUcs,
* Ye fliall be hated of all men for my name's fake : — In
the world ye (hall have tribulation \ — we fee it, we feel
it ftill to the prefent.day : but we are comforted as thty
were with the words he fubjoined : — * Be of good courage,
\ have overcome the world,*

The gentleman to whom he fpoke being a counfcUop
in the court, to him he faid, ' As for you, tho' you b?
veded with magiRratical authority (la fouveraine magif-
trature) and clothed with the purple, though God him-
felf calls you gods on earth, you mufl lofe your repofç
in order to give it to others. The higher your elevation
is, the lefs will ye be difpofed to look into yourfelves.
That high rank to which you are raifed loads you with
chains, honourable indeed to thofe who know how to
fupport the weight of them, but difgraceful to thofe
who drag them along. In order tp give himfclf to the
public, he mud renounce hin^fclf, and his liberty. lie
mud have clear perceptions of juftice, in order to freeo.
thers from iniquity : he mufl: not take phantoms for truths,
or the fhadow for the body. You ought ever to watc^
over your acUons — which will continue engraven on

the memory of men And, in fine, you muft give an

account of your adminiflration. You are yet young ;

detach yourfelf betimes from the vàin honours and

grandeur of (he cariJi; whofc fmoke vanilhes as it 4-

N n 2

284

fcends. All thefe periftiable enjoyments cannot conftk
tute your felicity : Their glory is deceitful, and of ftiort
continuance : * As the flower of the grafe they do paf$
away :* but « godlinefs hath the promife of the life that
now is and of that which is to come : Trufl not in un-
certain riches ;' be careful to * lay up treafure in heaven,
where the thief cannot enter.' What will it avail world-
ly men, when dying, that they have amafled treafurcs,
on earth, — or that they have made their name to be car-
ïied to the end of the world ? or, even * to gain the whole
.'«^orld and Ipfe their own foul ?*

' Chrift is the true gain, — which all fhould feek to win..
It is tliat only which can be retained when dying, and
which can be enjoyed after death, — death which drips
man of all greatnefs, and brings him to his primitive nak-
ednefs. Man lofes all earthly good upon quitting the world,
and as he • brought nothing into it, fo it is certain he can
carry nothing out of it.' But the faithful, who has long-
ed only for fpiritual blessings, and who has truly gained
Chrift, will then find himfelf clothed with immortality.
"He will carry with him that glorious gain he has made,
fcy a holy commerce between earth and heaven.

* The covetous makes his treafyre his god, the vo-
luptuous places his happinefs in his pleafures i and the
ambitious makes his honour his idol : We ought to change
the objcdl of our love, and (hould feek neither cur hon-
ours, our pleafures, or our riches except in Chrift. The
Chriftian, in a word, makes his God his treafure. It is
mot flefti or blood that has revealed thefe things to us,
but the word of God : it is the fame religion that has
commanded us to have only one Got!, and one king : to
acknowledge Jefus Chrift for the King of kings, and after

285

Jh» OUT fovereign monarch, for whofe fcrvice we flioulâ
have an inviolable fidelity.' Here he fhewed the obliga-
tion upon magiftrates to maintain and inculcate this duty^
and of miniftcrs to preach it : vindicating the proteftant»
in that kingdom, on this head» againll the calumnies
çf iheir enemies -, as having always been fubmissive to
the laws, and refpefiful and obedient to his majefty ; and
« though indifcrect zeal,' he added, * fliould blacken their
moft blamelefs adions, as it had formerly done thofe of
the ancient Chriftians under Trajan ; our great monarch,
more juft and good than Trajan, who knows our good
intentions, and that wc pray God, wiih all our heart»
for the profpcrity of his perfon, the glory of his arms,
and the duration of his reign, will allow us to live in
J)eace under the ftiadow of his laurels/

But how far was he miftaken in thefe moft rcafonable
expeftations ; and in the true character of that ^rand
monarque ! that blot and perpetual infamy to the narftc of
king, by his perfidy, ingratitude, ambition, luft, bigotry,
and rclentlefs perfecutions.

On the head of the Differemt Religions in the
world, he faid,

* Having carefully considered them, and examined
their fundamental grounds and principles, the greater
part of which were fupported by the policy of dates
and their different intereils, — there were none compar-
able to the Chriftian religion ; which did not consist
merely in myfterious doctrines of falvation ; but muft
be a living principle, efFcctually influencing the believer.
It is properly the union of the Spirit of God with the
heart of man, making them by 'adoption the children of
God, of which Paul fpeaks with fuch energy.

* Jîut among all Chriftians, I have fouiKi our belief
purely orthodox, and wholly detached from worldly in-
icreft. It is only founded on Scripture, the pillar of

268

truth : it always takes the part of God againft the crea^^
ture, and never parts the honour of the Creator between,
them. Being wholly divine, it cannot admit the tradi-
tions of men ; for every man is a liar ; and the word of
God alone is infallible.

* Remember flill that religion is above reafon, and
depends wholly on revelation. Yet when I confult my
reafon and my fenfes, as well as my religion and faith,
I can fee that it is the greateft abufc in the world, to
call thac religion, efpecially the Chriftian religion, which
is a wifdom purely human, which is occupied in pomp
and ceremonies ; of which it may be faid in allusion to
the language of the pfalmiit, * This is not the doing of the,
Lord, yet it is wondrous in our eyes.' Nothing has a
greater appearance of being reafonable ; and the Roman
empire is flill at prefent, what it has always been, the
moft admirable thing in the world. But what faith the
Spirit of God when we confult him ?' —

And here he (hewed from different parts of fcripture»
how high the thoughts and ways of God are above thofe
of men, and how different from them, — in the means, the
methods, and the perfons he has chofen, to promote the
interefts of his kingdom, and to enjoy the privileges of
it -, closing with^.the words of Jefus, when he faid, I,
thank thee, O Father ! becaufe thou haft hid thefe things
from the wife and prudent, a«d haft revealed them unto
babes, even fo becaufe it feemed good in thy sight.*
• Such,' added he * is not our reafon, fuch is not our
judgment ; but if fuch is the good pleafure of God, and
if the Son of God himfelf acquiefces in his good pleafyre,'
how can we have the audacity to cavil, and to demand,
of him the reafon ?*

To pafs other topics on which he fpoke, • eight day^
before his dcceafe, according to the opinion and advice
of the physicians, intimation vi as given him of his ap-
proaching death. He received the meflage as a true

Chriftian. He faid, •

' They had brought very joyful news ; and that he
had long been preparing for that great journey from eariK

287

tb heaven. With that view, he had daily meditated 6W
thefe beautiful wo?ds of Paul, * My desire is to depart
and to be with Chrift, which is far better/ I am ufe-
lefs to the world : my days arc full of grief ; I (hall be
delivered from the perfecutions I have endure^-

I do not wonder that the men of the world have fuch
difficulty to quit it ; they have chofen it for their habita-
tion, as if they were to remain there for ever, For my
part, I quit it without regret: heaven is my country;
here we have no continuing city. If we rcfledl feriously
on the (hortnefs and miferies of this life, we will find
that a great part of it is fpent in sleep, which is a kind
of death, — the reft in affliflions, in troublefome affairs»
in vexations and maladies. And the life we live, ought
not to be called life, if it be not employed in the fervice
©f God. This (hould be the only employment of the
Chriftian in the world, which comforts him in his toils
and in the midft of his fufFerings, while he calls to mind,
that to strvt God is to reign.

But to how many temptations are we expofed ? How
many crofles muft be borne ? How many enemies have
we all to combat ? Perfecutions without, and passions
within, produce a continual war : every one in his heart
facrificing to his predominant passion, rears there an al-
tar to his idol. ' The flefli lufteth againft the fpirit, and
the fpirit againft the flefli,'

Happy is he, who meditating upon his earthly houfe,
on his poor veflel of earth, and on his bonds, can fay
■with the Apoftle, * Chrift is my life, and for me to die*
is gain.' He had far greater tranquillity in his chains,
than Nero had upon his throne.

How much more joy has the believer in tafting the
confolation of heaven in affligions» than forrow and bit-
ternefs, under the fenfe of his miferies. * Chrift is my
gain in life and in death,' — faid this apoftle of grace.
With him the balance hung in e^uililrio. Some faints have
wiftied for life, as David, who faid, Thofe who go down
to silence and ly in the grave cannot fliew forth thy praife.
Others have wiftied to die, as Job, who was wearitd of
living in his miferies, and faid, My foul chufeth death
rathef than life. Paul alone accounted life and death to
him indift'erencj fo much was he resigned to the will of

his mafter. < Be ye followers of me,' fàid,he, * cveh ^è
I am of Chrifl.' After his example then, Chriftians muft
pafs tht;ir life in patience, and wait th^ir death with joy,
and gloçify God in the one and in the other. And. a»
by man corrupted, * sin entered into the worlds and deatK
by sin ;' fo the death of the faithful is the grave of sin.
Why then fhould we fear what delivers us frpm all that
feparates us from God ?

It is wrong to fay, that there is a remedy for everyr
thing bat death : death is itfelf the remedy for all our
evils, and fufFcrings. We ought therefore to render it
familiar to Us, since it procures fuch great good ; and
to think often upon it, for it will come whether we thinU
of it or not. We ought to get acquainted with it, that
when it fliews its terrible face, it may not frighten us,
Vut that we may receive it as the meffenger of good news»
and that makes fuch a happy change iil oUr condition-
taking us from this dark world to the Father of lights, and
and f''om a mortal and perilhable life, to that which is
eternal. ' I know that my Redeemer liveth,* &c. I
know that * he who raifed up Jefus from the dead, fhall
alfo quicken our mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwell-
eth in Us.'

* See me,' faid he farther, * at the point of appearing
before the tribunal of God, the great judge of all, to
whom account muft be given of what he has committed
to our truft, even of every idle word. For I have often
told you, the lafl day of every man's life is the day of the
great judgment to him. The hour of his death is the
hour of his deftiny : fuch as he (hall be found then, fuch
ftiall he be at the coming of the Lord. We ought to
join the moment of death with that of the refurre£lioa
in body and foul ^ the long interval of time between the
two, ferves nothing for repentance. Mortal men fhould
fo w.ïtch over their allions as if they were every day at
the very eve of the day of judgment-, and who knows
but he may fay, * this night thy foul (hall be required of
thee ?* — * To d.iy, if ye will hear my voice,' &c.

Tliis to day is ours, to-morrow is the Lord'». Let
us improve time : diligence is neceiTary as toother affairs
of ths world, much more as to concerns of falvation.
Koae ought to defer to the eod of his days the care of

289

ïrcpcnting ; nor confecratc his youth to the world» a&4
%ccp his old age fo« God.

The world and its pomp ftiould be early renounced,
even to day ; for who can promife himfelf one moment.
Thofe who fay, they will repent before they die, promife
more than is in their power, and contrary to their inten-
tion.— The hour of death may arrive to-day.— And how
can they flatter thcmfelves that God will give them the
grace of a time to repent, while they give themfelves to
iheir lu(ls, and all the diforders of the flelh ?

Thofe who think to prolong their days by denying
the truth which they profefs, on account of the evils
with which they may be threatened, and the punifliment
that may be prepared for them, ought to remember, that
nothing is theirs but the prefent. The hiftory of the
three martyrs, who were expofed naked on the ice, that
they might die of cold, while at the fame time a great
£re was made for them, (hould be ever prefent to their
memory and their eyes. One of them, after having re-
mained a long while expofed, chufed rather to deny his
'faith, that he might warm himfelf at that material fire,
thinking to fave his life, than fuffer courageously a cruel
death, with his companions, for the truth of Chriftiani-
ty. But he was deceived in his expectation ; for the
cold having already feized him, he did not efcape death.
Think what muft have been his defpair, to have loft his
life, which he thought to prolong, and at the fame time
to be for ever deprived of eternal life ! To-day then
without delay, let us make a general review ; and ex-
amine our confcicnce. There is no longer time for dif.
guifc. To what purpofe will it ferve to au. the hypo-
crite ? Doth not God fee our heart .'' and muft we not
judge ourfelvcs ?*

HerefollotvtJ a déclaration of the state of his own conscience ;
particularly In reference to the matters of which some had at-
cu ted him) in the folloiuing terms * :

• But becaufe truth never blufties for having been

•-►Mais parcc-quc la veritc nc rougit jamais d'avoir ete ca.
clicc, je mc fens oblige de vous dire, fans pour tant vouloir
faire mon apologie, que ic fuis isnoccnt dw chgfci dont ou

concealed, I feel myfelf obliged to declare to you, witlijî
out meaning however to make my apology, That I am In^
nocent of the things of tvh'ich I have heenacciised ; and that I
could not in confcience, make the declaration that fome
would exa£l of me. Nothing is more terrible, nothing
more cruel than the torment of an evil confcience. It is
a good confcience that gives true joy. It is as the eye of
the foul : if a thorn be in the foot, the pain may be en-
dured ; but if it be in the eye it is infupportable. Con-
fcience is fo tender and delicate, that the lead thing mor-
tally wounds it.

Though God has proved rrie by great and fcvere trials,
he has always fupported me : I would without doubt
have funk under them, if I had been guilty of the things

m'a accufe ; et que je n'ay pu faire, en confcience, la declara-
tion qtie l'on a voulu exiger de moy. Rien n'eft plus horrible
qne le tourment d'une mauvaife confcience, rien n'eft plu»
cruel'. C'cft la bonne confcience qui donne une veritable joyc.
Elle eft comme l'œil de l'ame, &c

Quoy.qne Dieu m'ait éprouve par de grandes et de rudes
épreuves, il m'a toujours foutenu : et j'aurois fans-doute fuc-
combe si j'eufie ete. coupable des cHofes que l'on m*imputoit%
Enfin, Dieu a permis que la vérité fut connue, et mon inno-
cence avérée, et rendue pnblic par le jugement de ceus qui ca
etoient les juges competcns et legitimes.

Mais quoy qu' innocent des chofes que l'on m'imputoit
centre la vérité me rcconnoiffant pécheur devant Dieu, Je luit
demande tref ardamment pardon de mes fautes et de tous me»
péchez, &e.

Il ajouta enfuîte, qu'il pardoïmoit de bon cœur a tous ceu»
qui l'avoient offenfe, fans aucune exception, même a ceus qui

ravoiént pourfuivy aveque le plus de chaleur, &c. Que si

dans fa jnfte defenfe il en avoit offenfe quelques-uns, il les
pr.ot de lui pardonner d'aussi bon cœur qu'il pardonnoit, de
fa part, a tous ceus qui lui aviient fait tort, et qui lui avoi-
ent ete le plus contraires,

C'eft ainsi que le mourant s'en eil aussi explique dans foo
Teftament, qu'il fit quelques jours après, avec une grande
tranqiiilite d'cfprit. Il les envoya tous prier de le venir voir :
ilii y vinrent l'un après l'autre. Il leur parla, et dit qu'il
avoit tout oublie II fe réconcilia derechef avec eus, et leur
donna fa benedidion-, fans ceflcr de méditer avec joye fur le
jour de fon trepss, 5;c.

295

di^t were laid to mij charge. In the end, God has per-
mitted that the truth (houid have been known, and my
innocence avowed» and rendered public by the judgment
of thofe \yho were the coiTipetent and lawful judges of it.

But though innocent of thofe things that w^rc falfely
imputed to me, acknowledging myfelf a sinner before
God, 1 moll earnellly ask of ^lim the pardon of all my of-
fences and sins, fupplicating him with my whol-e heart,
to be merciful to me through the mc-it and intercession
of his Son, my Saviour, and only mediator, Jcfus Chriil i
and that when my foul (hall be fcparated from my body,
he may be pleafed to receive it to his holy paradife.'

He added afterwards, ' that he heartily forgave all
thofe who had offended him, and without any exception,
even thofe who had profecuted him with the greatelt
heat,^being willing charitably to believe that they had
done, fp, with good intentions, though he was innocent
of the tilings they laid to his charge. Yet if he had,
in his jufl defence, offt^ndcd any, he requeiled them alfo
to forgive him, with the fame sincerity as he, on his
part, forgave all who had injured him, even thofe who
had been his greatelt opponent^.'

In the fame manner did he exprcfs hinifclf in liis tefla-
ment, which he made fome days after, w ith great coai-
pofure of mind. He fentto thtm all intreatmg tiicm to
come and fee him : they came one after another. He
fpoke to them, and told them that he liad forgotten all.
He was reconciled to them all ; and gave them liis bcne-
diélion ; ai,id continued to meditate with joy upon the
day of his departure,' &c.

* In the lalt converfation he had with his brethren
and beloved colleagues, he repeated again a folcmn avow-
al of his innocence, addressing them thus, ' 1 Ihoutd be,
very miferable at prcfent, at the very point of death, If
along with the troubles I lufter, my foul were fubjt-ft to
inquietudes and remorfe, that might hinder the happy
intercourfe which I have with my God.
, I again proiefl with sincerity, and for your edification,
that I am innocent of the charges that have been brought
againft^me. it is enough for my conifort, that my con-
{çïtnctt is pure, and has nothing to reproach m.e wich
•n that head, I have coobigned to oblivion the names
Oq2

fÊ0

of the petfons and the things, and I desire ho more to rt^-
member either the on« or the other.

