REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN GENEVA.*

ROBERT HALDANE, L. GAUSSEN, AND MERLE D'AUBIGNE'.

UNTIL the commencement of the present century; there was little to distinguish the professors, and pastors, and polished inhabitants of Geneva, from a heathen city in the darkest and most heathen age.

But God would not leave this once highly favoured city in this state of spiritual destitution. In his good pleasure he presented the signs of a second Reformation-a reformation from a false and misnamed Protestantism to the knowledge and the faith of pure Christianity. Near the commencement of the present century, when the spirit of revival was poured out on our own and other countries, one or two ministers of Geneva began to preach the doctrine of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus, through the sovereign grace and mercy of God. The people listened with astonishment; some of them were irritated against the preachers; and one of these (Dr Malan) was interdicted and driven from Geneva. But the truth continued to excite attention, and, it is believed, savingly converted some to the faith and obedience of Christ. The pastors and professors apprehended the revival of evangelical doctrine, and the subversion of their influence, and on the 3d of May 1817, ordained the following regulations to be signed by every minister before he should be allowed "to exercise the pastoral functions," and by every student, before he should be “set apart for the Gospel ministry:"_

"We promise, as long as we reside and preach in the canton of Geneva, to abstain from discussing, either in whole discourses, or in parts of our discourses, the subjoined topics:

1st, The manner in which the divine nature is united to the person of Jesus Christ.

"2d, Original sin.

"3d, The operation of grace, or effectual calling. 66 4th, Predestination.

"We engage, also, not to oppose, in our public discourses, the sentiments of any minister or pastor on these subjects.

"Lastly, We promise that, if we should be led to mention these topics, we will do so without expatiating on our own views, or departing more than is unavoidable from the words of the Holy Scriptures." The mention of the last three topics as doctrines which their ministers were forbidden to preach, affords sufficient proof, to those who are acquainted with the doctrine of the Geneva Reformers, that the Compagnie had entirely abjured the faith which these venerable men taught and professed; and with regard to the first, there is something extremely disingenuous in the manner in which they virtually prohibit the declaration of that mysterious, but most important and fundamental truth of Christianitythe doctrine of our Saviour's divinity. It was well known to every person in Geneva, that they never taught that doctrine in their pulpits or in their schools. It was not the "manner" of the union to which they objected, but the fact of the union of the divine and human natures in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Before adverting to another mournful proof of the rejection of pure Christianity by the professors and pastors of Geneva, I am called to bear a willing tribute to the memory of a countryman of our own, not

From "Lectures on Foreign Churches." Edinburgh: W. P. Kennedy.

long deceased, to whom, as one of the most eminent instruments, under God, of the late revival in Geneva, the Christian men of that city and canton owe a debt of gratitude which they have not been slow to acknowledge.

The person to whom I refer is Mr Robert Haldane. From the time when he was himself awakened, he felt a strong desire to impart the knowledge of the truth to others in his own and in foreign countries. Prevented by the timid and now happily altered policy of Britain, from going to India with that object in view, he directed his attention to the Continent. He went thither about thirty years ago, chiefly, I believe we may say entirely, with the intention, if God should bless his labours, of reviving Protestantism, and winning souls to Christ. As the best mode of accomplishing that end, he made it his endeavour, wheresoever he travelled in France and Switzerland, to gain the acquaintance, and influence the minds, of the so-called Protestant pastors. For some time he met with little success-but, coming to Geneva; he was unexpectedly encouraged to remain there, as he himself states, by a visit from a young man, a student in divinity, who called in place of M. Moulinie, one of the pastors in Geneva, to conduct Mr and Mrs Haldane to see a model of the mountains a little way out of town. With him Mr Haldane immediately entered into conversation on the subject of religion, on which he found him willing to receive information. The student returned with him to the inn, and remained till late at night. He came back next morning with another student, equally ignorant with himself of the Bible and its precious truths. These two brought six others in the same state of mind, with whom Mr Haldane had many and long conversations. Their visits became so frequent that it was at length arranged that they should meet with him at a fixed hour, three times a-week, with a view to conversation. Mr Haldane took the Epistle to the Romans as his text, and continued to expound that portion of Scripture during the whole of the winter of 1816-17, and until the termination of their studies in the following summer; during which period almost all the students in theology regularly attended. Besides these, some who did not wish to appear with the students came at different hours; and several of the inhabitants of Geneva, unconnected with the schools of learning, and of both sexes, occasionally visited him in the afternoon, to receive instruction respecting the Gospel.

