An Historical Sketch of the Protestant Church of France

CHAPTER III.

FROM 1598 to 1660.

The Establishment of the Edict of Nantes - The Religious Wars

which preceded it—The Advantages of the Edict-Early Encroach-

ments and Cruelties under Louis XIII.-The Self-Defensive Efforts

of the Protestants—Noble Character of Mornay Du Plessis—The

Siege of Rochelle-Sympathy of the British Nation with the French

Sufferers - Comparative Quiet-The generous Efforts of Oliver

Cromwell in behalf of the Persecuted Piedmontese-Revival of Po-

pery under Louis XIII.-The Number of the Protestants—Their

Loyalty-The Learning of the Ministers—Their Piety. 77

CONTEMPORANEOUS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FROM

1592 to 1660.

Correspondence in the Histories of the Church of France and the

Church of Scotland – The Encroachments of James VI. on the Con-
stitution of the Presbyterian Church, and his Instruments-Noble
Firmness of the Presbyterian Ministers-Christian Character of
the Church during the reign of James VI.-Labours in Planting
Churches-Strict Discipline on Ministers and People-Exertions
against Popery, and Success—Large Number of Communicants
in Parishes; Cases of Ednam, New battle, Shetland–The Acces-
sion of Charles I. and Rule of Archbishop Laud— The Service.
Book attempted to be thrust on the Church—The Reaction - The
Universal and Disinterested Struggle of the People of Scotland-

Civil Wars of England-Execution of Charles I., and Vindication

of the Presbyterians from any share in it-Spiritual Character of

the Church during her Wafare with the King-Devout Spirit of

the Presbyterian Army-Vindicated from the Charge of Cruelty-

Labours of the Church against Popery, &c.—In behalf of Church

Extension-Presbyterial Visitations—Family Worship-Fast Day

Appointments—Special Revivals of Religion-Explanation of the

Sins and Crimes met with in the Records of the Church-Talents

and Attainments of the leading Ministers.

PARALLELS BETWEEN THE CHURCHES OF FRANCE AND SCOTLAND

WHILE THE EDICT OF NANTES WAS IN FORCE.

SECT. 1.- The Churches of France and Scotland encourage

the Preparation and Publication of Good Books. 124

SECT. II.-Show love for the Word of God.

131

Sect. III.-Promote Education and Learning.

140

Sect. IV.-Cherish Sympathy and Benevolence.

157

Sect. V.-Advocate Christian Union.

170

Sect. VI.- Protest against the Corruptions of the Church of

Rome.

180

Sect. VII.-Sound in Doctrine, and the Enemies of Error.

190

CHAPTER IV.

FROM 1660 to 1685.

Early and Manifold infractions of the Edict of Nantes preparatory to

its Abrogation-Striking Testimony of Rev. Mr. Cotton, an En.

glishman, to the Persecution in France, of which he was an eye.

witness—Testimony of Wodrow the Historian-Petition presented

in behalf of the French Protestants, by Marischal Shomberg-Peti.

tion of Protestants themselves to the King-Actual REVOCATION

OF THE EDICT OF NANTES — Fearful Atrocities-Seven Different

Methods of Persecution - Individual Cases of Suffering –Testi-

mony of Bishop Burnet, an eye-witness, to the misery of France,

and the Cruelties inflicted on the Protestants— Aggravations in the

Sin of Persecution—The Christian Spirit of the Sufferers, Le

Febvre-Marolles-Pierre Mauru-A humble Shepherd-Serre-

The Romish Falsehood that there was no Persecution, and that

the Protestants Conformed of their own accord-Destruction of

their Religious_books—Extension of the Persecution beyond the

boundaries of France—Testimony afforded by Jurieu's Letters,

Proscribed Meetings of the Protestants for Divine Worship-Re.

markable Death of Rey, a youthful Martyr-Death of aged Mar.

tyrs—Wretchedness of a Backslider-Banishment of the Faithful

to America, and accompanying Sufferings-Jurieu's Testimony to

to the Failure of the Persecution to make any real Converts to the

Church of Rome-Moral Causes in the Providence of God for the

protracted Persecution of the French Protestants.

- 205

KNOWLEDGE DISSOCIATED FROM TRUE RELIGION UTTERLY UNABLE

TO PREVENT OR NEUTRALIZE THE SPIRIT OF PERSECUTION, EX-

EMPLIFIED IN THE REIGN OF LOUIS XIV.

Origin of Persecution-Literature and Learning of France–The Pos-

sessors did nothing to Prevent the Persecution, though the sufferers

were many, and Friends of Knowledge-Attainments of the Re.

formed in Learning-Unworthy adulation of the Persecutor by the

Literati— Insufficiency of Literature to make men happy in them.

selves, or the Sources of Good to others—Value of Religious Prin-

ciple.