Though otherwife a great sinner, yea, very great, I
have made my peace with my God. I have obtained my
pardon of his great mercy : and I feel, by his grace, in
my heart, * a joy unfpeakable and full of glory.' ' My foul
thirfteth for God. When fball I drink and be fatisfied
\^ith the rivers of his pleafurcs ?' * O when (hall I enter,,
and appear before the face of my God ?'

* Thefe words gave occasion to the paftors who re-
main with us, (fays the narrator) the very worthy fuc-
ceflbrs of their brother, and to whom the holy Spirit has
alfo imparted very excellent gifts, which have rendered.
them famous every where, and made theiv works to be
regarded by the finefl: geniufes of the age, — to teftify to,
their dying colleague, their unfpeakable regrets at fuch a
painful feparation. They were fo edified by his great;'
resignation to the will of God, accompanied with fuch
confidence in his mercy, that they wi{hed to be exhorted
themfelves by him for their confoiation. And when they
fpoke to him of the efficacy and ufefulnefs of his minif-
Try, he replied, ^e icay a qui fay cru, et pour ce ay- je park. ' I
know in whom I have believed, and therefore have I fpok-
cn.' It is not enough that a miniftcr preach the gcfpel
■with approbation ; it is not enough that he perfuade o-
thers, he muft perfuade himfelf. It is not enough that
lie have eloquence, fine wit, and learning : knowledge
mufl be accompanied with a good confcience, and the
inward practice of the holy doctrines that he tetches.

* My dear companions,' he continued, ' never departf
from the purity of what you and I have preached during
the courfe of our miniftry. Imitate rather St Paul, who
though preaching at Corinth, that city fo famous, and
one of the mod polite in his time, faid, * When I came
to you, I came not with excellency of fpeech or of wif-
dom, declaring unto you the teftimony of God : For I
determined not to know any thing among you fave jefus
Chrirt, and him crucified.' And my fpeech J, &c. Keep
then, my dear colleagues to the language of the holy
Spirit, whofe force is always victorious.

* I have now feen controverfy and preaching fall at

ij; 1 Cor. ii. ter. i, 2. 4.

29Î

lT<y feet : beside tliè knowledge of faîv?.tion, aH the rtft
is nothing. Other iciences and fliining gifts are cxtin-
gùi{hed by death r, and are buried in the tomb. * iCnow-
îedge pufFeth up, but charity edifictli' our neighbours ia
this world, and follows us inlo the other, where love
mufl inflame our hearts while we beholil the eternal God
• with open face,' even Jefus Chrill crucified. This iç
the whole fcience of the Chriftian. Jefus by his death
has teftified his greateil love to us and ihe whole humai*
kindf. He entered into the tomb that he might open to
us the gate of paradife, and obtain for us eternal life. I
am affiired of this by his Spirit, by which I fee already
the heavens open, as clearly as in a mirror from which
riie Curtain is drawn aside. I fee my Saviour at the right
hand of the Father, who interce'^es for me. Though i
perceive the (linking fores of my body to run, and tho*
my sins be dill more loathfome and horrible, I know
that my foul is for a fweet favour before the Lord. I
have within me, * the white (lone, which no man know-
eth but he who rcceiveth it.' I an^ aflured that neitheif
death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor jxjw-
ers, nor things prefent, nor tilings to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, (hall be able to fe-
parate me from the love of God, which is in Chritl
Jefus p Yes, (he exclaimed, lifting up his hands) Ouy.
je me cramponne § y a Juus Chust mon unique Saveur; I
fallen upon and cleave to jEbUs Christ my only Saviour.*

*■ 'the next day, which was the day of his death, hè
gave his paftoral blessing to his church in general and
in particular ; and fifpplicared that off the great ami
living God for it, with incomparable zreal. He after-
wards exhorted to perfeverance fcveral illuftrious mem*
bers of which it was compofcd ; and fpoke to the hit
With admirable prcfence of mind and fervour.

It was then he addrelîed his fpeech to a perfon oï
quality, who was prefent, and faid,

f This expression is rather ambiguous. J Rom. viii. 38, 39.
§ .The word is very forcible, signifying to fasten as with«
cramp-iron.

394

* I am not în a condition here to pronounce your tloit
^ium, or to ofFcr you the incenfe of flattery. You have
committed a great sin : (and he pointed out the circum-
(lances of it.) Humble yourfelf deeply before God.
Send up from the bottom of your heart, the moft ar-
dent sighs to the throne of his grace i that he may hear
them, and fmell therein a favour of pacification fun»
edeur d'apaument,) I have often obferved in you the
marks of a bitter grief : your tears confirm this to me
a-new. If your repentance be sincere, fear not : God
■will grant you his mercy, and pardon this great offence
with all your other sins. Continue firm and unlhakea
amidft all the agitations of the world, in advancing ftill
towards the end of your faith and holy calhng. You
rAuft feek the peace of heaven, and peace within you,
which can only be found by being at peace with God.*

After feveral other exhortations to godlinefs, and in
commendation of the divine peace, that attends it, too
long to be here inferted, he added,

* It is by this peace and this fweet tranquility that I
find myfelf wholly detached from the earth, and am tru-
ly made free from the fpirit of bondage, and enjoy the
liberty of the fons of God. It is fuch grace as partakes
already of glory. By this free and gracious accefs to his
throne of grace, by the intercourle which I have with
my God, I have heard his Spirit faying in my heart,
• My grace is fufficient for thee,' with a voice as intelli-
gible as mine is now heard by you. — Every one will not
believe it ; but I am no visionary ; I fpeak the truth.
Breathe after this precious peace : ask it of the Prince
of peace, who will give it not as the world givcth. Go
in peace, believing foul, and the God of peace fliall be
with you, and one day with your pofterity. Possibly
you may not fte it, but doubtlefs this muft be the crown
of your wiflies." Hope, perfevere and you fliall infal-
libly obtain : though God for a time, may drive back the
flame of your prayers, it is to excite greater ardour, and
to render them more vehement.

To others he faid^ you have gloriously resifted the
temptations of the world. Beware left it allure you by

»95

its falfe delights, and by the high examples which ftrite
at firft view the ignorant> and draw thofe who rely liko
(hem on the arm of flefh, blindly to follow them, with-
out examining the motives of their change. You may
lofe much with refpeft to the world ; its wealth, honours,
and dignities. But one (hould know how tO'lofe in order
to make gain, and a great gain : — lo lof« what is moft
dear in this world, to gain Chrift, who declares in the
gofpel, that *v whoever loves father, mother, sifter, or
any other thing in the world, more than him, is not
worthy of him.' — * If you deny him, he alfo will deny
you.* * This is a faithful faying, if we fufFer with him,
wc (hall alfo reign with him.*

When you may fee a thoufand fall at your right hand
^nd on your left, let not the fall of thefe illuftrious un-
fortunates, (hake you : They had only a temporary faith,
which the thorns choaked in its growth : when the wind
of temptations did blow, they were unable to withftand
its violence, and drew back. They were among us, but
they were not of us or with us. The Lord could not
fufFer any but good workmen and veflels in his houfe ; and
therefore has rejefted them. He has feparated the chafF
from the wheat, becaufe their faith continued wavering,
their hope was divided between heaven and earth, and
their love waxed cold.

Shut your car to thofe accommodations the world pro-
pofes. * None can ferve two matters.* * The world
pafleth, and the lufts of it.' < But be ye faithful unto
death, and God will give you the crown of life.' Think
well of it ; if you change, your confcience will reproach
you for it ; and you will remember me at your dying
hour.'

To one of his friends, a Roman Catholic, prefent, v/ho
bore a diftinguifhcd office, he faid, * I am very much
obliged for the honour you have done me : you fee a
poor creature in the extremity of his life, who has not
forgotten all that you have done for him. The obliga-
tions I am under to you are prefent to my memory, and
I make requeft to heaven for the profpericy of your per-
fon, notwithftanding your change, which I cannot ap-
prove ; recommending you to God with all my heart.

296

that he may convert you, and make you return to him
again.'

You behold me brought low with a long malady -, and
this mortal body that decays, draws near to its deliver-
ance. But I feel myfelf (Irengthened by grace : and
* this light affliction, which is but fliort, works for nle a
far more exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.' I
thank my God for confirming me in the faith he has be»
flowed, and has made me prefer the word of Jefus Chrift
to the treafures of the earth. — Nothing is able to fhake
me : were I to fee all the moft cruel punifhments that the
malice of men could invent, on the right hand, and all
the riches and honours of the world, in all their pomp
and brilliance, on the left, I would not take one mo-
ment to deliberate. Without hesitation or wavering, I
die with joy in the religion I have preached, and con-
ftantly profefled i for • Chrift is my gain in life and in
death.*

In this manner fpoke the dying paftor, to every one,
according to his ftatc and need ; notwithftanding the
weaknefs of his body, afflldlcd by a long and grievous dif-
eafe, which he bore with admirable patience, without
any diminution of the vigour of his mind, which God
prefcrved to him, by a singular kindnefs, that he might
fhew the evidences of his faith to all, and confirm even
to the lad moment of his life, the truth of our religion.
—He did this with fo much fuccefs, that his dear flock
were eftablifhcd by his conftancy, while he edifyed his
brethren by his humility, confirmed the wavering by hi»
firmnefs, fliook the incredulous by his hope, and con-
founded his cnemlesby his charity.

In fine, to fini(h gloriously his miniftry, he fpoke on
his death bed to his laft breath, with the fame prefencc
of mind, and with the fame eloquence as in the pulpit.
So that ftrctching forth his hands to his colleagues, our

• 297

dear paftors, (who are the witrtefles of his combat and
vidory,) as if to tid them the lafl: farewell, and lifting ■
up his eyes to the chief fliepherd and bifhop of fouls, he
was taken from among us, pronouncing thofe fuitable
words of the royal prophet, * Into thy hanës I commit
my foul, for thou haft redeemed me, O God of truth.*

* For myfelf, (fays the author of the account) in the
extreme grief I feel in having loft this faithful friend, it
gives me comfort that I have feen him die, fo afTured
of his religion, and of eternal life. I am comforted ire
the blessing I received fromt hat excellent paftor, for my-
felf and for my family. Ï am confoled, finally, by the
prayers he prefented to heaven to draw down favonrs
thence : I hope the great God, to whom they were ad-
drefled fo ardently, will hear them on earth, and grant
us grace to bring up our family in his fear, and to re-
nounce the world, and all its lufts, that we may learii
henceforth, * to count our days, that we may apply
our hearts to wifdom j' fo that after finilhing our courfe,
we may die the death of this righteou-s man, to be ore
the back of it admitted into the heavenly Jerufalem, and
hear there, like him, thefe agréable accents of our Mafter,

* Good and faithful fervant, enter thou into the joy of
the Lord.' Âmei%.

The name of the gentleman who wrote this memoir
is not affixed. If the information of Mr Benoit may|be
relied on, it muft have been the noted Pellilfon. He fays,

* Morus protefted his innocence when dying, and made
a confession of his faith, and of the perfuasion of the
truth of the religion he preached, which greatly edified
his church ; • mais dont fon ami Pelliflbn qui la lui tiroit
de fa*bouche profita moins que perfonne j* * but of which

298

his friend Pelliflbn, who took it from his mouth, profited
iefs than any other f.' This muft be meant of Paul Pel*
liflbn Fontanier, that elegant and accomplidied fcholar^
who in his youth had begun the courfe of his ftudies,
and was a companion of Morus at the academy of Caf-
tres, over which his father was principal, who filled f«
many offices, became fecretary, the hiftorian, and pre-
sident of the Royal Academy, and was made a counfel-
lor, who about this time profefTed himfelf a convert, was
pensioned, made king's hifloriographer, and became a
zealous converter, and royal almoner for the diftribution
of the monies appropriated for buying off poor profelytes.
But this mull furely be a miftake. For though he was
defcended of an honourable family, and had been care-
fully educated by his father, who was a counfellor in the
chamber of the edidt at Cailres, and afterwards by his
another, in the proteflant religion, and had long pro-
■feffcd it, yet for fome years before the deceafc of Mo-
rus, we are told, he had refolved on the change, which
that year he fo publicly declared. The writer of that
account fpeaks as a faithful member of the church of
Charenton, and well-affe£led to the reformed religion,
in behalf of which, he recorded the arguments ani
teftimony of his dying pallor with approbation, ex-
pressing his earned wiflies that he and the family he
belonged to, might hereby profit and be more eftablifli-
ed. Can it be fuppofed that this Paul Pelliflbn, even
tho' he had condefcended to acl as the minifter's ama-
nuensis, hypocrite as he might be, could have fpok-
en in this drain ; — he whofe apoftacy, by this time>

f Hift. torn. 3. . 7. p. 45f.

2 99

probably was no fecret, and who within a month afte^
his friend's death*, went to Chartres, and in the ca-
thedral church there, made his abjuration on the 8th
of OiSlober, 1670, in the hands of the bidiop of Com-
minge. The date of the letter is of itfelfTufBcient to
refute fuch a fupposition. It was dated from Paris, the
7th of October, and the abjuration was made, at a dif-
tance from that place, on the very next day. It is prob-
able, however, that he was one of thofe referred to,
who visited Morus, and was faithfully admonifhed by
him i the '■ne whofe sin and fall he regretted, and for
whofe recovery he prayed, whatever eû'cù. was pro»
diiced.

There was a Paul PelHlTon (whom I fuppofe to have
been of another branch of the family) an attorney in the
parliament of Paris, about this time, who alfo had for-
merly profefled the reformed religion, but had turned
catholic for his place, and in the fury of his zeal, had
made his fon a fiiaveling at the age of thirteen, in order
to engage him in the church ; but upon his fon return-
ing to the reformed religion, in which he had been born
and educated, the unnatural father accufed and profc-
cuted him as a relapfe, got him transferred from one gaol
to another, and at laft obtained a fentence againft him
in the parliament of Paris, Augufl. 29th, 1672, condemn-
ing him to perpetual baniflmient out of the kingdom, un-
der the penalty of death and forfeiture f .

I^ut there was a George Pelliflbn, the elder brother
of the former of thefe gentlemen, who was of a differ-

•]• Laval's History of the reformed churches of France, B«.
viii. ^. 1122.

Pp2.

cnt fpirît, and a more exemplary chara£ler. It is likely
that he was the writer of the account. Bayle, in the
article relating to him, fay the compilers of a later edi-
tion of the Great Hiftoricai Di£lionary, ihews, * that he
had but little knowledge of him.* After mentioning
that he wrote on fome fubjecls in philofophy, he fays, he
died young. His inaccuracy was corre<Sled, and his de-
ficiency fupplied, from fome manufeript memoirs of the
family of the Pelliflbns, communicated to thefe compil-
ers. He was born in 1624 or before it; and died in
1677, and fo fome years after Morus. He had a liberal
and religious education, and in genius was not inferior
to his brother ; and might have made as great a figure,
if he had afFe£ted as much politenefs, and been as ambi-
tious of preferments. But he was more addidled to
iludy. While he resided at Caftres, he, as well as his
brother, was a member of the learned academy formed
there, of an equal number of catholics and reformed,
ccclesiaftics, and others, in which any queftion might be
difcufled, exclusive of politics and theology. There was
a particular regulation fettled, very honourable to the
elder brother, that he fliould always fpeak laft on every
fubjedV, becaufe he fcarce left any thing to be produced-
by thofe who followed him. He gave up fome pofts ob-
tained through the interefl: of his family, and afterwards
was made a counfellor of ftatc, for which he took the
oath, June 1660. After this, he fpent the remainder of
his life at Paris, immerfed in fludies, and feeing only a
few of the learned §.

The following Advertifement was prefixed to the Let-
ter when publiflied : —

§ Morcti Le Crande Biâion. Edit. Amft. 1740,

3<^ï

« MrMorus held a rank fo considerable among the finefl
geniufes, and the»nnoll learned men of the age, as well as.
^mcng thofe of his own profession, that all who have any
name in the empire of Belles Lettres, will be very desir-
ous to know what was the end of that illuftrions man.
"We are under an obligation to one of hi^^beft friends,
a perlbn of quality, for having written his Derniers Dis-
fours, as he had heard them at times from his mouth.
Thofe who knew Mr Morus, will difcsrn through the
whole of them, his genius, and they will not fufpctl the
fidelity of his friend. If any Ihould doubt of it, there are
abund^ince of witnefles of what pafTed on that occasion,
to afcertain the truth of the account. The piece f la p'lete
in the original, I fuppofe, by niiftake,') was comunicated
only to a few perlons. Having fallen into my hands,.
I reckoned it would be doing a fer vice to the public ta.
impart it.*

SECTION TENTH.

Concluding remarks on the daracJer of Mr Morus— J catalogue
of his luritings—The differ eut estimate of his pulpit discourses,
and posthumous Sermons.