The result of these truly Christian and beneficent efforts was, that out of eighteen students who attended, sixteen were truly converted. Several have entered into their Master's joy; the remainder, dis persed in different parts of the Continent as pastors of congregations, are preaching with fidelity and ardour the uncorrupted Gospel of Christ; and two of them-Dr Merle d'Aubigné, the well known author of the "History of the Reformation;" and Dr Gaussen, ex-pastor of Satigny, and author of a recently published work on Inspiration are professors in the new theological college at Geneva. Besides these blessed fruits of Mr Haldane's self-denied and devoted efforts, a very considerable impression was made on the other inhabitants of Geneva; so great, as truly to amount to a revival of spiritual religion. In 1827, a venerable Christian layman, now deceased, referring to the happy change thus produced, told the author that, if Mr Haldane were then to revisit Geneva, he would not know it for the same place. The regulations of the Compagnie, previously mentioned, owed their origin, in a great measure, to the success which accompanied the labours of our much honoured Scottish evangelist.

We return to the case of Dr Gaussen.

At the time of Mr Haldane's arrival in Geneva, he

was ordained pastor; but was one of those who attended Mr Haldane's expositions, and were savingly benefited by them. Appointed to the parish of Satigny, a few miles distant from the town of Geneva, he devoted himself with the zeal and energy of one who knew the truth, and felt its power, to his pastoral duties. The Geneva Catechism (Calvin's), one of the standards of the Protestant Church there, and one of the best summaries of Christian doctrine, had, in a variety of successive editions, been gradually and surreptitiously altered, till every one of the great doctrines of Christianity, viz., the divinity of our Saviour, the fall of man, justification by faith, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, were excluded, and it had become utterly useless, or rather pernicious, as a book of elementary religious instruction-" so abstract and so dry, that it produced in the youth a disgust of religion, and never spoke to the heart." Not long after M. Gaussen received the deep impressions of religion to which we have alluded, he ceased to teach this catechism to the youth of his congregation, or in his examinations with a view to the admission of communicants; and, that he might give the least offence possible to his colleagues, confined himself to expositions of the Sacred Scriptures. He pursued this course for eleven years, having no other ambition, as himself declares, than to preach the Gospel in the rural district in which his lot was cast, and to bring souls to the knowledge of the Saviour-abstaining from controversy and from personalities, and contenting himself with publishing, in the least offensive manner, and in concert with his father and friend, the pastor Cellerier, an exposition of his faith, that his flock might know, from the time of his entrance into the ministry, what he believed, and what he preached.

After performing in this manner the duties of a faithful minister for fourteen years, not, it is hoped and believed, without some seals of his ministry, the Compagnie, offended by the progress which evangelical religion and true piety were making in the town and canton of Geneva, and by the share which M. Gaussen had, as a servant of Christ, in effecting this blessed change, in the month of October, 1830, whilst they acknowledged the numerous defects of their own Catechism, and intimated to M. Gaussen that they were employed in correcting it, insisted on his resuming the use of it in the school of his parish, and in his own instructions; a demand which M. Gaussen mildly, but firmly and decidely, refused.

