The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-22
THE RELIGIOUS STRUGGLE.
The Life Of Bossuet-His Forecast
Of the Conflict.
MARTINEAU ON MATERIALISM


OF ~ DOMINICAN Artist" &c. New York:
Pott, Young Co.
No one can read the life OF the great Bishop
Bossuet without getting glimpse OF one OF the
most romantic and corrupt periods OF history.
Not only was the Reformation under full Roadway,
but all the nations OF Europe were IN a transition
state, The progress OF which has q peculiar In
tercst Tor every scholar. Bossuet not only lived
In The midst OF these changes but was also no In
Significant part OF them. He was ON friendly or
intimate terms with nearly all those ecclesiastical
ana political giants VINO were the power behind
very weak throne, and In tho midst u court
wcose corruption was almost unparalleled he was
central 1gure-crltical, daring, plains poken and
powerful. 1t does not decrease our interest TO
know that Louis XIV, by his designations, ex-
cesses and tntrigues, bsgun That process Of
disgusting the popular mind with royalty which
eliminated In the days OF Louis XVI. In the guillo-
tine and rhe Reign OF Terror
jacques Ben,que Bossuet was born at Dillon, No.
10 Place 81. JEAN on the night OF september PTS
1927. lie was early left 10 tne care oil his uncle,
Claadc IIossuct, who was q man Of refined and
literary tastes, and from whom jacques Benque
received the bias which decidcd the work OF MS
lie. He was bright, eager boy. aud gave es-
pecal satisfaction to his relatives by hts rapid ac
quircment o. the Latin and Greek tongues. lie
became In very early life an almost profound
ture OF the Academy and the Lycsum. At this
time he came across The Bole by accident-an
event which had such an immediate and lasting
effect on him that his biographer dwes on the in
cidcnt with marked emphasis. He was, OF course,
perfectly familiar with passages and somewhat
lengthy quotations; but he had never seen the
whole book until one day he came upon 1t In hts
uncle's room, when he plunged into Its mysteries
win an eagerness which. perhaps unfortunately,
the printing press has rendered Impossible to
later age. .'Ihs was The first meetingn says one
OF the Bishops devoted students. "between
Isaiah and Bossuct, and 1t worked very revolu-
ton In the soul Of the ardent, impressionable
child" After that incident to the end OF liie his
motto was the familiar words or ST. Jerome, 'Let
this sacred book never leave your hapdsn
When BOssuct stood on the threshold OF his
career Descartes was beginning to be famous, and
was gcttng an influence over the French mind
which was not altogether agi eeaDle to q devoted
ecciesiastIc. Bossuet STUDIED the philosopher
profoundly and correctly OWNED the future. II
lorcsee," he wrote, "a great warfare now rising
up against the Church under the name OF .Phtlo.
sophie Carttsienne.'" He studied the system with
great care, and got ready to rebuff its fatal
whenever occasion should oner. He seems to
have been not only faithful student but q very
libcra and lair critic He did not care to win
point at the expense OF injustice 10 an adversary.
Indeed all through his long lie, II we except his
relations with FenelOn, he maintained spiritual
composure which won the respect OF his worst
enemies.
illustration OF bigoted hypercritclsm and sieer-
ing illiDcralty in strange contrast with Bossuet.
Voitalre nung his lnnnendoes In every direction
and spared no one. lie was sort OF animated
lemon squeezing himself over every public mans
lie. lie mad nothing kindly to say OF any one,
while ne sprlnkled tue muddy water OF his sus-
plcion ON every man, woman. word and decd
tnAt came his way.