In relation to the moral and religious charader of Mr
Morus, which is of principal consideration in every man,
efpecially every public man, enough has been advanced
to enable the reader to form his own judgment. "With-
out recurring to the particular evidence, on the princi-
ples both of charity and equity, he may be held acquitted
of the criminal charges alleged againll him. If * againfl
a presbyter in the church, an accufation ought not to be
received, except at the mouth of two or three witnefles,'
and if no fuch charges were thus eftablifhed againlt him,
to the fatisfaQion of proper and authorifed judges, they
^re not intitled to regard from the public or pofterity. In-

302

fiances of flagrant fcandals in the church, and of flagiii-
ous conduit in pcrfons in facred office, that are undoubt-
ed, are fufficiently numerous, though others, founded
merely on fufpicion or unfupported accufation, ftiould
not be fupper-added. Repeated fentences of acquittai
in form, after dehberate trial, corroborated too by fuch
folemn proteftations of innocence at the point of death,
ought to over-balance public clamour, and the virulence
of accufation, whatever unfavourable impressions they
may have made for a time. And it muft, upon the v^hole,
turn out not a little to the honour of a chara£ler fo
afperfed, that after various attacks, and repeated narrow
fcrutinies into a man's whole life and conduit, nothing
more at laft fliould have been found chargeable upon
him, than certain imprudencies, fome common infirmi-
ties, intemperance of fpirit or language, and under cir-
cumftances of peculiar temptation.

From the general tenor of his life, the fpirit that
breathes in his writings, and which he fo ftrikingly dif-
played in his end, as well as from teftimony, he appears
to have been a man of probity, and of sincere and fer-»
vent piety. A paflage in another letter of Chevreau to
Faber, in which he indulges himfelf in fome fplenetic
and fevere ftriilures upon his temper and conduit, with
an insinuation as to his religion, that has alfo been in-
ferted by Bayle, is not of fufiicient weight to the contrary.
After proposing a corteition on a pafl'age in Ovid, in
which the minifter agreed with him, he fays, * Morus has
a great deal of learning and genius, but little religion or
judgment. He is unpoliflicd [malpropre], ambitious, reft-
lefs, fickle, bold, prefumptuous and irrefolute. He undcr-
ftands latin, greek, hebrew, and Arabic, but knows no$

human life X* The letter is without a date ; but it ^asi
probably written^ when the clamours were loud and in-
duftriously fpread againft him, to which Chevreau was
difpofed to liften, before the profecution, which for a
time, obfcured his reputation, was terminated. But the
writer can hardly be admitted as an unexceptionable
witnefs on the head of religion, while with all his learn-
ing, and professions of friendfhip to a hugenot, he had
not divefted himfelf wholly of the prejudices and fpirit
■of the Roman catholic on that fubjc£l. Though he and
his friend might agree in a criticifm upon a classic, they
would widely differ as to the proper definition of reli-
gion. To pleafe the king, he could upon occasion, af-
fame the office of Converter, and boaft, as Paul Pelliffon
did, of his activity and fuccefs in the art of profelytifm.
While he was a visitant, or rather a fecret agent, at
fhe court of the Eleftor Palatine, where no prieft or
monk was allowed to enter, he had the chief hand in
feducing the electoral princefs, in order to prepare the
way for her marriage with Monsieur. Though no
ftrangers were admitted to fee the princefles in their
apartments, he, like one of thofe * who creep into
houfes, and lead captive silly women,' found means to
Tee her, and for the fpace of three weeks, employ-
ed four hours a day in that good work, without the
leaft fufpicion, until he obtained her abjuration in form,
and fent it to France : fo that F. Jourdan the Jefuit,
when appointed to that fervice, found the businefs done
to his hand § : though a heretic would be ready to allege,

:}l Oeuvres Mel; p. 409.

§ Chevreana. torn. 1. p. 186.

tliat both oF them were relieved from the greater part
of their trouble, by the irresiftible argument of a royal
match.

It belongs not to our design to enter into an exami-
nation of the literary or theological works of our author»
publiflied in his life time. A catalogue, or very fhort no*
tices of them, (hall only be given.

In his anfwer to Milton, he mentions Annotations he
had written on fome profane authors. We have heard
above of an edition of Libanius with Notes, the joint
labour of him and his learned friend Gothofredus. the
noted writer in Jurisprudence, and commentator on the
Theodosian Code. He fpeaks too of fome things he
had formerly written in his native language, without
fpecifying the fubjedls, and which are not mentioned by
his biographers.

His three latin Orations were printed at different
times :

1. Calvinus, Oratio Genevoe habita, &c. Accessit
Calvini ad Luthcrum, epillola nondum édita ; cum alijs
nonnullis. Juxta exemplar Genevenfe, apud Phil. Ga-
monetum. An. 1640.

The additions, at the end, are teftimonies extracted
from different authors, Davila, Bodin, Melaniflhon, &c.

2. Oratio dc pace, 410. Mediob, 1652. In which, Sene-
bier, after Bayle, fays, he covertly attacked Spanheim,
and AmyrauU.

3. De duobus Genevoe miraculis, fole cjt fcuto. 410.
t6ç2. See SelecT: Sermons, p. 104. in the note.

The following Theological works were alfo printed at
Middleburgh :

De gratia et libero arbitrio. 4to. 1652.

De bcriptura Sacra, sive de caufa Dei Exereitationcj*
1653.

305

Vi£lona gratioe ; sive, De gratia et îlbevo arbitrio, ÎDlf-
"putationes Genevenfes adverfus Petavium. Editio altera
priori multo au£t1or. 4to. 1652. — This is inferted in
Senebier's catalogue as a different article from the former
De gratia -, but they are only different editions, with vari-
tions. jff

Fides Publica contra calumnias Joan. Miltoni. Hagx.
i2mo. 1654. Supplem. 1655.

Commentarius liber ad quintum, qnod dicUur. evange-
lium, Efaiîc chap. LIII.

Notx ad loca quxdam N. Foederis. Fol. Londini.'
1 66 1. — Thefc were afterwards printed with the My-
rothecium evangelicum of Cameron ; at Salmur, 1677.

His poetical works were the following :

Epinicia de insigni Venetorum victoria anno 1665 da
Turcis reportata. 4to. Paris. 1663.

Soteria Laus Chrilli Nafcentis, ex voto. 4to. Paris.'
i66i,. This was compofed as a thankfgiving poem up-
on his recovery from sicknefs.

Alexandri Mori poemata ; gvo. Paris. 1669.

Besides thcfe, fome others arc mentioned by himfelf,
in his Fides^ as either finiflied, or in preparation for the
prefs. * Liber de primatu Pauli ; — Hiftoria Chriftiana j
— De pijs fraudibus dificrtatio ; — Explicatio locorum qu»
maxime favere videntur Ecclesiae Romanjc ; Rei conh-
tentes, sive Romani Proteftantes ; — Axiomata quibus
ex vcteri N. fcedus illuftratur *, Theoremata pra6lica ; —
Onomafticon facrum ; — ec Orationes argumenti facrt
cum poematljs.' How many of thefc were afterwards
publilhed, we arc not particularly informed.

Senebier fays, he had compofed a Hiftory of Geneva,
fo early as the year 1641 ; but the council thought pro-
per to fupprefs the manufcript in 1648 §.

§ Hist. Liter, torn. i. p. 73. This was probably written
iolutly with his friend Gothofridiis, as a MS. with that title,
was found among his papers after his death, which was jnade
ufc of by J. Spon, in his hiftory of Geneva.

3o6

An edition of Scaliger's work on thé Chronide h(
Zufcbius, was publiflied in 1658, to which Mor us prefix-'
cd a preface, from which it appears that he had alfo
employed himfelf for a time, as feveral others in that
age had done, in making animadversions upon the An-
nals of Baronius. After obfsrving it was no diflicnlt
matter to find faults in books, even of the greateft men,
and that fome thought it fufficient to acquire fame to
themfelvcs to ccnfure, or mark a blunder in fuch a writer
as Scaliger, he takes notice of the innumerable errors
that were to be found in Baronius : * Baronij Annales
is quern dixi Blondellus, mille caftlgavit notis, aliquando
prodituris,' &c. Blondel, whom I have mentioned, made
i thoufand corrections on the Annals of B., which may
fometimc be publifhed : he wrote them on the margin of
liis copy, which the magiftrates of Amfterdam have
bought and placed in the public library. But besides
thefe corre£lions, and fome made by other authors, thofc
which I have alfo made, would almoft fill a volume.* —
* Qu?e fub notavimus etiam nos juftum fere volumen
implerent.' Perhaps this might be the fame work he
had mentioned, under the title of Hiftoria facra.

His critical notes on the fcriptures, were in consider-
able repute among the learned. The Lutheran divine,
Budxus, commends them for having fome things origi-
nal and uncommon in them, and that defcrve attention.
His Axioms of Theology have been much^ efteemcd. In
his trads upon the polemical fubjeds in theology, he
is acute, and forcible, though they are written too mucli
in the dry fcholaftic manner. Great skill in languages,
and acqaintance with the ancient and general literature,
fcems on all sides to have been allowed him. His lati»

307

flyle will be found not fo fluent as that of Calvin, Tur-
retine the youngel, and fome others. It is interlarded
too much with Greek phrafes, and broken too often by
references or quotations from ancient authors. His nar-
rative in ' Fides publica/ is fo concife and abrupt, as to
be frequently obfcure ; while his wit is keen and cutting.
We have feen what account Milton made of his compo-
sition and oratory ; but all ha-l not the fame contempti-
ble opinion of them. Bayle ftyles the three orations he
delivered at Geneva, * beautiful/ though he fay?, * the
latinity of them is more learned than elegant : he delight-
ed in uncommon phrafes, and meanings of words, of
which we find few examples. The poems that he wrote
on the birth of our Saviour, and by way of thankfgiving,
after a violent fit of sicknefs, are in considerable elteem..
Mr Perachon, who wrts then a proteftant, translated them
into French verfe, and publifned them. I do not remem-
ber to have feen any other verfes of Mr Morus in French,
than the reply which he wrote on the fame rhymes to a
fonnet which Corras addrefled to him, after his abjura-
tion.— I mud not pafs in silence,* fays the t'ame author,
* that the illuftrious Mr Huet beftows very great enco-
miums upon Mr Morus in fome latin poems, which he
addrefled to him. Set the poems of this learned prelate,
the Utrecht edition (which is the 4th) in 1700, p. 3©,
and 77.*

There is a fine Euchariftical poem at the clofe of the
oration in defence of Calvin, which as a fpecimcn of the
author's composition, in this kind, will be found in the-
Appendix.

A fmall piece in French was publltlied after liis death,
alon^ with • Les Dernières heures d'Alex- Morus,' with.
03 2

3o8

the title of ' La dlfposltion et prière pour obtenir de Dieu
îa vrai foi.' The former was firfl printed at Geneva, iii
8vo, 1670 : and afterwards annexed to a volume o£
Fragments of Sermons.

But as his pulpit-difcourfes, for which he was fo much
admired, have chiefly occasioned our attention to hisf
life and character, of thofe that were publifhed, a more
particular account may be given. No collection of his
fermons appeared in his life time. He always resided
ihe importunity of thofe who desired them : and even
when dying, requefled his friends not to print any of
his productions. Thofe whom ht named as ejçecutors,
of his teftament, among whom was Monf. Bernard da
Bouilly, advocate, in the parliament of Paris, to whom,
his manufcripts were entrufted, exactly complied witk
Shis intentions, during their lives. The depositary of the
manufcripts, which he considered as a precious treafure,
apprehending that they might not be fafe in France^
amidft the dangers that afterwards arofe, fent them out
of the kingdom to one of his friends who had become a
refugee for religion. But many having complained of
the detention, that friend, and any into whofe hands
any of his manufcript fermons had come, thought them-
felves at liberty, after the death of the executors, to con-
fent to their publication. Some volumes of them appear-
ed at different times.

A Sermon wliich Mr Morus preached at Charenton,
on the 24th of June, 1660, foon after his admission into,
that church, was printed or re-printed fome time after,
with a dedication prefixed to Madam Jaqueline de Cau-
mont, Countefs of Vivans, &c. §, with the author's name,

§ This lady was daughter to H. Nompar de Caumont, fc»

309

fJated by him at Paris, the 20th day of September, 16(^5,
in which he fays, ' that zeal ami piety, which (he had
always manifefted in their religious afiembiics, and which
edified the Hotel de la Force, joined to the extreme regard '
which he had for lier, obliged him, contrary to his incli-
nation, to publiHi that single fermon — (de mettre au jour
ce feul fermon.') If the above dates be right, that in the
catalogue of Senebier mull be wrong : he fays the fermon
La Nailfance, ^c. was publilhed at Geneva, in 8vo. an.
1659- It IS the only one I have feen, or was ever pub-
liflied by himfelf. It appeared afterwards at Montauban,
bearing date in 1677 : to which edition there is an adver-
tifement prefixed, which fiiews what a general desire
prevailed to fee a number of his Sermons, though poft-
humous, printed. * During the life of Mr Morus, there
was fcarce a perfon in France but had a desire to fee him
in the pulpit, and thofe who could not have that fatisfac-
tion, earneftly demanded to fee fome of his fermons in
print. He never would confent to fatisfy the public in
this, for reafons, no doubt, known to himfelf. It was
hoped that, after his death, thofe who were in pofies-
sion of his papers, vyould let them go abroad : but

cond fon to tlie duke de la Force, who bore the name of the
Marquis de Caflknau, till after the death of his elder brother,
in I 675, when he fucceeded to the titles. The religious lady
Charlotte, fpoufe ef the marfhal Turenne, and who had great
influence ip keeping him firm to the protcftant religion, while
file lived, was daughter of the elder brother. Jaque 'i ne, wai
married to Henry de Vlvans, count de Pangea-:, and died in
1702, at the age of 91. One of her brothers, Armand de
C. marq. de Muntpouillan, was gentleman of the bedchamber
to the king of England, and lieutenant-general of the armies
of tl]^ United Provinces : and had a daughter married in Eng-
land.

3id

they have been pleafed hitherto to conceal this treafur**^

• et mettre ces grandes lumières fous le boifleau ;' the
public feels extremely difobliged at this procedure, and
with great reafon. In this passionate and univerfal de-
sire to fee the fermons of that great man, this, which has
fallen into our hands, we were perfuaded would be re-
ceived by the reader, with no fmall pleafure.' After
declaring it to be a genuine produdlion of the author,
a few paflages excepted, it is added, * I know well that
this is but a drop which cannot quench the great thirft.*

• Mais les plus altérez ne font pas marris qu'on leur pre-
fente une goûte d'eau pour rafraîchir le bout de leur
langue.* • Perhaps this will ferve to excite others, who
have similar writings of the fame author, to fend them
to the prefs. We intreat them to do it with all out heart ;
and we do it in the name of an infinite number of per-
fons, who will be extremely glad to be able, at their
leifure, to read what Geneva, what Charenton, what the
king of England and his court, heard with admiration :
And that they would not plead in excufe, that it is diffi-
cult to decypher the charaûers ufed by Mr Morus, or that
thofe who wrote his fermons when he delivered them,
could not avoid leaving great chafms or void fpaces in
them. No matter ; — let them give were it only fuc^i
fragments ; we will efteem them more than whole books
which do not come from a genius fo elevated, and we
will make more account of his lines, than of pages of
another.'

The firfl: coUeftion was printed at the Hague, or Ge-
neva, in 1685, under the title of Fragments of Sermons,
with the letter annexed. The firft edition of the letter
mult have been publjihed foon after his death, as Se*

3»*

ancbier makes the date of it, 1670. Thefe fragmerltaf
were reprinted in the latter city, with the title * Sermons
et Fragmens,' &c. in 1676 ; pour Sam. de Tournes.
The editor informs us in his preface,

* That the fragments that had been formerly publirti-
cd, having been well received, he thought he would be
performing an agreeable fervice to give them to the pub-
lic a-new. In that fécond edition, he had included all
that were contained in the former volume, with the ad-
dition of fome entire fermons, and feveral other frag-
ments. Altho' that great preacher had not committed
them to the prefs himfelf, yet the true genius of the au-
thor could not but be difcemed in them : thefe laft were
extrafled from the originals, which he had lent to fome
of his friends. So many rich and beautiful thoughts, and
fo many traits of a fublime eloquence, are to be found
in them, that it is not possible to doubt of it: and the
Interefling fubjedls of which he treats, are explained with
fuch erudition, and in a manner fo rcplcnifhed with
all the beauties of difconrfe [d'une manière si pleine de
toutes les graces du difcours,] that they cannot be read,
without much pleafure and profit. He doubted not but
the work would meet with fo much the more applaule
as it had for a long time been fo earneftly desired by very
many [une infinite de gens] from the knowledge which
they had of the great merit and reputation of the author :
and that when they now faw what they fcarcelv expeûed,
they would think themftlvcs obliged to him who had
made the refearch, in order to procure them that fatis-
fadlon.'