This demand on the part of the Compagnie, and M. Gaussen's refusal, gave rise to proceedings against him, on the part of the Compagnie-the narrative of which presents, on the one hand, one of the finest displays of argumentative eloquence, conjoined with Christian firmness and moderation; and, on the other, the most reckless disregard of common justice and the forms of law, which are anywhere to be found. In his letters to the Compagnie, M. Gaussen denies the right of the pastors to insist on his teaching any other catechism or formulary but those which had received the sanction of the State and people of Geneva; boldly claims, as the minister of an Established Church, the liberty, under laws (or donnances) unrepealed and in force, of teaching his parishioners the truth of God according to the Scriptures and the recognised standards of the Church; and declares his determination to submit to any sacrifice, rather than betray his Master's cause and wound his conscience. The Compagnie, on the other hand, conscious of the weakness of their cause, conduct their discussions with shut doors, afford M. Gaussen no opportunity of defending himself, insist on his withdrawing the letters which he had been compelled to publish in his own defence; and, on his refusing to comply with their demand, terminated their

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illegal and informal proceedings, by the following sentence :

"1. M. Gaussen is censured.

"2. He is suspended for a year from the right of sitting in the Compagnie, except in cases where he shall be specially sent for," &c.

We have given this brief narrative of the proceedings in the case of Dr Gaussen, partly with the view of showing the un-evangelical character of the pastors at Geneva, and partly for the purpose of adverting to one of the most important events, in modern times, in the history of evangelical religion on the Continent of Europe-we mean the establishment of the Evangelical Society of Geneva.

About the time of M. Gaussen's censure and suspension, M. Merle d'Aubigné, who had for some time been officiating as pastor in one of the Protestant Churches in Brussels, returned to Geneva. Offended with the heretical opinions of the pastors, and encouraged by the progress of truth and vital piety in the canton, he resolved, in concert with M. Gaussen and M. Galland, also a pastor at Geneva, to establish a society having for its object the dissemination of Gospel truth. In a short time the society was formed, including, as a part of its plan, the institution of a school of theology; and its formation was announced by public circulars. The Compagnie complained to the consistory, demanding of that court that M. Gaussen should be deprived of his office as pastor of Satigny, and that he and MM. Galland and Merle, ministers, should be interdicted from preaching in the churches and chapels of the canton. The consistory in a summary manner complied with the request of the Compagnie, and the Government soon after sanctioned and confirmed their sentence.

Happily for Geneva, and for the Christian world, there is a greater measure of political freedom there than in the other cantons. The Government, though it confirmed the sentence of the consistory, did not interfere to prevent the establishment or continuance of the Evangelical Society. It pursued its bold and Christian course with indomitable firmness and energy, and stands forth at the present moment the honoured instrument of training men for the ministry in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Italy, and even in Canada, and of distributing in the former of these countries Bibles and tracts, on which the divine blessing has rested in a very remarkable degree.

Fragments.

INFIDELITY.-There are no Infidels in hell. There all believe without a doubt, while they tremble without a hope.-Newton.

DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS.-The Lord hath saints

enough to divide into three bodies; some to suffer for him, some to destroy Babylon, and some to be for seed-corn to sow again in the earth.-Powell.

THE BIBLE THE BEST CASUIST.-Our Saviour's great rule, that we should love our neighbour as ourselves, is such a fundamental truth for regulating human society, that by that alone we might, without difficulty, determine all the cases and doubts in social morality.-Locke.

CHARITY. Such is the charity of some, that they never owe any man any ill-will, making present payment thereof.-Fuller.

FASTING AS OPPOSED TO INDULGENCE.-When the body is filled and feasted, the soul is in no fit posture to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Herod, after his feast, is fit to behead, but not to hear, John the Baptist.-South.

Daily Bread.

FRIDAY.

"I will sing of judgment."-Ps, ci. 1. 'Tis my happiness below

Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss:

Trials must and will befall:
But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,

This is happiness to me.

The Christian improves by trial; and is so far from being damaged, that he is benefited by it, in so far as it discovers what hold the soul has of

Christ, and what hold Christ has of the soul. And as the wind in the bellows which would blow out the candle, blows up the fire; even so it often comes to pass, that such temptations do enliven the true Christian, awakening the graces of the Spirit in him; and by that means discovers both the reality and

the strength of grace in him.-Boston.

