The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-15
FRANCIS TURRETIN.

| EhANG1S IUEhG41N
[The sketch given below is translated and abridged
from the Latin Grafton OF Pictet, the nephew OF
Turretin, when he was installed as his successor IN
the Theological chair of the Academy of Geneva
1t is an admirable production, and will be interest
ing to all readers especially to those In the minis
try who know something of the character and works
of this, the greatest theoogian Of the 18th century,
and who not only filed but also adorned the chair
from which the iustrious Reformer, John Calvin,
expounded and defended the great doctrines of the
word of God.-CEN. PREs
Benedict Turretn, father of Francis, was
long the principal ornament of this city,
academy, and church. He shone with no
common lustre, and was very warm defen-
der of divine truth. The most animated of
his works was his answer to Father Cotton,
the Jesuit. Cotton had attacked our trans
lation of the Bible, and forgetting his argu-
ment, had ventured to predict the time when
the city of Geneva should be destroyed, and
the heresy of Calvin obliterated from the
earth. Turretin gained complete victory
over him, and hung up the spoils in the tenn
pie of the God of heaven. In the year
1920, he attended the Synod of Alez in the
Cevennes. Peter Du Moulin, man famous
in all the Christian world, was Moderator in
that venerable assembly. Benedict Turretin
gained the love of all the divines present.
1t was difficult to know whether he excelled
most in human learning, or in the knowledge
of the Scriptures. In him were united a
happy commanding authority, unaffected
piety, and wonderful eloquence. He had
the simplicity of child, and united to the
magnanimity Of hero. His love Of peace,
and forbearing spirit, were equalled only by
his love to truth and holiness. He had not
reached his forty-ninth year, when he was
torn, as it were, from the bowels of his coun-
try by a premature death, by means of a
severe fever.
Francis Turretin, the son of Benedict
was born on the 18th of October, 1922
From his early years he gave remarkable
indications of his greatness in after life
These seeds of excellence, and sparks of
genius, were not unobserved by his sagaci-
Gus father, who, when at the point Of death,
caused his son to be brought to his bedside,
and said, as with prophetic impulse, "This
child is sealed with the seal of the living
GoG!" Turretin soon completed his course
in the languages and philosophy. Such was
the happy turn of his mind, such his aston
ishing progress in learning, that his COM
panions willingly confessed his superiority.
His vigorous mind left nothing unsearChed F.;
and though but youth, he read books with
the eye and attention of one far advanced
in life. He soon exceeded the sanguine ex-
pectations of his friends; and every day
showed that the questions of the mind out
run the velocity of time. Having finished
his course of philosophy, he applied all his
attention to theology. John DeOdate, that
eminent divine, who, in the Synod of Dort
a council more celebrated than any for many
ages past, had as many witnesses of his i'm
mense learning and acute Judgment as he
had hearers; who, in convention held al
Saumur, so composed the differences of the
hot-spirited divineS, that the Queen O.
!, France, oftener thaH.once, ordered thanks
, to be given in her name; whose friendship
, crowned heads and purpled eminences of th'
J Church of Rome eagerly sought; and whOs
work on the Bible is a monument more last
ing than rass;-Theodore Tronchin, VIII,
was also member of the Synod of bort
and conducted himself in such manner il
that assembly as to merit the name of
, great divine; who was most spirited defen
, der of the Reformation, and wrote an ami
, mated answer to Father Cotton; and VIII
lived, as a light to the youth in sacred stu
dies, to an extreme old age, and is yet rev
0 cred by US as reviving in his excellent son
5 Frederic Spanheim, whose memory an
j. reputation will never perish from the annal
!, of sacred literature, while the sun rules tn
n day, and the stars burn by night; who wa
o the miracle of Europe, and whose death tn
0 reformed churches would not cease to lamen
y if he had not left behind him two such Sor
r as Ezekiel and Frederic. What great men
s the very eyes of the republic of letters
: Under such masters, how much Turretin a,
}, quired let the world judge. Such were h
n powers of expression, that he could Civ
# probability to the amiable reverieS of ce
n tain philosophers; and his mind not onl
d learned but registered what he was taugh
d By the peculiar favor of heaven, what col
j. others such attention and labor, was but