This volume contains Sermons on the following fub-
je£l:s : —

I. On Ifaiah, chap. xl. ver. 6, 7, 8. * The voice faid.
Cry,' &c.

This Sermon was preached at the Hague, upon the
death of the father of the Prince of Orange, which took
place on the 6th of Nov. 1650.

II. On Rom. viii. ver. 27. * We know,' Sec.

At London, before his Britannic Majefty, Jan. 30th,
i66t ; on the fafl for the executioa of Charles L

tlî. On Heb. xlu. 20, 21. * Now the God of peacej^

This difcourfe is without a date ; but it appears evi-
dently frotfi the firain of it, and from different paf-
figes in it, to have been delivered before fome of the:
fynods in France, wherein the difi'erences were compofed
that had arifen in the church of Parisi in which he hitn-
felf had been fo deeply intcrefted. It might have been ât
the clofe either of the nationd fynod of Loudun, or the
provincial fynod of Berry- before which he probably had
been appointed to preach before rising In the begin-
ning, he exprcfles what ground they had in that affem-
bly to turn their wifhes and prayer^s for p^ace, into joy-
ful thankfgivings, for the termination of difputes, and
mournful flrivingS ; vt^hich * God had brought about by
his grace, and the interposition of his fcrvants :' and he
addrefled the miniîlers, in language of gratulation and
benedicflion, as * angels of peace,' reckoning himfel£
happy * in publifliing the peace of God, and in bearing
the olive branch into the ark, after fuch a deluge of
woes -, when one deep had been calling unto another §.*

He afterwards introduces an extavagant eulogy on the
young monarch. — ' the mirror of kings, — the victorious
and pacific, — the delight of heaven, the admiration of
Europe, Sec. — of whofe goodnefs they participated, and
of which they had experienced the extraordinary effedls
in that aflcrably *, which may be applicable to any of the
forenamed fytiûcis, having been obtained upon the cam-
eft application of their churches. In the end, he prays

§ ' O que leur pies font beaux fur cette montagne, leuri
mains ne le font pas moins fur cette table ; hcreux les pie9
qni nous apportent cette paix de Dieu ; hereufes les mains
qui ont fait la paix entre r.ons ; hereufe et trop encore la
bouche qui a l'honneur de publier aujourdui Kun et l'autre,
et de porter la branche d'olive dans l'arche après un deluge
de maux et de malheurs dont la mémoire puifle être a jamais
éteinte. Un abime apellolt l'autre abime, au fon de fe»
canaux : mais une grace appellera tantôt l'autre grace d«
Dieu II,' &c.

Il Page 89.

3^3

for all blessings, particularly the Spirit of peace, to de-
fcend and abide upon his brethren, and tliofe who had com©
from neighbouring' places : exhorting them to be at peace
among themfelves, and (o far as possible to follow peace
with all. * What a precious treafure, in the courfe of
life/ he fays, * this peace is, thofe only know or can duel/
value, who for a time have lod it.' Addressing his bre-
thren, he pronounces an affe£lionate farewell ; ' Go, go
in peace, every one to the tribe assigned him. — Accord-
ing to ail human appearance, at lead as to many of us,
wc may fay, that we (liall fee your face no more, until
we all meet in the unity of faitli, in the great aflembly
of the firfl-born, whofc names are written in heaven,
gathered out of every nation, tribe, and language, where
the Great Shepherd fhall preside, and the Lamb (hall be
on the throne : there iliall be no more procefs or debates ;
there wc Ihall fee an eternal peace flourifli ; there we
ihall indeed be perfect, and God fliall be all in all.' * A
Dieu donc, M. F, a Dieu, Je vous rccommende a Dieu,
et a parole de fa grace. Allez en paix chacun.' * Go
every one in peace.'

He added, * Let all pray for all, that each may have
the end of his life like that of Mofes : — that God may
be to all of us the God of peace, and wc may be able
to fay at the hour of death, as Simeon, * Let,' &c. O
what fecure defence againft the fear of death ! This
God of peace, and this great Shepherd raifed to heaven
by his refurre£\:ion, and that blood which cries incef-
fantly better things than that o^f Abel, and which fills
with fliouts of viûory, joy, and blessing, all that eternal
fan<ftuary. May he, in that laft and interefting moment
grant the fprinkllng of it on our hearts and confciences,
and we ftiall without fear fee the dellroying angel pafs.
— That, in fine, each of us looking behind him upon the
earth, may ,be able to fay, * I have fought,* &c. ; and
then looking before him into heaven, may add, * Hence-
forth, there remaineth for me a crown,' &c. * Je la voi,
je la tien, j'y ai dcja la main defl'us, et nul ne me la
ravira ; fidèle en peu de chofe, mais fidèle jufques a la
mort, je m'en vai ouïr cette douce voix, Je t'établirai fur
beaucoup, entre en la jov de ton Seigneur.' I fee it i I
' Rr

o

14

tnlce hold of ît ; Î have my hand already upon it; and
nothing ihall pluck it from me. — To finifli this difcourfe
then as I hope another day to finifh my life, let us fay, and
learn to repeat, this <;ood prayer both in life and in death,

* The God of pence,' &c

Thus thfi ininlfter anticipated joyfully the end he was
blefild with, not many years after.

Serm. IV. on the Gofpel of John, chap. i. ver. 14.

* Tlic word was made flefh,' &c.

V, VI, Vir, VIII. on Gal. chap. W. ver. 4, 5, (5.

* When the fuiner-; of time was come,' &c.

IX, X, X{. on Ifaiah Ixiii. verfe r, 2, 3, 4, 5. ' Who
is tiiis that Cometh from Edom with died garments ?' &c.
XIÎ, on Hebrews xiii. verfe 10. But we have an altar/
Sec.

Xlir, on Philippians i. verfe 21. * For to me to live is
Chrift, and to die is gain.'

XÏV, on Romans viii, verfe 2. * For the law of the Spi-
rit of life in Chrift Jefus,' kc.

XV, — — — ~. verfe 20, 21. * For the creature

was made fubjecl to vanity,' &c.

XVf, XVII, XVfll, XIX, XX, on Revelation ii. verfe
17. * To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
hiddeti manna,' &c.

The next volume was printed at Amflerdam, in 1691.
It contained, XVÎII Sermons on Romans chapter VIII.
The next collection, intitled, * Sermons Choisis, — fur
divers texets,' was publiflied at Geneva, Jin 1694.

The publifiiers fay, * they thought it unneceflary to
prevent the public in favour of thefe fermons, or to fpeak
of their iliuitrious author : whoever read them, would
readily acknowknige them to be Mr Morus's. There were
few perlons to wliom God had given more excellent gifts,
than to hini, efpecially for the pulpit. He had preached in
a'l the mod famous auditories of proteftarrt Europe, and
even before crowned heads; and had always been heard
with admiration, and univerfal applaufe : yet he was al-
ways averfe to import any of his fermons to the public,
and even at his death, intimated his will that it (liould
not be done.' After giving an account of the difpor
fal of his manulcripts, as mentioned above, he fays»
that the friend of Mr iiouilly, v/ho had become a re»

315

fugee for religion, to whom the manufcripts had been
fent, reckoned hitnfclf to be now at liberty to publifh
them ; and was very willing, from zeal for the glory of
God, and the édification and confolation of fouls, to take
Care that it (hould be done. They are all from the
originals, as the autl.or had written them with his own
hand. They were not all indeed in the moll finiflKd
or perfect ftate ; but the public might be aflurcd, that
notliing in them was changed, but they were given fuch
as they were found in the bureau of the illuitrious dece if-
cd.* rhey intimated tiiat, * as many remained as miglit
make fcveral volumes, and if that was received as it de-
ferved, as it contained the mod beautiful fermons of Mr
Morus, that had been printed, the fubfequent volumes
would not be long delayed.'

Sermon I, on Luke chapter ii. verfe 8 to the 14. * And
there were in the fame country fhepherds abiding in the
field,' &c.

II, on Mathew chapter xxlv- verfe 28. ' For wherefo-
cver the carcafe is,' &c.

III, F.phesians ii. verfe 4, 5, 6. * But God, who is rich
in mercy,' &.

IV, on 2 Kings chapter ii. verfe 9. * And Elijah faid
unto Elifha, Ask what I Ihall do for thee,' ?cc.

V, on James ii. verfe 12. 'So fpeak and fo do,' ccc

VI, on I Peter chapter iii. verfe 8. * Be of one mind,'
&c.

VII, on Pfalm i. verfe 6. * The Lord knoweth the way
of the juit,' &c.

VIII, on Pfalm xiv. verfe i- * The fool hatli fiid in his
heart, there is no God.'

IX, on Pfalm xxi. verfe 2, 3, 4, 5. ' The king fliall re-,
joice in thy Itrength,' &<;.

It was preached at Paris, upon an occasion of public
rejoicing; on which, however, he faid, they were not;
to expecl 10 hear a pantgyric upon a new Trajan,^
in artificial ftrains of eloquence, wliich would be to
sing Te Regcm^ inllead of TV Deum. This did not fiiit
them who led their flocks in green paftures by the flill
waters, and refoandcd uoon th-ir oaten pipes in thtir
R r 2

3i6

defert the pfalms of David, and the fweet fongs of
Ifrael. Here are no thunders of the artillery, nor the
founds of trumpets, nor the fweet accents of the con-
certs of music, which yefterday celebrated the royal
triumph of this great city : though it muft be owned
that there is nothing parallel on earth, in Europe or
Asia, to the magnificence and glory of our Lillies ; —
Yet all thefe things, and the world pafs away.' — * Ho\v
often has the fong of triuniph in the evening, been fuc-
ceeded by the fong of mourning in the morning : In the
midfl of caroufals, and tournaments, fome fatal ftroke
has fometimes fuddenly changed the public joy into pub-
lic grief. Such is the wheel and vicissitude of humaa
things, from which kings themfelves are not exempted.'

After an animated defcription of the cares and burdens
attendant upon a crown, wliich might make even the
beft and wifeft, as David, Solomon, Auguftus, to sigh
to be relieved from it ; fuch as if men knew them, no.
perfon would chufe to take up one were it lying in his^
way -, and a sketch of the fad and miferable life of a ty»
rant, ' who never rejoices f,' — he yet lavin:ies too much
incenfe on the young king, whom he compares to his
grandfather *, whofe Iteps he was gloriously following»
even as he pretended to have taken him for his model.
But he ventures to remind him in the end, * that after ali
his career of glory, and vidlory, — after fo many cities
taken, provinces conquered, &c. — if he would entirely
refemble Henry the great, he muft regard his proteftant
fubje£ts, with the fame favourable eye as he did, fliuc his

■^ Jamais un mauvais roy n'eut aucun fentiment de vraye
joye, il n'y a point de tyran joyeux ; ils tremblent au milieu
de leurs gardes comme la feuille ; leur fongcs les épouvantent ;
ils craignent leur ombre : une feuille d'arbre les fait trembler,
mais le jnfte eft affure comme un lion. Au uiilieu de leur»
plus fiiperbes feftins, ils voycnt toujours ou comme Damocles
ime cpec nue pendue a un crin de cheval que menace leur tête,
ou comme Beltfafar, une main volante qui écrit contre la paroi
leur condemnation. Ils ne rient jamais que d'un rire Sardinien,
et du bout des lèvres ils folâtrent, ils ne font pas joyeux : il
faut être fage, et fobre, et fevere pour fe rejouir, et pour fc
rejouir en la force de Dieu.' page 364—5.

31?

ear to their enemies as he did, and let their flocks feed
and repofe fafely finder the Tivadow of his cdifts and

laurels, as he had done.' But for refusing to hearken

to this falutary admonition, and lor other accummulated
iniqities, the glorious lillics have faded, and the crown
has fallen from the head of his unhappy race.

In this difcourfe, the preacher has failed to touch
the fublime myflical fcnfe of this prophetic pfalm. The
application of it to the viclory and honour of Chrift,
is fully as obvious and proper as to admit a fuperna-
tural and myilical fet.fe, as well as a literal, of the
words of the text of the fécond fermon, * where the
carcafe is/ &c. as he does ; applying it to Chrift cru-
cified, and believers feeding upon him..

X, on Pfalm li. verfe 3. to the e:u\.

This is a brief defcant or ledturc upon that penitential
P^alm.

XI, on I Peter chapter ii. verfc 9. ' That ye lliould
{hew forth the praifes of him,' Sec.

XII, on Pfalm Uviii. vevfe 18, * Tlica hast afcended
on high/ &c.

XIII, on Hebrews chapter xi. verfe 20. * For he looked,
for a city/ &c.

XIV, on Hebrews chapter xi. verfe 40. * That they
without us fliould not be made perfecl.'

XV, XVI, on 2 Corinthians chapter iv. verfe 7. * But
we have his treafure in earthen vefiels/ &c.

Two other volumes followed this, in 8vo, printed at
Geneva, in 1605, from the fame manufcripts committed
to the friend of the truftee. The greater part of them
consift of difcourfes upon different ferlions of the cate-
chifm of the reformed church of France, which had
been delivered by him at Charenton, in his courfe, ac-
cording to the cuftom of that and other foreign churches.
Difcourfes of this kind occasionally delivered may be very
inftructive to old and young : even an appointment of a
ftated courfe of them rnay be particularly needful where

3i8

examination of families apart, or by convening a number
of them together without diftinction of age, makes not
a part of the regular exercife of ihe miniftry, as has been
the laudable pra£lice of the church of Scotland, which
appears not to have been the cafe in that of Paris. But
to reftria minifterâ by canon always to obferve this form
of inflrudlion in routine, to occupy one half of the time
of public worfhip on the Lord's day, as well as on another
day for Hated weekly fern-ions, as was done there f , may
not conduce fo much to edification. A rigid adherence
to forms prefcribed by human authority, and compofure»
drawn up in the words of men, in the public worfhip of
God, whether comprising dodlrines to be taught, or pray-
ers to be ufed, has been found to produce at leaft the
hurtful confequences of liftlef&nefs and gradual negleél,
and of rendering the fervices lefs impressive. Of thefe
the author, notwithftanding the attraûion of his manner,
faw caufe grievously to complain.

Amongfl the fermons of different divines in that lan-
guage, fome have been inferted on fome particular fec-
tions of the catechifm, as thofe of Du Moulin, Faucheur,
Allix : but I know of no feries of thefe that had previ-
ously been publiflied, much lefs any courfc, upon all the
feveral heads, except the homélies of J. de la Croix, paf-
tor at Delft, intitled, * Le Trefor des ames Chrétiennes.'
It contained 64 homilies on the Heidelberg catechifm,
approved by the Walloon fynod, in 1622, and printed
in 1629, with a number of recommendatory verfcs by
Polyander, Rivet, and other divines. Another collec-

t At least one of three, or four of their fermons, was
catechetical expositioH.

3^9

tioti of the fame kind, on the French catechifm, waf
publifhed foon aftef that of our author, more complete,
in 3 volumes oâavo, Geneva, 1701. The greater part
of them were compofed by Mr Daillie, and kept in the
hand of his fon, who had begun to prepare them for
the prefs, when his bad health and fubfequent death
prevented their publication for a time. As feveral of
his fermons on fome fedlions were amissing, the de-
ficiency was fupplled from the manufcripts of his emi-
nent colleague, J. Meftrezat, in the poffession of Mr
Meftrezat, counfellor of Geneva, fon of Philip Meftrezat,
profeflbr in the academy there.

The preface to this colle£l:ion of Morus, bears * that
as their catechifm contained the principal articles of faith
in the reformed church, and the controversies which occa-
sioned the feparation from that of Rome, the public had
long wiftied to fee thefe fubje£ls judiciously treated and
explained by the hand of fome able divine : and made
fome eagerly to fearch for works of that charadler : and
that at laft this desire was about to be gratified through
the pious and charitable pains of that friend of Mr Bouil-
ly. * Of all that Morus had written,' it is faid, * nothing
had been left fo entire as thefe fermons upon the cate-
chifm, although they were only upon fome of the prin-
cipal fe£lions. The admirable talent he had of render-
ing engaging, matters the leaft fufceptible of ornament,
enabled him to find the way, on fuch fubjedls, of fixing
the attention of perfons the leaft difpofed to it The
clearnefs and force of his thoughts, were fupported by
expressions fo lively and touching, that he easily triumph-
ed over the moft obftinate. In ftiort, the method he
conftantly followed, of mixing the agreeable with the ufe-
ful, was a fecret which made Mr Morus, a preacher of tlie
moft diftinguiilied order, and altogether inimitable. As
he had a familiar acquaintance with the fathers and
church hiftory, he employed thefe to advantage by bring-
ing proofs from venerable antiquity, to eftablifli the doc-
trines oppofed by thofc of the Romifti church : yet it

32CT

vras only froni a fpirit of condefcention to tliofe gentle-
men, and from a fuperabundance of right, fo to fpeak,
that he fometimes made ufe of human arms iri the de-
fence of a caufe altogether divine.'