SATURDAY.

"Leaning on the Beloved."-Cant. viii. 5. In Jesus is our store

Grace issues from his throne; Whoever says, "I want no more,'

Confesses he has none.

There are many weights hanging upon and pressing down the branches in Christ, the true vine; but ye know, whatever weights hang on branches, the stock bears all-it bears the branch, and the weight that is upon it too.-Ibid.

SABBATH.

"Commune with your own heart."-Ps. iv. 4.
Since all our secret ways

Are mark'd and known by thee,
Afford us, Lord, thy light of grace,
That we ourselves may see!

Self-communing is a most important duty, and nearly concerns our eternal wellbeing; but yet it is a duty very much neglected. Many have lived fifty or sixty years in the world, who never spent one hour in communing with their own hearts. There are many going out of the world, who never yet began to inquire why they came into it, and never yet asked the question at their souls, Are you to flit hence, or live here for ever? Why came you hither, and where are you to lodge when you go hence? Many live in a crowd of worldly business-are hurried from one thing to another -leap out of their beds to the world in the morning, and from the world to their beds again at night, and so never find one minute on the week-days to take their soul aside; and, for the Sabbath, though they have time for it, yet such is their aversion to the work, they shift it all they can, and avoid meeting with themselves; they rather converse with any in the world, than with their own hearts.- Willison.

MONDAY.

"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them."-MATT. XXV. 3.

The Lord receives his highest praise
From humble minds and hearts sincere ;
While all the loud professor says
Offends the righteous Judge's ear.

Counterfeit piety can never bring in true pleasure. He that acts a part upon a stage, though it be the part of one that is never so pleasant, though he may humour the pleasantness well enough, he doth not experience it. The pleasures of God's house lie not in the outer courts, but within the veil. They that

aim at no more but the credit of their religion before men, justly fall short of the comfort of it in themselves.-Henry.

TUESDAY

The Lord will give grace and glory."-Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. ¦ Grace tills the soil, and sows the seeds,

Provides the sun and rain,

Till from the tender blade proceeds

The ripen'd harvest grain.

'Twas grace that call'd our souls at first, 1
By grace thus far we're come,

And grace will help us through the worst,*
And lead us safely home.

O sirs, what a rare jewel is grace! The Lord of grace calls it glory. Mark, "from glory to glory;" that glory militant, and glory is grace triumphant; grace is, from one degree of grace to another. Grace is is glory begun, and glory is grace made perfect; grace is the first degree of glory, glory is the highest degree of grace; grace is the seed, glory is the flower; grace is the ring, glory is the sparkling diamond in the ring; grace is the glorious infant, and glory is the perfect man of grace; grace is the spring, glory is the harvest.-Dyer.

WEDNESDAY.

"Not many mighty, not many noble, are called."1 COR. i. 26.

Lord, make us truly wise,

To choose thy people's lot,
And earthly joys despise,

Which soon will be forgot:
The greatest evil we can fear,
Is to possess our portion here!

It is seldom that the sparkling diamond of a great estate is set in the gold-ring of a gracious heart. A man may be great, with Saul, and graceless; rich, with Dives, and miserable. The richest are oftentimes the poorest, and the poorest are oftentimes the richest. O how many threadbare souls may there be found under silken coats and purple robes! They who live most downward, die most upward.-Ibid.",

Consider that there is more bitterness following upon sins ending, than ever there was sweetness flowing from sins acting. You that see nothing but well in its commission, will suffer nothing but woe in its conclusion. It is better here to forego the pleasures of sin, than hereafter to undergo the pain of sin. You that sin for your profits, will never profit by your sins. He that likes the works of sin to do them, will never like the wages of sin to have them. Sin is both shameful and damnable-it shameth men in this world, and damneth them in the other world. It is like Judas, that at first salutes, but at last betrays us; or, like Delilah, to smile in our face, and betray us into our enemies' hands. O! sinners, think of this, and part with your sins, that you may meet with your Saviour.-Ibid.

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