270

CONTEMPORANEOUS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FROM

1660 to 1688.

Cromwell's Rule in Scotland–His Encouragement of Learning and

Protestantism-The Moral and Proximate causes of the Coming

Persecution—The General Joy at the Restoration of Charles II. -

The Character of his Leading Agents in Scotland— The Flagrant

Violation of the Constitution and Privileges of the Church of Scot-

land—The Disinterested Sacrifices of the Presbyterian Ministers,

four hundred of whom were ejected from their Charges—The Mise-

rable Character of their Episcopal Successors—The Extent and

Severity of the Persecution-Various Testimonies to it-The Pres-

byterians Vindicated from the Charge of being Rebels—The Moral

and Religious Character of the Covenanters as a whole—The Suf-

ferings of the Episcopalians in England, under Cromwell, not to be

compared with those of the Presbyterians in Scotland and in Eng-

land, under Charles and James-Character of the Church during

the Persecuting Times, as appears from Ecclesiastical Records—

Character of Charles II.-James II. a Roman Catholic, and labours

to Establish Popery-Services of the Church of England against

Popery, Disinterested Conduct of the Presbyterians, both in Scot-

land and in England - Failure of the Efforts of the King-Revolution

of 1688; Connection between the Persecutors in Britain and France,

and Designs of Popery—The French Protestants aided the British

Revolution--The Revolution itself the Effect of the Interposition

of Providence.

277

THE CHURCHES OF FRANCE AND SCOTLAND VINDICATED FROM THE

CHARGE OF REBELLION-THE OBJECTIONS OF DR. PUSEY CON-

SIDERED.

Question of the Lawfulness of Resistance to Civil Power-Argu-

ments for Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance; Statements of
Dr. Pusey—The Actual Conduct of the Presbyterians in France
and Scotland–The Views of Scripture—The Example of the Pri.
mitive Church-Turned against Dr. Pusey and his Friends—The
Supposed Good of Uniform

and Universal Non-Resistance, and the
Supposed evil of Resistance in any Case Disproved by Acts-Con-

demnation of the Severe and Unwarrantable Tone in which Dr.

Pusey speaks of the Suffering Saints of God–Testimonies to the

Character of the French Protestant Church by Distinguished Wri.

ters: Edwards, Burnet, Croly, Faber--Church of England Divines

Approve of Resistance in Extreme Cases Conduct of the Univer.

sity of Oxford in the Matter- Extract from Dr. M'Crie on the Sub-

ject, in Answer to Fuller--Illustration from Switzerland-Senti-

ments of Calvin-Religious Spirit of the French Protestants in

taking up Arms-Caution with which the whole Subject should be

Regarded.

300

CHAP TER V.

FROM 1685 to 1715.

The Dread Consequences of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes-

Emigration from France-Testimony of Bishop Burnet to this

point-Correspondence of a Swiss Magistrate with one of the Cap-

tives detained in France-Multitude of emigrants to different Pro-

testant Countries-France suffered Commercially-Impulse given

to the Manufactures of Britain by French Refugees-Dispersion of

French Ministers-Residence of several in Edinburgh-De Sou-

ligne's Statement of the Commercial Loss to France by Popery-

Generosity of British Christians to Suffering Refugees-Collec-

tions, &c.-Kindness to the German Palatinates at the same period

-Condition of the Protestants who remained in France-Faithful

Christian Counsels Addressed to them by their Exiled Ministers-

Persecution still went forward— The Protestant or Camisard Strug.

gle-Pretensions to Prophetic Gifts; the Fruit of Oppression-Per-

secution of the Saints the means of the Conversion of a Roman

Catholic Priest-The Miserable Death of Louis XIV., an Illustra.

tion of Moral Government-Forgiving Spirit of the Protestants-

Moral Government in Case of Charles IX., and Insufficiency of

Science to Prevent Persecution in Case of Gregory XIII. (Note.) 313

CONTEMPORANEOUS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FROM

1688 To 1715.

Diversity of God's Treatment of the Churches of the Reformation-

Critical Circumstances of the Protestants of Europe, immediately
before the British Revolution of 1688–One of the First Effects of
the Revolution was to Check the Persecution of the Protestants in
Piedmont— The Moral and Religious State of Scotland at the Revo-
lution-Peculiar Difficulties connected with the Revolution in Scot-
land—Zeal and Sacrifices of the Church in carrying it through-
Generous Conduct of the Presbyterians towards the Episcopalians-
Comprehension of the Episcopal Incumbents in the Presbyterian
Establishment, a fatal Error-External Circumstances of Britain
immediately after the Revolution—Zealous Efforts of the Church
of Scotland in Church Extension, especially in the Highlands and
Islands In the Cause of Education—Various other proofs of a
Christian Spirit-Universities-Ministers sent to the Colony of