As thefe fermons v/ere not fudàcient to complete
the two volumes, ten others were added to the fécond
volume, on different texts. The applaufe with which
the fermons form.erly publiflied had been received, was
thpught fufficient warrant for expecling a favourable ac-
ceptance of that work.

The catechetical difcourfes are XXVIII in number, on
XXX fetlions, not all of them following each other in
order.

The fubjc£ls of thefe fe£lions are — The chief end of
man ; — the creation and providence — the conception,
fufferings, death, fepulture, refurre£lion, and afcension
of Chrilt : — the catholic church ; — -communion of faints ;
— good works ; — repentance ; the moral law, — the fan-
tion to the fécond commandment : on the third com-
mandment, two fermons ; the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, Stii,
9th commandments : tire ufe and perfection of the law ;
— the invocation of God alone ; — on prayer, — the preface

to the Lord's prayer ; the word -, facraments — --

felf-examination minifterial office -, and church

difcipline.

The fermons fubjoined are on the following texts s

I, A£ls vii. verfe 56. * Lo, I fee the heavens opened,
Sec.

II, A£ls viii. verfe 26 to the 36. * And the angel of
the Lord fpake unto Philip,' &c.

III, 2 Corinthians xii. verfe 2, 3, 4. 'I knew a man
in ChrKl about fourteen years ago,' &c.

IV, Pfalms Ixxiii. verfe 23, 24, 25. * I am continually
with thee,' &c.

V, VI, Luke ix. verfe 28 to 35. * He took Peter,
James, and John, and went up into a mountain,' &c.

VII, Mathew xvii. verfe 6, 7, 8, 9. * And when the dif-
ciples heard it, they fell upon their face,' &c.

VIH, IX, 2 Corinthians xii. verfe 7, 8. * And left I
fhould be exalted above meafure/ &c. ■

X, Pfalm cxxvi. verfe i, 2, 3, 4. * When the Lord
brought again the captivity,' dec.

32 1

Of thefe, or of others preceding, our room admits not;
of any analysis. The Seled Sermons, with the Extrafts,
that are translated, with a few more Extra£ls in the ori-
ginal language, that may be found in the Appendix, will
ferve to give fome competent fpecimen and fdea of the
author's general drain of do6lrine, and of his manner
and ftyle.

Of all the means which ever have been employed for
the inftruction and benefit of mankind, that of preach-
ing may doubtlefs be considered as the chief. The pro-
pagation of Chriftianity in the beginning, and the con-
Version of nations from the idolatrous and immoral
fyftem of paganifm, were, by the attendant influence of
the Spirit, principally owing to this» What diffusion or
prefervation of divine knowledge, what power or prac-
tice of trile religion, have continued in pofterior ages,
may alfo be afcribed to the fame mean. By this was the
proteftant reformation at firft promoted, and energetical-
ly fupported, through the various kingdoms of Europe,
where it happily gained admission or fettlement. The
prefs did much, the fchools and colleges contributed
their aid, but the pulpit did ftlll more ; as it exhibits and
adapts its lefTons familiarly to all clafles of men ; to the
numerous vulgar and illiterate, as well as to the learned.
However ufeful the learned may be by compiling fyftems,
or writiag critical or polemical treatifes in an ancient
language, which may be of great utility for elucidating
the fcrlptures, defending the truth, in furnifhing the
minds, and direÊlIng the views of thofe who are to be
teachers of others ; whatever fame may be acquired by
academical orations, difputations, or dilcourfes to clergy,
yet tîlls certainly is the * more excellent way,' whereby
S s

52 2'

io profit and excel. The diredl efFe£l of the former i«
more limited, and the immediate benefit comparatively
coKifined, like waters fliut up in a fountain head or cif-
tern, or percolating thro' the veins Or hidden channels of
the earth. It is when Chriftian knowledge breaks forth,
arid is difFufed abroad among the populace at large, viva
voes, in language intelligible to all, that they enrich the
moral foil. It is when the healing waters of the faniluary
ÛOW in copious and inceflant dreams, and in every direc-
tion, from tlie pulpits efpeclally,that their falutary and fer-
tilizing efFeds are felt, and * every thing lives whiiherfo-
ever they go.' On the regular fupply and purity of thefe
waters, in thefe channels, do the welfare of churches, and
the fpiritual health of their members, eminently depend.

The genuine gofpel is in itfelf invariable, but the mode
of preaching it has varied exceedingly in different periods
and places, even as the manner and gifts of individuals
employed in it, are always very diversified. But it ought
iiever to be forgotten, that it produces its falutary efFefts,
not as adminiftered by men, but as a divine ordinance,
under divine agency. "While the proper matter of it is
retained, and the regular commission and eflential re-
quisites for preaching it, are prefuppofed, * neither is he
who planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God
that giveth the increafe.*

Yet since the era of the refotmation, it may be allow-
ed, that what is called the art of preaching, has been
carried to a greater degree of perfection than in any
former age pofterior to the apoftolic : and not only iti
different nations, but in the fame nation fuccessively, it
has undergone various modifications, fometimes to the
better, at other times doubtlefs to the worfe. Many is

3^3

this line have appeared in the foreign churches, as well
as Britain, (hining «ach in his degree of light, and in
the ufe of his own proper talent ; and while uniformity
in the great dodrines of the gofpel has appeared, and the
great design of preaching been attended to affd pvomot-,
cd, the particular mode of treating fubjeds, and the tafle
and forms of compobition, evtr changing, {Iwuld be.
considered as matters of inferior moment. In thefe re-
fpedls an invariable model is not to be prefcribed ; nor
are all to be judged by tlie fime flandard. Whai has at
one time been admired, has again become obfolete and
antiquated; what has charmed in one place, and one clafs
of auditors, has been difrelifhcd and difgufling to others.
The quaint and afFccled have often paffcd for fine and
beautiful j the brilliant for elegant, the fuperficial for
folid ; the obfcure for learned and fublime. As the po-
pulace are ufually little qualified to judge of the chief
excellencies of difcourfcs, though prone enough to it, fo
the learned and polite have their biafs and prejudices ;
and profefled critics are not always exempted from falfe
tafte, or falfe ruL'S of judging, and often will raflily pro-
nounce upon mere common fame. 'J'he cflimate of none
of them can be admitted as a decisive tcfl of merit, efpe-
çlally when they widely difagree in their eftimate of
the fame perfons and objedls.

The principal and more permanent excellencies of
fermons, foundnefs, fcriptural simplicity, plain but ex-
pressive language, juft perfpicuous arrangement, fcrious
and earneft. addrefs, are top. ready to be overlooked by
all, particularly the multitude, • for all public allemblies,'
fays Chefterfield; 'are t?^,' (though ihere have been
manyjionourable exceptions) while the glare of words,
S s 2

3H

points of wit, the play of fancy, the gaudy or fwelKng
metaphor, the modulation of voice, the violence of found,
and the afFe£led gefture, are often more regarded.

That Morus enjoyed an uncommon degree of popula-
rity, among very different clafles of hearers, is fufficiently
apparent : we have heard his praifes refounded from va-
rious quarters, and by fome who vi^ere not to be ranked
among the mobility ; fo there is no need to add a fyllabls
more on that fubjed. But to vi'hat caufes he owed chief-
ly his applaufe, and whether he had a juft title to thç
full meafure of it beftowed upon him, has been queftion-
cd : and thofe who form their eftimate only from his
publifhed fermons, will probably be inclined to the opi-
nion of the party who judged lefa favourably of his merits,
and allowed him a much more moderate praife. Let us
hear how Bayle has expreffed himfelf on this topic, and
the divine to whom he appeals as his voucher, who was
of the fame church with Morus, but far from being a
flatterer of him : and their verdift has ufually been a-
dopted by fucceeding biographers. * The beauty of hia
fermons,' fays the critic, * consifted in certain fallies of
imagination, containing ingenious allusions, and I know
not what air of paradox very well calculated to furprife
the hearer, and to fix him in perpetual attention ; but
the manner of delivering his fermons was the principal
charm. Hence it is that they lofe a great deal in the
reading, and that moft of thofe who propofed him for
their pattern have made a ridiculous figure. The ambi-
tion of imitating him, which began to fpoil a great deal
of the young preachers, obliged the fynod of the Isle of
France, in the year 1675, to make an a£l:, which was
read in the pulpit of Charenton, and clfewhere, by which

325

preachers were commanded to avoid flights of imagina-
tion, &c. in expownding the word of God. The reader
will be pleafcd to fee here the jiulgment of an liiftoiian
who is beyoHd comparifon a better judge of ihofe mat-
ters than I.

* Alexander Morns,' fays he, * wns a man much cele-

* brated for the particular j^ifts which niv.dc him excel

* in. preaching. He was extraordinarily followed by the

* people -, and they who were lead qualified to difcern

* what deferves admiration, were neverthelefs his moft

* passionate admirers. It was matter of difpute among

* people of good tafte, whether wliat was reckoned molt

* beautiful in him, was fterling or tinfel ^fnllde ou ap-

* parent) or whether it ought to be called a fl.ifli of ligh-
^ tening, or light ? But even they who pronounced a-

* gainft him could not help hearing him with pleafure,

* and feeling the fame emotions which he r ai fed in o-

* thers. Some were of opinion that he had much lefs

* erudition than was commonly iniagined : but it was

* never difputed that he had the art of difplaying to the

* bed advantage that which he was mailer of, and to

* give a great luftre, to whatever he expofed to the
' judgment of the public. However that be, no man

* ever received more flattering applaufes than he ; and

* what was faid of another could never be better applied

* to any one than to him, that if he did not deferve the

* advantageous judgments that were given of him, he at

* lead deprived his hearers of the liberty of making dif-

* advantageous ones. Among his line qualities, he had

* fome wliich did hitn no honour ; he was imprudent,

* imperious, fiitirical ; and fcarce allowed any thing to

* be good but his own works, and the praifes of his ad-

* mirersf'

Senebier alfo inclines to tlie unfavourable side, when
he fays, though not very considently, * tlrat his learning
was vad, but fuperficial ; and he thought every thing was
accompli{hed when he had difplayed addrefi^, or a tiifue
of founding phrafes:]:.' And copying after the darker

■f Benoit, Hist, torn, 3. p. 454»
- % • Son favoir etoit vaste, maia fuperficiel ; il croyoit avoir

3^6

cofouring of thefe critics, and Chevreau, he fays, ' That
he had genius (I'efprit) with the vices that accompany it,
when it is not guided by reafon : he was fickle, impru-
dent, proud : if he excited envy by his talents, he pro-
cured hatred by his haughtinefs.*

To thefe may be added, the opinion of Profeflbr
Oftervald, exprefled in a treatise De Vexerche du ministère
sacrây in which he gives a (hort charaâer of the chief
writers of fermons in the French language previous
to that time, and while he pafled encomiums on fe-
veral of them, yet found fault almoft with them alK
< Mr Morus, he fays, * made much noife. He was an
excellent man, a good divine, a good humanift, learned
in antiquity : but as for his fermons, there is not much
to be found in them. He had, as it were, thunder-claps,
which flrike. He aé^ed the part of the fine wit, and
offended by afFe£ting a play of words and points, againft
which one cannot be too much on his guard J/

Thefe leftures indeed on the office of the miniftry,
were only taken down from his mouth by fome of his
iludents, and publifhed without his knowledge or revifal,
and abounded, as he afterwards complained, with fuch
errors and defe£ls, that he could not acknowledge them
for his : though in the later edition quoted, he made the
publiflier correal fome of the grofier faults. But the
fentiments exprefled of the French preachers are rery

tout fa't quand il avoit montre de I'addrcsse, oil tissu de phra-
fes fonores. '

\ • Mais pour fes fermoiis, c'est peu de cliofe. Il avoit
comme de coups de foudre, qui frapent, mais quand vous avez
lu un de fes fermons n'en remportez que très- peu de chofe.
11 fait le bel efprit. Il pèche dans Tafledation des jeux de.
mots et des pointes, dont on ne fauroit ^rop de garder.' P. 3 1 .
2de edit. Basle. 1739.

327

IftUch in the fpirit and difposition of that author, though
perhaps he would ritot have chofen himfelf to have hazard-
ed the pubUcation of fuch free cenfures as he has pafled
upon feme of them. He blames them generally for being
too dida6lical and controversial, having too Kule of mo-
rality, too little application ; fome of them, as Drelin-
court, for too much confolation : fome other fermons,
as thofe of Meftrezat, would make excellent commenta-
ries, &c. This divine put but too little value upon the
the peculiar dodlrines and myfteries of faith in inculcat-
ing moral duties ; and if he condemned others for dwell-
ing too much upon common-places of doctrine, he in-
dulged himfelf, on the other hand, in common-place
upon topics of morality and practice. He may be ranked
among thofe who, by influence and example, taught the
calviniftical churches abroad to relax in point of ortho-
doxy i and he in part alfo helped forward in Britain, by
fome of his writings circulated under high recommen-
dations, the introduction of what, in its more advanced
ftate, has since been called, rational and moral preach-
ing, in contradiftindlion to evangelical. As to his fpirit
and manner (for critics in their turn muft fubmit to be
criticifed) nothing can be more dissimilar to thofe of
Morus. While he difcovers piety and sincerity, and his
(lile may be allowed the praife of being perfpicuous and
exact, yet his composition is tame and flat -,

* Correftly cold, and regularly low ;'

and as he made but little ufe of figure and metaphor
himfelf, and was deficient in fancy and animation, no
wonder though he did not much admire or rclifli thefc
ill attbther.

328

It is ti*ue, the general form and method of French fer*
mons in thofe times, were considerably different from
what have been generally adopted in Britain, and alfo
abroad at a later period : fo that they admitted not of a
large difcussion of one particular head of divinity, or of
a detailed application of one article. Many of them Were
of the textual or expository kind» including in one dif-
courfe the different parts or claufes of a verfe, or more
frequently of feveral verfes together, explaining each in
their order, or natural Connexion, and fo might very
properly be called extended commentaries, on the por-
tions, chapters, or books of which they treated ; not much
differing from what are termed leÛures or expositions,
in the churCh of Scotland, as diftinguilhed from fer-
mons : yet thefe comprehended both dodlrinal illuftra-
tions, and praifllc;'.! application, though more brief, in-
termixed with or deduced from the feveral topics explain-
ed. This mode, though it wanted fome advantages, yet
had others above the more common method : particular-
ly it re(lri£led preachers and hearers more to the infpired
oracles) and to the more familiar ufe of fcriptural lan-
guage ; fo that the in{lru£lions might be feen more im-
mediately emanating from the pure facred fource : it ferv-,
eA as a check to the vague and capricious wanderings of
mens own thoughts, the venting of peculiar do£lrines
and notions, and giving effays and harrangues upon any
topic their tafte or fancy might fuggeft, to which only a
text, as has often been the cafe, may be affixed as a
mere motto, with which, however, it may have no proper
conneflion or affinity.

Tlie Charenton divines, however, occasionally varied
from their more ufiial expository method, as others alfo

329

iJr.!. Our author has fometimes one or more fermons
on a single text, ortcommon head of divinity ; and this
prevailed more afterwards in Geneva, and among the
Walloon and refugee minifters, as appears from the fer-
mons of Turretine, Pi£let, Galatine, Du Bofc, Super-
vjlle, Bafnage, dc la Treille, de la Mothc, Jaquelot, &c.
We need not attempt nicely to balance thefe different
accounts of the pulpit-difcourfes of Morus. We mult
probably fix on a medium, as in many other cafes, in
order to come at the juft eftimate of them : neither go-
ing to all the extent of commendation and applaufe, with
his admirers, nor yet admitting all that has been thrown
out to detradl from his fame. Some of the obfervationg
of the above critics are undoubtedly jufl: : and fome of
the faults animadverted on are very obvious. He abounds
in antithefes j is too fond of (harp epigrammatic points
of wit, which tend to break the continuity, and hinder
the fluency of his fentences. He deals too freely in fud-
den interrogations, or abrupt exclamations. He fhews too
much art ; is too folicitous to (bun the beaten path, and
is ever on the ftretch for new and ftriking allusions and
refemblancM, fometimes far-fetched, which to fome,
would appear rather fanciful than judicious. This cafl:
of composition muft have cofl. the author much labour,
and cxa£l preparation ; variety too would be ever re-
quisite, as phrafeology and embellifliments of this k'yid
could hardly bear repetition, while the fources froni
whence fancy might draw would be ready to fail : nor
would every fubjedl easily admit of them, nor could the
mind be always in a condition equally favourable for fuc-
cefsfully accompliftiing fuch a task. Some of ihefe cpn-
Ti

330

sidçratioji might, nnake hi:n avcrCe to revîfe his difcouriW
for the prefs- ladeed the only one he tr.infcribed for pub-
lication, that on the birth of John liiptift, was rather an
unpromisinjT fpeci;nen ; it is perhaps more Hable to the
charge of affecting a falfi biiUance of language, abounds
as much or more with antjthefes, and epigrammatic
P'.):nts, than any of the reft th-it have been printed.