On October IL. Ie42, Bossuet entered Paris for
e 1sx e ana ea tS on ma maj
imperlous ruler OF France. out now fceDlc nelp
less and almost dying-was carried III litter TO
MS taacc. Tnls hitter was nothing Tess than
| small sized room. with chairs and a table, at
wnich the Cardinals secretary SAT wiring az the
slant relay OF eighteen OF the CARDINALS guards,
bareneadcd. .Tne people, indignant yet ave-
sta ping MS loot could make tie Continent trem-
be, ana among them was Bossuct. Our young
Sa Inc nnay se terbo Mner Was borne
| to the Cnurch oil the SorDonne, and he listened
atientively to the funeral Grafton pronounced In
N0tre Dame.
Bos-uet mad already made name for himself by
MS mastery treatment OF certain subjects. and by
his moderation and Ills steadIast adherence to the
/ truth had the respect II not the admiration,
oil eccesastics and also OF certain important court
personages me queen who had heard o.
his wohnrous eloquence, expressed a desire to
hear him. FRANCOIS Bossuet mad chapel In the
church belonging to the Feuieans. ana it was ar
| ranged that his kinsman should crafty Her
Majesty 1t Is more than gratifying to note That
this immense popularity, somewhat suddenly ac-
Bossuct's steadlness OF purpose. lie lived While
In Paris IN a plain and simple fashion, which EN-.
abled him to nuri Ills anathcmas with all the more
force against the general corruption. While he
refused To make use Oh the coarse and blunt ex-
! presslons with which John Knox attacked royalty,
lie at the same time ieiusca 10 make use oi that
nattery waicn Is tnought to be the shortest road
sounded Strangely IN the ears Of Anne Of Austria,
and CT the dignity with when they were uttered
gave them terrible ht:-"Thls 1t Is. madame,
which should cOnsJraln lOuf Majesty, when alone
with God, 70 strip on your royal magnncchcc, SO
worthless IN his slgnt, and lying there, to steep
yourself In the molly shame OF penitence." That IS
! wholesome language for any one 10 near, and
Anne OF Austria seems 10 have had sense enough
not TO nave been dspleased, Tor two years alter
with her the Young queen, Marie Tnerese alter
portuaity 10 hear the eloquent preacher.
In alter years, when TINS same Anne OF Austria
was about TO die, afflicted by the lingering PAIN
Iuiness OF cancer, she sent Tor Bossuct, and dur
Ing her terrible illness he afforded her great CON-
Tort and spiritual consolation. rms Princess, OF
France had been one Of SORROW" had always
dreaded tns particular form VI disease, ana 1t re-
sshe died. bearing her pain With "heroic patience
and the calmue.s OF heavenly resignation"
was M M so'saeI 70 BE also
! last illnesss ne called Tor the cruclhx OF Anne Of
Austria ON receiving 1t she cried ont, - my
Tuees'' Bossuet was sent or but did not arrive.
A second ana thru messenger were sent, and at
last he arrived. AS he came TO her bedside she
exclaimed, IAN! Monsieur l have sought salvation
too late!" The Bishops tears were falling last as
lie answered, "Hope. madame, hope" BY mis-
gentleness and his recital OF the promises ne
soothed the troubled spirit and it went out In
peace ana resignation. "Bossuets genius had
been conspicuous III MS funeral Grafton over the
Queen OF England says Cardinal dc Dousset,
'but he put forth all the Whole tenderness OF his
soul In that SPOKEN over her daughter" and even
vollalre ADMITS that 1t mad 1.-THE greatest and
rarcst OF SUCCESSES that OF making the Court
weep.n
Everybody remembers and pitics poor Louise de
10 VALERIE. She aimed her purity until 1t was
attacked by the KING, anu 10 HIM she yielded. She
loved the ROYAL bcrtinc with Il I0ve OF which he
was not worthy. Many tiin's sne had been found
on repentant knees, deteim mined 10 give up her
life Of shame, but In every instance the fascinating
presence Oi Louis XIV. had spoiled her o, her reso-
luton. Most mistresses OF kings nave been greedy
OF the emuuments OF ONCE, and nave not only
accepted presents but held their little nands out
Tor more. La VALERIE was not made In that mould
IN INN AS ner mi IN n mat