The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-22
FRANCIS TURRETIN.
.TCoNCLUDED.7

Soon after Turretin was made Professor
of divinity, he was called to the rectorship
of the Academy. This ofiCe he discharged
for many years, with much credit to himself
and advantage to the republic; and he de-.
livered anniversary oretions in the fullest
assembly of the Genevans, on topics worthy
of man of God, and of polite and re-
ligiouS audience. In the year 1862, another
office of great honor aid difficulty was i'm
posed upon him. When the walls of Geneva
were to be repaired, and the expense was
found more than the State could bear, it was
agreed to seek the assistance of the Swiss
Cantons, and of the United States of Hol-
land; and none was reckoned more fit for
this embassy than the son Of Benedict Tur-
retin, who had been more than forty years
before sent for similar purpose. Francis
Turretin left Geneva in the month of May.
His reception at Basle was very hattering;
the divines of that Seminary vieing with
each other iu testifying their great affection
for him. Thence he went to Holland, where
their High MightinesSes received him very
cordially, and, as token of their esteem,
honored him with golden chain, and large
piece of plate Turretin' S embassy succeeded
to his wish. | need not narrate how much
the churches in Holland, especially the
church at the Hague, wished to retain him
among them. Their attempts were fruitlesS.
He left them, and, from strong love to
Geneva, brske tlgcu cry entanglement
of fame, affection, and grii. Taking anoth-
er route on his way home, he travelled
through Germany, and returned by the way
of Paris. Thither he went to congratulate
his old preceptors; and he preached twice to
most crowded audiences in the church of
Charenton. Returning to Geneva, he was
received with open arms by all his country
men and he resumed his work with greater
alacrity than ever.
In the year 1864, Turretin refuted the
letter of the Pope, and vindicated the Re-
formation from the cayils and reproaches of
its enemies. In 1866, he published his dis
putations concerning the satisfaction of
Christ, against Socinus. In the year 1914,
he corrected his celebrated system. Tur-
retin long hesitated whether he should pub
lish this great work. He knew that the
world was already filed with books of its
class, and that the taste of the age was
fonder of books that feed the fancy than Of
those which instruct the mind His love of
truth, and the cause of Christ, however, pre-
vailed over his inclination; and that work,
SO long desired by the public, was given to
them, and fully gratifed their expectations.
He received letters from many learned di-
vines, testifying their appreciation of his
views of divine truth. He published his
sermons the same year; and, in the year
1868, he received and published anew his
Disputations.
This man, who feared God greatly, had
been long bowed down with grief, on account
of the melancholy state of the Reformed
churches. As was said of Basil, so we may
say of Turretin: "While others regard only
their own things, and see only what is among
their own feet, or what concerns their own
interest, he went farther; his spirit trembled
for every thing done against Christ'S spouse );
in every thing he was moderate, but in this
knew no bounds; when truth lay in the
street, when the members of Christ were
scattered, he could take no sleep, his soul
was rent with anguish" How often have
we heard him groaning, and seen him weep
ing over the massacres of Piedmont, and
when he beheld the miserable remains of our
brethren there! How often was his face
foul with weeping at the state of the Pro-
testant churches in France! Great God,
thou heardest those grOans, thou sawest those
tears!
Turretin's health had been long very good
If the stricteSt temperance and an unshaker
mind could have insured long life, he had
lived long indeed. We seldom saw him sick
He was sometimes subjected to collie, anC
twice felt the excruciating pains of the gout
We promised ourselves long possession O.
such an Invaluable treasure; but it was de
termined otherwise. On the 26th Septem
Der, 1857, the day in which he was first con
fued to bed, he rose very early, long Oefor
the rising Of the sun, and wrote letters t.
some of his dearest friends in the church
as to Heidegger and Peter Jurieu, the lumi
naries of the age in which they lived, an
would have written more, but his streDgt