It is very common that ths difcourfes of thofe account-
ed orators, lofe much in the reading ; and \u^e may readi-
ly believe it mult be fo as to his. Such a drain of lan-
guage could come with eafe and energy from no other
mouth, nor be congenial to any other fpirit, than that
of the author ; and there mufl have been fomething iit
his manner that was particularly engaging. From a p.>{^
fage in a letter of Chevreau, formerly referred to, it wouli
appear that his voice was (harp and (hrilj, his tongue
very voluble, his eyes quick and lively, his addrefs prob-
ably fervent, and his atlion violent. It is compared to
* that of a man who fwims : and if his humour was like
Iiis vDice,' it is faid, ' it muil certainly have been very
fharp §.'

It is rather a difadvantage to a man to have his fame
too loudly extolled : it is ufually the prelude to difap-
pointment in proportion as the expectations were todi
highly ralfed by exaggerated reports. If his written fer-
mons have been reckoned to fall fliort of his uncommon
reputation, (though we are told that the^ alfo were re-

§ * Votre m'aiftre a prêche ici, et a itial prêche — Il a une
grande vol 'hility de hin'^ue ; les yeux vifs ; les mains belles:
et je doute fort que ce foient les parties cffentielles de l'orateur.
Son aftion est celle d'un homme qui nage,: et s'il a l'humeuf
comme la voix, on peu' s'assurer qu'il l'a fort aigre. La S- nod*
Natiouel est fur la fin,' Sic. Oeuvres Melces, tom. i. p. 6l»

33'^

^iveJwith great appTnufc,) greater allowances are to fee
iria'de for them, in'* regard they were poOhumous, not
prepared by himfelf for publication, and feveral of them
not complete or filled up. Still greater aîlowances
mull be made in reading any of ihem only irf'a transla-
tion. If it be dilhcult in all cafes, to transfufe the fpirlt
and idiomatic peculiarities and beauties of any original,
into a version, it mud be much more fo as to composi-
tion of fuch a quality as that of this author, in which fo
much depends upon the artificial turns and points of lan-
guage, and the found and position of words. The diffi-
culty of retaining or transferring the force or beauty of
thefe, in any tolerable degree, consistent with the Eng-
li{h idiom, the translator of the Seled Sermons has often
felt.

Yet notwithftanding of thefe blcniiflies, and after all
thefe reafonable dedudions and abatements, there will
be found fomething valuable Hill remaining,-^fome folid
and flerling ore under the glittering outside. Such ge-
neral and continued reputation, indeed, can hardly bc'
accounted for, from mere empty fcuuds or fliew, — tljC
parade of words and addrefs, without a fubitratum of
genuine fcnfe, and a considerable portion of genius and
talent accompanying them. Morus may be judly allow-
ed a (hare of merit, and a claim to excellence, and a
kind of eloquence peculiarly his own, though ht may
not be ranked in the firll clafs of preachers, nor can be
propofed as a model for others, at Jeaft in our nortlicni
and more frigid chmate. He was not fo locI, lo uni-
formly regular, and conne£lcd, as Daille and Mcllre-
2at ; but more prompt, rapid, and touching : he vfasnot
fo clo^ or accurate, as I'auchtur, Claude, or Alhx, bu
T a

3Si

had more of un£llon and ardour. His periods were not
fo rounded and fo full, nor his diflion fo fluent, fo florid
and rhetorical as thofe of Du Bofc, whom Lewis XiV.,
who often liftened to him, ftyled, * the beft fpeaker in his
kingdom ;' he was more terfe, concife, and abrupt. He
was not fo fmooth, fo methodical, or fo copious in illuftra-
tion, as Fr, Turretine, Superville, Treille, or La Mothe i
nor were his difcourfes fo digeftcd, fo profoundly me-
ditated, fo elabourately wrought up in point of form, or
fo clofcly co-hering together throughout, as thofe of Baf-
jiage. He foars not, nor expands his fentiments in the
difFufe, pompous and fwelling ftrains of Saurin, who has
obtained fuch diftinguiflied, and rather difprcportioned
notice in Britain, above all his compatriots : but is more
corredl, explicite, and uniform in flating and enforcing
ibme of the peculiar articles of the evangelical creed ; and
his addrefs is more home and piercing. Saurin had
doubtlefs great oratorial powers, a large compafs o£
thought, and abundant refources : but he cannot be
praifed as the mofl; accurate or judicious divine, or as a fit
model for the pulpit. He is too verbofe, deviates too
much from simplicity, indulges too freely the fallies of
a luxuriant imagination, and afle£Vs too much the bolder
and fplendid figures of rhetoric : he fometimes aflumes
the charafler of a fcholafl.ic reafoner, at other times
that of a declaimer ; and fometimes labours too much to
eftablilh, illuftrate, or enforce fome particular topic,
though not always the moft dire<ft or principal one in
the text. But a greater fault is his ufe of ambiguous
language on fome points of gofpel truth, or rather mis-
ftating them, from a desire to accommodate, or get free
from fome common objedlions. By attempting to blend

333

calvinifm and armlnianlfm together, lie makes an incon-
gruous medley, anS runs himfelf into inconsistencies»

In fine, no one author has ever united, nor possibly
can ever unite, all desirable excellencies together. In
the difcourfes of Mr Morus, may be traced a vein of
gofpel doarine, fome fpark at lead of true original ge-
nius, a fund of acquired learning, a zealous fervid fpirit,
great acutenefs and livelinefs, novelty of illuRration, an4
fome happy and ftriking elucidations, many pafiages beau-
tiful and pathetic -, a free and home addrefs, giving faith-
ful admonitions j ?nd marks of a sincere and pious mind.

APPENDIX,

APPENDIX.

NO I.

Letter of Diodati, Professor of Theology in Geneva, to Sit»
MAsius. (See Page 48, &c.)

After paying fome compliments to Salmasius, and
taking notice of the occasion of writing * (o unjuft and
ihamelul as it was, in the judgment and confcience ol all
who were not blinded by their violent and implacable pas-
sions,' the reverend proftflbr proceeds to the immediate
fubjedl of his letter, and begs him to believe, that he
would not impofe upon him by falfhood : • on this/ lays
he, * I dare call upon the great God to witnefs. The
firft feeds of alienation that appeared, were fo light and
unreafonable, that they gave at the beginning, and have
left ever since, a firm impression, that there were fome of
greater force concealed, which God knows, and which ftill
continue to break forth, but which, by their e.ffc6ls can-
not be accounted the workings of pure zeal for God and
his truth. The inflexible aiperity that has been mani-
fefted, when any attempt has been made towards bro-
therly reconciliation, hath difcovered that there was fome
deep rooted principle of malignity working. I can truly
fay, that our friend never aimed at any thing more than
to make an innocent defence ; but that he had done this
with a heat and vigour which had often hurt thofe \\ho
attacked him As to which, indeed, I could fometimes
have wiflied that he had Ihown more contempt for what
his virtue, his fine genius (bel esprit, J his great know-
ledge and ei:ccllent giits, would easily, in the judgment
of all dibiiiterelted pcrfons, far and near, have qu;.llied ;
but on the other hand, the importunity of his malevolent
opponents appeared to be well dcfcrving that they fhould.

^5f

flow and then, în thîs manner, be beatert off, that thcjf
might be taught to be at reft, by the fliame and confusion
^hich they always publicly and privately brought upori
themfelves by their malignant temerity. They thought
at firft, to have wounded him in the higheft point of his
reputation, the conformity of doctrine, and, hib admij-
sion into the miniftry : they drew up heavy accufations,
and made great opposition on heads of do£lrine. But he
(hue all their mouths by his declaration, viva vocty by
writings and fubfcriptions,' &c. [as in the paflage infert-
cd before, in page 48, 49.]

About two years ago, two young minifl.ers of the
tillage, attacked him upon certain dilates, and the
matter was carried fo far, that our fenate wiflied to be
acquainted with that pretended fire of concealed error :
and our whole company of pallors and profeflbrs having
Convened, and the whole being heard, our friend appear-
ed altogether innocent, and Uriel prohibitions were given,
with comminations fubjoined, that he fhould meet with
no further moleflation, and his accufers failed of their
design and vauntings. From that time, there was a pro-
fpetl of quietnefs to him, and us all. But the peace
hath again turned to a greater war, and your favour, and
kind propensity tov/ards him, have excited winds, and
turbulent emotions very different. They have attempted
to blacken him in order to drive him hence : they have
fpread abroad thefe falfe rumours, that they might hin-
der his reception among you : he has been refused when
he was demanded; and they would extrude him, when
he comfortably enjoys here the love and confidence of
all the principal perfons, and the whole church, who
never hear his excellent fermons without giving thanks
to God, nor depart from them without being all edified.
Our maglflrates in a body have a very great afFedlion for
him, as a mod worthy inftrument, and rare ornament of
our republic.

As to that grofs, impudent, and infernal calumny in
reference to the perfon of the Holy Spirit, I cannot con-
ceive whence it could take its rife, feeing no fueh thing
was ever heard of in this place, and even the mod pene-
tratijjg fcrutinee:^ers of him never produced any thing
of the kindé It is indeed an evidence of malignity ; for

33<^

îf fuch blafphemîes have been heard to proceed from hi»
mouth, as is prefuppofed, they never gave timely infor-
mation, that we mig;ht have certain knowledge of it, by
examining into the truth, and confronting perfono to-
gether. It is, besides, to charge us, either with great
ignorance, who could not know fuch horrible feeds, or
of criminal negligence, in fullering them publicly to fpring
up in the midst of us.

With regard to the exceptions againft the public teftl-
monies, you may be alTured that this is the truth : The
company of pallors in a body, without a contrary voice,
granted the tellimony of his orthodoxy as to all points on
which he hid been charged. Our weekly prefes drew it up
in his own tafte and flyle, rather two flowery and afFe£l-
ed, as he had drelTed up others in the fame falhion ; —
thefe hyperboles and flowers of language, it is true, fe-
veral were difplcafed with, of whom I confefs, I was one ;
but none, fo far as I know, oppofed the ratification of it
as to the fubltance ; and as to fome little circumftances
which you have pointed out to me, they are either falfe,
or wire-drawn. I will explain myfelf to you farther,
upon two points : The firfl: is, that of his call to Lyons,
where they would have it believed, that he excited great
difturbances. I know the affair to the bottom. It is
falfe that our friend brought one of the pallors into dif-
credir, and embroiled him with his church. More than
ten years ago, the principal among them were difgufted
■with him, and waited only for the deceafe of his father-
in-law, to be quit of him. Our friend indeed wavered
a little as to that call ; but took no flep for which he
could be blamed. The moleftations he felt here, like
fo many thorns in his sides, made him desire to be freed
from them ; on the other hand, the general and warm
affedlion (liown to him on that occasion, and efpecially
his desire to hold united the charges he had in the church
and academy, detained him here. — As for his manners,*
* * * [See this paragraph inferted p. 49.] ' Besides,
piety, honeRy, temperance, the farthefl remove fronx
all avarice and fordidnefs, were found in him, in a de-
gree fuitable to his profession. Believe me, and if there
be need for it, make others believe me. I tell you the
undifguifcd uuth. Yet I would be very forry, if I (hould

337

îerve, without thinking of it, to clear the way for his de-
parture to you. Grant me the continuance of your va-
luable friendfliip, for which I will make a return by all
ofRccs of refpe£lful fervice, of which I hope foon to give
you a token. May God have you in his holy keeping,
and beftow abundantly on you his blessings. ,

Sir, Sec.
Genrva, J. DeodATI.

9th of May, 1648.

N« II.

Tf>e substance of the letUr of Mr ], Sartoris, the pastor of th&
Italian and French churchy in Geneva t to Salmasius.

After making an apology for troubling him, not be-
ing acquainted, the writer fays, from ihe consideration
that it was a duty of humanity and chriftian charity to
defend innocence againfl calumny, he was determined
to write Salmasius, for his information on a fubje£t o£
great importance refpecling a very worthy perfon, name-
ly, Mr Morus. After mentioning the ftrange reports

* that lately had been fprcad injurious to his reputation,
which grieved to the heart all good people, knowing
them to be falfe, yea, faujfes de toute fauffeie^ wondering
that any one could be found capable of inventing fucli
« black and diabolical calumnies ;' — he proceeds thus ;

• Mais encore a elle trouve fort eftrange que fur ce te-
moinage ayant efte donne audit Sieur, il ayt eftc révo-
que en doute comme 6*11 avoit efte mendie et capte par
des voyes obliques, qui efte une grieve offence faite non
au particulier simplement, mais au toute une Compagnie,
laquelle eft en autre reputation enuers toutes perfonnes-
disinterefles qui la coignoiffent et fa procedure ordinaire.
Or je vous puis affeurer, Monf. que ce tefmoignagc,
comme il eft véritable, n'eft pas moins authentique et eu
la forme et obfervation de l'ordre qui acouftume d'eftre
tenu en tefmoignages donnez a perfonnes de femblable
profession et qualité, et signe par toute la Compagnie des
Paftev*cs delà ville et Profeffeurs de l'Académie, excepte
trois en tour, et mov vravement le moindre de tous, mais

' a u

338

qui ay l'honneur dreftre des Fadeurs de la ville des une
trentaine «î'annees, fuis un de ceux qui l'ay signe, ap-
prouvant le dit tefmojgnage en toute fa fubftance comme
uniforme a la vérité, et fuis preft d'en signer un autre
voire plusieurs uniformes a celuy la. Car je vous puis
(fire en sincérité, que Monf. Morus ayant il y a qaelqnes
années efte foupfonne par quelques uns d'innovation cfi
la doctrine, par ces refponces il dissipa tellement ces
nuages que le refultat fut qu'on le tcnoit pour bon et fi-
dèle PalUur et Professeur exempt et pleinement def-
charge de tout foupfon d'heresie, erreur, ou hétérodoxie
et nouvelle dodrine, et cela par ordre de la dite Com-
pagnie couche par efcrit fur les regiftres d'icelle. Et de-
puis a fait recoignoiftre qu'il eftoit entièrement esloignc
de ces opinions extravagantes qu'on luy avoit impofe, et
combien plus de cefte abominable hérésie ? et en fes
docles Leçons en Théologie, et en fes excellentes Predi-
cations n'apparoit pas moins la naive pureté que la pro-
fonde folidite de la do6lrine ; et s'il faut que le Serviteur
de Dieu fidelle baftifle de deux mains, je puis dire qu'eu
l'infirmité humaine neantmois, il n'édifie pas moins par
vie et converfation que par fa Do6lrine. C'efl une perle
precieufe que Dieu a fait rencontrer en cefte Eglife et
Efchole, laquelle je prie Dieu nous vouloir conferver lon-
guement : car c'eft chofe autant admirable que rare qu'en
c'efl aage auquel il efl, il foit parvenu a une si ample, et
profonde conoifTance et en la Ste. Théologie, et es let-
tres humaines ; de manière que rien ne manque non feu-
lement des chofes necefluires pour l'aflbrtifTement de la
charge laquelle il poflede, mais aussi pour l'ornement
d'icelle. Mais que eft entre tous juge plus capable de
''î'erudition, que vous Monf» avec lequel je fcay qu*il fait
gloire d'avoir familière communication, et qui avez vcu
quelques efchantilons de fa fufRfancc f * • »

Genev.i, J. SaRTORIS,

5 Avri-lj i6.iÔ.

^3^

N<> III.

The Tfitmomal of the Curalors of th^ Hhtork School In Jmstcr-
. dam. (Seep. 130 )

QuAMVis Dominorum Confulum Amftelodamenslum
TeftTmonium plufqu.m fufficiat, tamen quia nobis pro-
prie cura lUuftris Schoix ciemandata eft, in q^f^.f^«^^.*^
rendus et prî^ftantissmus vir Alexander Moras Hi ton^
Sacrx Professionem exercet, NoRrum etiarn fymbolurti
adiiciendum putavimus. nequid ei dceffe videatur ad tp-
telam nominîs et exiftimationis, quam apud ^xiero. ta-
mofo quodam llbello laceveri miraniur et dolemus. INos
igitur?Scholx lUuftris AmUelodameusis Curatorcs telta-
mur, D. Alcxandrum Morum cum primun^ m hoc bel-
cium venit, a Dominis Confulibus et reaoribus CivUaus
Amrtelodamensis vocatum efle in locum et munus m^g-
m illus G. J. VoGsii per i:)elcgatos duos qui publico no-
mine prœdidum munus ipsi obtukrunt. Quod ille cum
amplcai non poflet qui fe jam Zeclandis proceribus ob-
ftrinxerat, nee fpes ulia tunc tOet ipfum poile indc
tarn cito avelli quam postulabat 8chol?e nostiçe lUu.tiis
nécessitas et ratio studiorum, vir fumrous D. blondei-
lus ex Gallis in e^ndem Piovinciam vocatus est, quam
et dignissime implcvit : Cum auicm poitmodum pixoic
tus D. Morus in patriam ad Protcbsionem 1 hcologr.ç
Obeundam revocaretur, Nos ei velut manum injecunu^,
et pristinam vocationem redintegravimus. Qua: a nobis
ideo memorantur, nequis forte putet ad nos cum non
maîura deliberatione lubiia vocatum. Testamur porro
eum e,\ quo apud nos publicum obit munus, ita liojis
omni ex parte latisfacerc, ut luculentis tostimoniis qu;t
perhibita ei funt vel a Gcncvcn^ibus vel ab alus, cumu-
late refpondeat, multofque similes ei dodlnna ci vutute
dari nobis optemus ad Civitatis nosir^v decus et ipiemlo-
rcm. Calumnias auiem quibus prxrer o;noe mtritum
oiieratur, non aliunde o^iri putamusquam ex invidiaqu»
virtuti^^iîscjpue mren^e comes adhierct ir.divuiun. Da-
U u z

340

tnm Amstelodamî et sigillo nostro prlvato comfirmatum
29. Julii. Anno 1654.
Locus Sigittorum.
D. D. Curatorum.

