The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-15
recreation to him to acquire.

or learning dt IuaG ume famous IN the WOTlu'
He accordingly left his native country, and
carried with him very honorable testimony
to his character. In Leyden, which was the
first place he visited, he gained not only the
private affection but the public honorary
esteem of all the academy. He defended
thesis, 'on the written word of God before
the great Spanheim. He followed all the
divines in Holland, who were eminent for
learning and holiness of life, and prOfted
much by their projections and conversation
Having visited in the Low Countries every
place where he could find any thing to make
good minister of the gospel, he went, in
the year 1915, to France. At Paris he
lodged in the house of the incompatible
Daille, and soon gained his entire affection: /:
here also he studied the doctrine of the
sphere under that prince of philosophers,
Gassendi. Helnext went to Saumur, Mon
tauban, and Nismes, places famous for learned
divines, and for the Reformation and hav-
ing left grateful remembrance of himself
in every place, he returned, enriched with
the knowledge of men and things, to his
native country.
The time was now come when those tai
ents, committed to him by God, should be
devoted to the service of the gospel. Ac
cordingly, he was set apart to the holy min
istry in 1647; and in the following year was,
with the consent of the Senate, admitted
pastor of this church. He first exercised
his talents in the Italian congregation; for
he could preach, with equal facility, in the
French, Latin, and Italian languages. When
ever he began to speak in public, all acknowl-
edged his father revived in him, and admired
Benedict in Francis. AS often as he ascend
ed the pulpit, all fOcked after him. Such
was the power of his eloquence, such his
commanding manner and majestic mien, that
he seemed to have been educated at Athens
itself; and he begat an attention in the audi
ence which nothing could interrupt, and an
eagerness scarcely ever to be satisfied. The
Senate were so pleased with his abilities,
that they oftener than once offered him
professorship in philosophy; which, however,
he uniformly declined.
The fame of Tarretin was not confined to
the narrow precincts of Geneva. The church
at Lyons, which had lately lost the very
valuable Aaron More, their pastor, invited
Turretin, by letter, to supply his place. This
call, with the consent of the Senate, he &C
cepted and he was received at Lyons with
every mark of affection and esteem. The
church at Lyons had not been misinformed
aboul THEN iEuasrious}pastor ;5for he SO ex-
erted himself, that, though he was but one
year among them, the flames which ragged
before in that congregation were extinguish-
ed, and the most perfect tranquility was
restored. He was, during his short stay,
eminently successful; and when he resigned
his charge, he left behind him sorrowing
people. Returning to his own country, which
could no longer want his services, he was re-
ceived with open arms; it being resolved,
that he should teach divinity in the place of
the venerable Tronchin, who was, through
old age and infrmity, unable to discharge
the duties of his Office. Turretn according
y assembled the Theological chair in the year
1858, and delivered an inaugural grafton
which gained applause from all his auditors.
From this day he devoted all his time and
abilities to the duties of the office; and let
others, not I, tell posterity how much he did
to promote the glory and kingdom Of Christ,
to overthrow the power and tyranny of
Antichrist; what was his incessant soictude
for the good of the Church how solidly and
learnedly he explained the gospel of Christ;
with what boldness he lashed the manners
of our age; how neither the Establishments
of the polite, nor the frowns of power, could
make him hold his peace; how, with showers
of tears, he called the wicked to repentance,
beseeching and warning every man, not in
passionate irritating words, but with the
yearningS of father over his proAigate son /;
with what diligence he taught in the Theo-
logical chair with what ease he made dark
things clear, distinguished between truth and
error, solved difficult questions in divinity,
followed the Sophist into his lurking places,
and pursued the enemy of truth through all
his windings Turretn lived as he believed,
and walked as he taught. He was foremost
in every thing lovely, grave, and of good
report. He was not like those who speak
as angels, and walk as men. What Nazian-
zen said of Athanasiu8 was eminently true
of Turretin: He was low in his opinion of
himself, but sublime in all his actions. =
Though he wished to do actions worthy of
praise, yet he did not court the applause OF
men nor did he ever thrust himself forward
to public observation. A well-earned repu-
tation he did not decline; but he neither
studiouSly sought it, nor built it on the ruins
of another mans. As far as can be observ'
ed, he never acted to please himself. AL
he did was for the glory of Christ, the good
of the Church. and especially for the advan
tage of his pupils, who were dear to him as
his own soul.
TO BE CONCLUDED
WHERE WE have to deal with false, mali