C. DE Graef.
Simon van Hoorne.

N" IV.

Verses on Gekeva ,• tvith which the oration inùtkd Calvinu^
is concluded.

pARVA qnidem fateor fed qua non altera major
Cseli muneribus : tot venerabilis orbe,
Charorurnquc Deo multum celebrata virorum
Nomine, finitimis nimium nimiunique Geneva
Invidiofa locis, lîetum caput exfere cœlo,
Quum pulchri, sunt ecce pedes in montibus istis
Prceconum, tua qui femper nova gaudia narrant.
Et dicunt, * Deus ille tuus, Deus ille tuorum,
Nostra Sion, quare trépidas ? in fecula regnat-*

Dum furit, et toto Mars impius orbe flagejlum
Horrifonum quatit, ac tristes denuntiat iras.
Et nullam dudum celebrata Comitia pacem
Promittunt, nisi quie blando sic nomine ridet
Ut mala multa piis bello pejora minetur,
Pax fovet alma tuos et protegit undique cives
Omne genus fcecunda bonis : Pax aurea circum
Arva colit, populumque beat, Legefque silere
Non sinit, aut frigere Artes : dat jura Senatus
Integer, inque tuis Pastores îedibus aha
Voce canuni, ' Deus ille tuus, Deus ille tuorum.
Nostra Sion, quare trépidas ? in fecula regnat.'

Non bene Calvini tua nomine tenipla fonjibunt
Cum precibus pia te6ta calent, votisque laccbsit
Supplex turba Deum, Domino tua vota ferantur,
<>ni tibi Calvinos, œternaque nomina Bezas,
Totque alios dederat qui nunc monstrata piorum -
Cveiibus astra tenent, puroque yi lumihe lumen
uEternum adfpiciunt, quod nullie vefperis audeiU
Alternare vices, et qviem docucrt fruuiuur

34Ï"

2<»^u proprlore Deo, coellque volumina calcant.
Non tamen hinc noflras poflunt audire querelas,
Nil opus eft : ' De&s ille tuus, Deus ille tuoruin,
Noftra Sion, quare trépidas i! in fccula regnat '

Ipfe pater placidis latum caput exftrat undis
Lemannus repetatque meos in littore piaufus,
Quos etiam pulfvc referunt ad fydcra valiea.
Qu^id mihi cum Roma, liberino aut flumiiie ? dicat :
Nil canimus mortalc, fonant mca carmina Cbriftum,
Dumque cano, Chriftum reparabhlis allouât Echo.:.
Attamen et fido debetur gratia Icrvo,
Et fas eft laudare homines, Numenque vereri,
Qt:oi tremit omne genus terraque marique animantum,t
Cui paret Domino ftellantis regia cœli,
Cœleftumque affurgit apex, omnifque poteftas
Aligerum, * Deus ille tuus, Dcus ille tuorum,
Noftra Sion, quare trépidas ? in lecula regnat.'

Me pia, me fequitor facris operata juventus
Ad Rhodanum, et viridi fpatiantem in margins ripac
Audiat excipiens animo mea vota silenti
Fufa tot in noftram cccleftia munera terram
Dum celebro, gratefque tibi, Deus Alme, refundo :
Felices nimium colics ! felicia noftri
Culta foli, quœ Calvinum videre ferarum
Subdere colla jugo, et cîccam difpcllere noclem f
Urbs o chara Deo, quae magni eonfcia ftnipep
Numinis, attonitas trahis ad fpedlacula gentes,
Madle animis ! * Deus ille tuus, Deus ille tuorum,
Chara Sion, quidnam trépidas ? in fecula rrgnat.'

Sed quantum afficior non sicco lumine lultrans
Chriftiadum afflidtos populos, ubi Martins h'.wior
Intonat, et fratrum mccrentia petlora puHat r
Non tantum vos ifte dolor, pia Scotia, tuque ^'^

Tota Caledoniis unita Britannia regnis,
Unita heu ! quondam, fed jam divifa tot anno,-;,
Tangit cnim, quotcunque Dei tanguntur amore :•
Ipfa Geneva fuos mifcre laniata capillos
Virginias fparfo fccdavit pulvere viitas,
Indixitque pio jejunia publica voto,
Chrifte fave, nunquam ipfe tuis irafcere donis,
Ponjte die ventis, et die requiefcire fluO.us.
lam venti pofuere, silct Ilraium a.'quor, ct omnis

342

Detumuît flu£lus : die blanda voce Sionî,

(Sponfus enitn es) * Deus ecce tuus, Deus ecce tuorunij

(IJle ego fum) quare trépidas ? in fecula régnât.*

Ipfe tuo faveas operi, populoque gementi
Dexter ades, tua res agitur. Tibi facra Geneva,
Sufpe£la hîcrefeos, mox et rea, pessima passim
Audiat, invidise fcopulus : jadata procellis
Te portum redlore fubit : merfata profundo
Pulchrior eveniet, mundoque fruetur inique,
Tu modo femper ama : tantique videbitur omnes
Ferre vices, hominumque minas, Ercbique furgresi
Donec in aftrigeri fubve<Sla palatia cœli
lam dicat, * Deus iUe meus, Deus ille meotum,
Cur trcpidem nihil cil, aeterna in fecula régnât.*

N<> V.

I, Extras ; from the Sermon preathed ly Mr Moras, at the Hague-i
on the death o/" William II. Prince of Orange, Nov. 165©;
on It. zl. 6, &c.

* La voix dit crie : mais a qui crierai-je ? a toi Seigneur,
mais tu es courrouce ; aux anges et aux faints, mais ils
ne peuvent m'exaucer ; aux trônes de la terre, mais ils
font abbatus j au prince, mais il n'entend plus ; toutefois
il parle encore ; je redirai donc fa voix a ton peuple, et
je crieray ; * toute la chair cfte comme herbe.*

Il y une voix que crie, mon fils, et l'autre mon époux ;
et d'autres? mon frère, une autre crieroit si elle pouvoit,
mon père : mais d'autres crient ma fortune, toute l'Eglife
en a gémi, toute l'Europe en a crie, mais il faut que lOutes
ces voix qui forment ce concert lugubre s'acordent a tel-
Ic-ci pour en faire comme !e refrain de leurs hymnes,
toute la gloire de la chair est comme la fleur de l'herbe ;
car c'est ce que crie notre grand Mort. Figurez vous
qu'il vienne par miracle a fe foutenir encore fur fes pieds,
et que dans ce lieu ou il a pafle si fouvent, et qu'il a si
fouvent fait briller des rayons de la lumière, et de fa joye,
et qu'il criât dans cette aflemblee, qui n'en feroit emu,
c^ui n'en feroit touche jufquee au fonds de l'ame ? maj$^

345

fans courir, fans marcher, fans bouger» il ne laiffe pas de
cTÎer, et cela même qu'il cft immobile parle a nous, er noua
iavertit comme par^une voix celefte, que la creuîe figure
de ce monde pafle, et qu'avec elle nous paflbns. Le trône
quitte les uns, et les autres quittent le trône ; comme il
n'y a qu'un Royaume inébranlable dans le ciel, il n'y a
qu'un Dieu feul qui eft le Roi des siècles immortel.

La voix du mort crie donc ; ne pleurez point fur moi,
penfez a vous mortels, je n'irai plus la ou vous etes>
mais vous viendrez la ou je fuis. Pourquoi craignez
vous d'y venir, vous avez a l'entour de vous un mon-
de si fâcheux, et vous n'en voulez point fortir, vous aver,
au deïTus de vous un ciel si glorieux, et vous n'y vouler.
point venir : de ce ciel ou je fuis je regarde les aflem-
blees des peuples comme des troupaux de fourmis j lo
monde comme une ombre, la terre comme un point, au
defTus de vos ennemis et de vos miferes ; au dcflas d-
vos craintes et de vos efperances, au deflus de vos coti-
Toitifes et de vos vengeances, au deflus de toutes les at-
teintes et de la calomnie et de l'ingratitude, et de toutes
les autres passions qui partagent tous les efpaces de votre
vie. Je fuis couronne d'un diadème incorruptible, assis
deflus un trône inébranlable dans le fein de mon perr,
parmi les anges et les faints, et parmi mes ayeux ; dif-
pofez-vous donc a me fuivre, vous qui m'eussiez bien ac-
compagne dans les plus extremes perils de la guerre, mar-
chandez-vous a me fuivre en ce fejour de gloire, au Hsjl
mon triomphe.*

* Qui pourroit ou penfer ou dire la defolation

ou fe trouve réduite cette maifon que brilloit autrefois de
tant de lumières, et qui eft aujourd'hui noircie d'un deuil
épais. Quand ces états perdirent leur Maurice, ils trci-
verent incontinent leur Frederic Henri fon ires-dî^tî
frère, et fon tres-digne fuccefleur. Quand Frederic Henù
vint a manquer a ces provinces, vous pouvez vous relTou-
venir qu'elles embraflerent incontinent le Prince Guil-
laume fon tres-digne fuccefleur : alors il efluya leo hrm<s
de vos yeux et dissipa, comme un beau Soleil levanî, le,;
ténèbres et les ombres de votre nuit ; mais a prefent il
tire des larmes de vos yeux, et laifle après foi, comme
uru Soleil couche, fans efperance de recour, les ombrer.
de h mort qui ell la nuit de la vie. Il ne manquera prir'

344

de dip;nes fuccefTeurs, tout le fang de NafTau n'eft pa»
eceint d^ns fes veines ; il y en a des branches encore,
ïnais il n'y a point de frère, il n'y a point de fils, comnae
autrefois, qui paroiffi au monde s mais il y a un germe
ciche fous la terre qui fortira bien-tot comme unifurgeon
d'une terre àiterec, et qui fera reverdir, et fon nom et
nos efpsrance f . Dieu le veuille. Dieu le fafle, Dieu veuil-
le rallumer la lampe de fon Oin£t, et Dieu fafle fleurir
le Liban : mais i! faut avouer que ce font chofes et très
incertaines et très éloignées, très incertaines pour l'événe-
ment, et très éloignées pour la jouiflance ; car ne fera ce
pas un miracle de Dieu si le facre fruit fe peuc conferver
dans un orage si furieux, a milieu de tant de fecoufles
et de si terribles convulsions ? et puis combien d'années
f;iudrat-il que nous laissions couler devant qu'il foit mur,
er capable de nous reprefenter ou fon Père, ou fon ayeul,
ou fon bifayeul, ou tous les trois enfemble ? mais encore
pourvu qu'il vienne, nous dirons tandem * fit furculus ar-
bor ;' noj vœux et nos benedi£lions hâteront fon age
et fa vertu, si bien qu'on le verra croître a vue d'oeil en
autorite fur les hommes, en grace devant Dieu; car pour-
quoi n'oferions-nous pas nous promettre du fils ce que
îious avons vu en la perfonne du Père ; j'appelle Père,
hi;las ! tout tremblant de crainte, en ftile de prophète,
celui qui n'a point encore d'enfant, et j'appelle fils celui
qui peut-être ne fera point, et peut être ne fera point fils,
tl pour le certain ne verra fon Père qu'en la refurre£lion.*
— * Ceux qui l'ont vu dans les afi^aires et dans les confeils
le peuvent favolr mieux que nous, je les prens a témoins
l'ils n'ont pas mille fois admire la gravite de fa jeunefle,
la douceur de fon feu, la feverite de fa joye, l'ardeur qui
Vaiiimoit ; et de l'autre Cote la prudence qui le retenoit :
c?ux-Ia même qui ne l'ont vu qu'en des audiances ordi-
n lires et dans l'entretien particulier, ne peuvent pas igno-
ivr, ni rjulorite. t[ue fes yeux verfoient dans fou difcours
ni Ja grace qui eloit epandue fur fes lèvres, ni la folidite
aie ju(;ement qu'il falfoit paroitre par tout, digne d'une
experience de quatre^viuts ans : il etoit enfin tel que si

f IL' ItTt liis fpoiiu.', princess Mary, sister to Charles II.,
n.ear the time of delivery, of whom was bvorn within eight days
i:f{er V/iUiair. HI , the great deliverer of England.

345

quelqu'un qui ne l'eut jamais vu, l'eut vu pour la pre-
miere fois fans cordon blu, fous un habit commun, dans
une foule de Gerttilshommes, ou il n'eut fait que pronon-
cer trois paroles, il eut falu être ftupide pour ne pas dire,
c'elt la le Prince. Ceux-là même qui ne l'ont pas aime
i'ont admire.' •

* La princefle fa mere f feroit plus juftement regret-
lee, puis qu'elle eft mere, et qu'elle a perdu fon fils uni-
que, fa joye et fa couronne, l'ouvrage de fon. education,
et le portrait vivant defes vertus. Mais fon autre mere, je
veux dire l'Eglife de Dieu, doit être le principal object
de nos complaintes, car elle a plus perdu que nous ne
penfons, un jour nous le faurons ; vous verres croître dé-
formais le nombre des idolâtres qui fourmillent en ce
pays : vous verrez la porte ouverte a la licence des ferles
et des opinions fanatiques. Nous n'en faifons pas un
Saint ni un demi-Dieu ; bien que nous fâchions que l'an-
cienne Rome en a déifie, et la nouvelle canonife, qui ne
le valoient pas. Le Soleil même a fes taches ; il avoit
les defautes des grands princes, et il les avoit reconnus,
condemnez, corrigez ; et si nous entreprenions de le
comparer aux autres princes de notre tems, nous pour-
rions allurement faire voir que notre bon prince a l'âge
de vint quatre ans n'avoit point fon pareil en nos jours,
et après cela nous devons dire, notre merveilleux prince.
Il aimoit l'Eglife de Dieu, et haifloit d'une haine parfaite
tous ceux qui en troubloient la paix, ou qui en corrom-
poient la pureté. Nous le favons de fcience certaine, il
n'eut jamais favorife l'erreur ni les fadlions. Et n'cft-
ce pas un bien ineftimable ? Sion a donc perdu le plus
.beau de fes ornemens et la plus precieufe de fes colom-
nes ; ' le foufle de nos narines, celui dont les nations di-
foient nous nous repoferons fous fon ombre ;' tout le corps
de nos Eglifes refentira ce coup, et portera le deuil de no-
ire prince. Nos Eglifes en France n'en avoient pas un
feul, et regardoient le notre avec joye comme étant des
leurs, et ne doutez pas qu'elles ne foient touchées plus
que nous ne fommcs encore de ce coup du Ciel.'

Mais ici les paroles nous manquent, lors qu'il nous faut

-]- His mother was princefs Amelia, daughter of the count
dcSolms, and niece to Elizabeth, queen of Bohemia.
X X

34^

j fitter les yeux far cette jeune Princefle delblee, jeune,"
veuVe, et enceinte, et plutôt veuve que mere ; combien
dVpees ont tranfperce fo!i ame, combien de calamité^;
l'ont battue flot a flot ; quels abimes a t elle vu rouler
fur elle au fon de leurs canaux : de quel cote-voulez vous
qu'elle regarde ? a la terre fernie> on n'y penfc point ; aux
Isle.-:, elle y voit fon naufrage, a l'entour d'elle, il n'y a
qu'une noire imasfe de mort et de defefpoir. Elle ne peut
re[Tarder que le ciel, car pour p'=u qu'elle bailTj les yeux:
en terre, il faudra qu'elle frem.ifle d'horreur ; une mere
dans l'exil, un frère dans la melee, un Père fur l'echa-
faut, et pour comble un époux dans le cercueil. Tirons
le rideau deiîuî comme autrefois Ti mante, ce deuil ne
peut être dépeint d'uicuhe couleur. Mais penfez-vous que
ce prince n'ait laifl^e que cette feule veuve ; il n'avoit
efpoufe qu'une feule femme, mais il a laifle huit veuves
après foi. Les fept provinces accompagneront fa royale
et defolec efpoufe toutes eplorees et couvertes du même
deuil.

Difons donc avec Jofap'nat : O Seigneur notre Dieu !
nous ne fivons que faire, mais nos yeux font fur toi.
C'eft toi qui defceins le baudrier dés rois, et qui les fais
defcendre du tronc dans la poudre.

N« VI.

II. ExlraH ; from the Sermon preached at Charenton, iti l66o,* &»
the /estival of y. Baptistet on Luke i. 76—79.

* Jean Baptifle efl: l'étoile qui a fuivi les ténèbres et les
ombres de la loy, et qui a precede la lumière de l'évan-
gile, qui a brille le foir et le matin, a la fin de la loy, et
au commancement de l'évangile, au dernier période de
l'une, et au premier moment de l'autre ; au foir en la
nuit de la loy, au matin et au point du jour de la grace.
Aftre glorieux et divin ! Grand precurfeur du foleiî de
juflicel Car il n'a pas efte le foleil luy mcme, non,
ce petit enfant n'a pas efle un foleil, Chrift naiflfant eft
notre veritable orient, Chrift naiflfant efi: notre véritable
auteur de lumière, et ce petit enfant eft fon étoile. Il luy
prepare l'entrée. Il fort avec pompe et avec appareil aa
devant de luy. Il n'eft pas la lumière, il auiionGe la lu-

347

' Aliame que voudra des feux devant fa malfon» et
dans les places publiques, pour fe rcjopir, et pour ce-
kbrer la naiflante de S. Jean. Nouo qui vouions fer-
vir Dieu comme fcs vcritables adorateurs, allumons
les feux de notre amour, et de notre zcle, et failons
des feux de joye dans nos cœurs, tt dans nos efprits,
a la louange de Jefus Chrili. Prenons occasion de célé-
brer fa naiffance même, dans celle de fon precurftur, et
de fon prophète, et l'adorons en efprit et vérité, l^e
royaume des cieux n'ell plus approche ; iletlvcnu- Il
n'ed plus prêt de venir ; il ell arrive. Faifons donc luire
des feux dignes de luy. Du temps de Jean Baptilie on
batiloit d'eau, et a prcient nous avons elle batifcz du faint
Efpnt, et de feu i iaifons donc luire ce feu, et cet cforit.
En confcience ce ; qui croyez-vous qui honor.:ffent le
plus la naiiTlmce d'un hçmme ? De ceux qui allumoicnt
quelques pieces de bois a ce defiein par une tradition
ancienne ; ou, de ceux qui portoient fon berceau au
fcfleil levant et l'engloutiilbient, pour ainsi dire, des
rayons du folcil, par uise tradliion encore plus ancien-
ne ? Zacharie ne fit pas allumer un feu ; il ne porta
pas fon fils au lever du foîeil. Mnis que fit il donc ?
Digne feu de joye ; fainte marque d'allegrclTe ! Bénit
foit le Seigneur, dit-il, le Dieu d'Jfrael, de ce qu'il a
visite, et fait deliverance de fon peuple, de ce qu'il l'a
délivre maigre fa fcrvitude et non feulement délivre,
mais relevé, trais deve chez luy la cprnè de falut. Les
anciens portoient fur le haut de leur cafque une corne
d'acier qu'ils abaiflbient, ou qu'il relevoicnt en signe de
bonheur, ou de malheur, quand ils avoient efle défaits,
ou qu'ils avoient elle vainqueurs en guerre: et c'ell cii
faifTant allusion a cela que Zacharie rend graces a Dieu,
de ce qu'il avoit elcve la corne de falut dans la maifou

de David.'

• C>ue efl-ce qui parle icy ? Cell un n-;u/?t. Qui cfl
celuy qui chante ce cantique a la gloire de ces petits
enfans .'' Celt un homme qui ne parloit pas mieux que
ces petits enfan?. 11 avoit pèche par la langue, et avoit
e.(Ï€ puni parla langue. Elle avcit commis un ciim<?,cc die
avoit fcrte chaltice du silence. Mais i..y Zaharie recouv-
re ce qu'il avoit perdu, et recouvre une double grace ei-.
iTiCi^e temps. Dieu le fortifie plus qu'il n'eltoit arant.

Xx 2

34»

Ta cheute. II luy rend plus de lumière qu'il n'avoit eu
de brouillard. Autrefois il avoit eu peine a croire ce
que l'ange luy avoit dit, a prefent il croit plus qu'il ne
luy a dit. Sa foy furpafle le rapport de l'ange : Il ne
croit pas feulement que fa femme ceflera d'etre fterile,
et que Dieu luy donnera un fils (myflere qu'Abraham
avoit cru aussi bien que luy) il croit encore que fils de
Dieu prendra notre chair, le revêtira de toutes nos foi-
blefles, et viendra foufFrir la mort pour nous (myftere le
plus grand, le plus divin, et le plus admirable, que les
anges ayent jamais veu, et que les hommes ayent jamais
cru) il le trouve le remède plus grand que le mal, et la
grace plus grande que la punition. Il recouvre la voix,
et la foy ; la voix plus fainte, la foy plus forte. Il re-
couvre la foy dans fon cœur, et l'exprime par fa bouche.*

* Comment favez-vous que Dieu efl un foleil ?

— Je croy, parce que je voy, parce que je recois moy-
meme les divins traits de cette lumière. C'eft une clarté
<iui paroit toujours, et n'obfcurcit jamais. Non elle ne
fe couche jamais. Elle efl: toujours dans fon midy, fans
nuit, fans vepre, fans hyver, fans eclypfe. Le foleil du
monde n'efl; pas plutôt levé qu'il eft couche. Ce n'eft
prefque qu'une mefme chofe que fon berceau et fon tom-
beau. Mais l'Orient d'en-haut a une durée éternelle.
Il n'a jamais de foir 5 il n'a jamais de nuit ; il n*a jamais
de fin ; il ne s'eflieint jamais. — Gloire foit donc a Dieu,
paix en terre, et paix en nos cœurs, et paix par tout.
O grand et divin foleil ! O celefte et faint orient ! Ad-
mirable, et plus qu'admirablcj puifque tu furpalTts toute
admiration ! Qui as donne la lumière aux aveugles, la
vie aux morts, la deliverance aux captifs, la faintete aux
înfidelles ; qui as illumine nos yeux, qui as conduit nos
pieds, qui as éclaire nos amesi qui as ofte noftre vieux
u\dam et fes rides de nos cœurs, pour y introduire ta
tplendeur, et ta pureté ; faint et divin foleil !'

N*' VIT.

ÏII. ExiraS ; The Exordium of the Sermon preached et London ,
lefore King Charles II. in 1 662. (See j)age 247.)

La nature, la fortune, la prudence, font les trois

349

idoles des peuples deftituez de hi connoilTuncc de Dieu :
les philofophes ont adore la nature; les couitilans ont
déifie la fortune* les politiques ont fait leur Dieu do la
prudence ; la nature a ete pour les favans, la fortune
pour les ignorans, et Li prudente pour les fagcs du mon-
de. Il ne manque aucun des Dieux la ou^Je trouve la
prudence, difoit l'un d'eux. F, li. que nous fommes heu-
reux de connoitre au delTus de tout cela, cette iage et
fouveraine Providence qui jjouverne tout l'univers, et
qui a l'oeil toujours ouvert fur nous, de qui la nature
n'eft que la fervante, de qui tout ce qu'on appelle ou for-
tune ou prudence, n'eft que l'inftrument et comme la
clef que ce grand ouvrier tient en fa main, et manie
comme il lui plait. Car qu'eft ce que la nature, sinon
la loi du monde, qui preftipofe neceflaiienient un législa-
teur ? S'il n'y avoit point de magiftrat en cette grande
ville, quelle feroit fa confusion ? Celui la ue feroit il pas
ridicule qui diroit ; nous avons des ftatuts et des bonnes
loix dans notre maifon de ville qui nous pourront aili.-z
gouverner? Comment donc peut-on s'imaginer que ce
grand univers : car la moindre des étoiles du ciel eft de
beaucoup plus grande que cette grande ville ; que ce tout
compofe de tant de villes et de provinces, que ces fuper-
bes lambris du monde, ces vaftes voûtes des cieux, avec
tant de ftux qu'on y voit briller si fièrement defîus nos
têtes, que ce foleil plus grand mille fois que toute !a ter-
re, que toutes ces machines fe remuent avec tant de
promptitude, par tant de divers refibrts, fans que jamais
un feul rouage vienne a manquer, avec une police admir-
able, fans reconnoitre un Dieu qui foit comme le magif-
trat fouvcrain, et la loi vivante de tout ce grand état ?
Qu'eft ce que fortune si ce n'eft un grotefque caprice
de l'efprit humain, qui juge fortuit te qui ne l'tft point,
parce qu'il en ignore les caufcs et les rai Tons, ? He que
nous ferions bien de bannir ce mot fabuleux de notre
ufage et de nos difcours, comme St Auguftin qni s'cft
repenti de l'avoir employe dans fes livres, et s'en eft re-
tra<£le ' Qii'eft ce que la prudence, si ce n'eft comme la
prophétie, une chandelle qui éclaire dans un lieu obfcur,
qui nous fait voir a peine ce qui elt devant nos yeux ; et
ne voit goutte dans l'avenir ? Tout depend de l'occasion,
<t cependant tous les mortels avec toute leur prudence

350

lie fauroient faire naître une feule occasion î tout ce qu'-
elle peut faire c'efl de s'en bien fcrvir : Dieu s'eû referve
C€ droit, il a mis les faifons en fa puifTance, c'eft la clef de
Dieu-, la prudence de l'homme n'efl; qu'un rayon de Dieu,
dcs-que le foleil fe cache il difparoit et devient noir : car la
prudence de la chair eft diabolique, comme dit S. Jaques,
vous le voyez en vos ennemis, on peut les accufcr d'etre
mechans, mais non pas d'etre des fots ; ils font prudens en
leur generation, et vous ne les pouvez furmonter qu'en
aflujettiflant toute votre prudence a la Providence de
Dieu : nature, fortune, prudence, ce ne font que de vaines
chimères, si nous ne les foumettons a ce grand et premier
mobile qui ravit et emporte tout. Les payens figuroient
la nature fous l'emblème d'une chaîne d'or qui dcfcen-
doit des cieux, et qui signifioit la liaifon inviolable des
caufes fécondes, qu'on appelloit la dellinee ; mais nous
avons une chaîne plus precieufe, que Saint Paul appelle
la predefl:ination, compofce des caufes de notre falut, et
des effets de la Providence de Dieu, qui nous a precon-
nus, appelles, juftifies, glorifies : voila les anneaux dd
cette chaîne d'or que Dieu tient en fa main, et qu'il tend
a fon Eglife du plus haut des cieux pour l'attirer de la
terre au ciel. Ils figuroient la fortune fous l'emblème
d'une Deeffe, qui faifoit tourner une roue, ou tout fe ren-
verfe du haut en bas en un inftant : mais nous ne connoif-
fons point d'autre roue que celle de la Providence de Dieu ;
la roue de ce divin potier, ou il forme divers vaiflcaux a
honneur, et a deshonneur. Ils figuroient la prudence fous
l'emblème d'un ferpent qui fe plie au befoin et s'échappe
p.irs divers tours : mais nous melons le ferpent avec la
colombe, fuivant la règle de Chrift figure par le ferpent
eleve au dcfert, la fapience éternelle du Père, auquel
font caches, ou plutôt déployés (car c'eft ainsi qu'en le
peut fort bien interpreter) tous les trefors de fapience,
caches autrefois parmi les ombres de la Loi.

Or ces trois idoles de fpeculaîion, idoles de la tête, la
nature, la fortune, et la prudence ont produit trois autres
idoles de l'a^lion, idoles du cœur, aflavoir la volupté, l'a-
varice, et l'iimbition; le voluptueux a fuivi la nature ;
l'avaricicux la fortune : l'ambitieux la prudence : chacun
a deife fa passion; l'un fait de Ion ventie fori Dieu, l'autre
k fait de Mammon, et quelqu'autre de Belial eu de Lu-

clfer : le plaisir, les rîchefles, l'honneur -, c'cft la Trinibj
que le monde a^ore.

N» viir.

£ V. ExtraSl ; from a Catechetical Discourse on the Fourth Com-
mandmtnt ; in which the author forewarns the protestants of thi
desolation of their churches t for negle^ of public worship and
of the Sabbath.

* Pourquoi l'aimons nous si peu ce jour du Seig-
neur ? — Combien y en a t-il qui trouveroient pluâ com-
mode, de ne venir ici que tous les quinze jours, ou bien
une fois tous les mois ? — Combien y en a t-il qui ne vie-
nent dans ce lieu que quatre fois l'année, pour y célébrer
la cène du Seigneur ? Et Dieu fcait avec qu'elle difposi-
tion ils la célèbrent après avoir meprife tous les autres
jours de Seigneur : je. ne pnrle pas des perfonnes agees, et
incommodées, de qui la foible complexion ne peut foute-
nir la rigueur des faifons, ni du pauvre peuple pour la plus
grand part, mais des gens a carofle, qui viennent ici, et
le plus rarement, et le plus tard qu'ils peuvent, pour s'en
retourner au galop dintr chez eux. Ailleurs il faudroit
aller tous les jours a la mefle, a moins tous les jours de
fete, aller a tant de processions, visiter tant d'Eglifes,
cuir tout un carême des fermons : ici pour être de la re-
ligion, il fufTit de venir écouter, dirai-je ? ou dormir une
heure tous les fept jours, ou tous les quinze jours J'ex-
cepte ceux que la nécessite de leur vocation appelle ail-
leurs, et fur tout ceux qui recompenfent ce detîaut, eu
revenant ici le jeudi, quoi que ce fupplement ne remplif-
fe pas bien ce défaut : mais combien peu y en a t-il en-
core, qui ayent le foin et le zèle de faire celte compen-
fation, combien de fois prêchons nous a defert le Jeudi ?
Combien de fois y a t il si peu de gens qu'une chambre
les contiendroit a l'aife, et que les étrangers qui s'y ren-
contrent, s'etoiment de voir un si petit troupeau, comme
ils l'appellent par derision : jufques la qu'il ne fe trouve
quelquefois pcrfonne pour recueillir le fruit de vos au-
mônes et pour donner ordre, que l'eau ne manque point
pouj le faint baptême : ceux qui etoient ici Jeudi patle
m'entendent bien. Mais ne parlons que de nos Sabbaths :
n'eft ce pas fnirc fraude a la loy, que de réduire Is jour

^u Seî^neiir.' a une heure, et depuis midi jusqu'au foir,
ne penfer noù plus a Dieu qu'on y pcnfe les autrçs jours,
t'ed a dire, ny penfer point ? Combien font plus louables
ceux qui attendent Medianox ? Toute la vérité fe trouve
de notre cotf, tout le zcle du leur. Même ce feul fer-
mon que nos gens fe contentent d'entendre, comment
penfej vous qu'il l'entendent ? prefens de corps, mais non
pas d'efprit, en regardant, ou pcnfant ailleurs, ou en cau-
sant eiUemble, quelquefois même fur le fermon, en y fai-
failt des remarques, tantôt malignes, tantôt imperinentes i
Vous diries qu'ils font fur ces galeries pour juger des coups,
comme s'ils etoient assis fur les douze trônes d'Ifrael pour
nous juger, et si je J'ôfedire, pour juger Dieu : car ils font
profession de croire que Dieu parle a eux par notre minif-
ilere. M;iis Dieu nous jugera tous : que dis je, qu'il nous
jugera, n'a t'il pas déjà commence de nous juger ? Quelle
en eH; la caufe ? Nos pèches : quels pèches ? tous nos pè-
ches enfemble, mais fur tout la violation du Sabbath, et je
l'ofe afleurer et voici fur quoi je fonde cette afleurance:
Dieu fe plait a faire voir dans la manière du châtiment,
comme une image du neche qu'il châtie, il nous punit
par les mernes chofes par lefquelles nous l'ofFenfons. Le
Nil converti en fang,etoit l'image de ce même fleuve rougi
de la mort de tant d'enfans innocens- Quel eft le grand
châtiment que Dieu déployé aujourdhuy fur nous ? N'eft
ce pas la dcfolation de nos fan6luaires ? Et ou eft celui
qui :e voyant ne foit force de dire en foi-meme : O Dieu
éternel que tes jugeniens font juftes et véritables: tu
nous les otei parce que nou'? en abusions. Non ce n'eft
que le mépris du jour du Seigneur, et de parole, et des
Sabbaths, qui nous prive des lieux d'exercice et des moy?
ens de nous aflembler, et il eit aife de faire notre Horo-
fcope : nous ne fommes ni devins, ni prophètes : mais
nous voions clair dans notre avenir : nous vous fommes
• envoyés pour cdil'er et détruire, pour, planter et deraci
ner : nous vous l'avons prédit, et Dieu ne l'a-t-il pas
fait .'Nous vous le predifons encore, et il le fera plus
tudement et plus généralement qu'il na fait ; il vengera
le mépris de fa parole, et du jour qu'il s'tft fiindlifie, par
la ruine de nos tabernacles, et la dissipation de nos trou-
peaus, tioii! trotterons eu et la, et notre aine pamee de foiff
criera vers lui.

END of the LIFE.

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