Persecution of French Protestants in 1755. thren, or any of the Christian women, partake of it? Admitting that Paul was mistaken in baptizing Gentiles, if he did baptize them, then, might he not be equally mistaken in giving the supper to Gentiles, to the laity, or to the female converts of the Christian faith? May not the form of words used in Christian baptism be objected to by some persons, though I think without any reason? SIR, Sir, yours, B. P. SEVERN, St. Ardleon, April 30, 1816. VERY lately met with a pamphlet, published more than sixty years ago, which contains some partículars respecting the sufferings of the French Protestants, and the attention they excited in this country at that period. A recollection of these may not be uninteresting at present: the pub lication is entitled; 267 falling into the hands of a cardinal+ devoted to the Jesuits, by their influence a new declaration was issued on the 14th of May, 1724, which contains in it whatever was most severe in the edicts of Lewis XIV. On the first of February, 1745, Lewis XV. published his ordonnance against the Protestants, enforcing the former edicts, and making it death to the minister who officiated, and perpetual impri sonment for the women, and gallies for the men, who have been present at the meetings. And how dreadfully these cruel orders were obeyed, the attack of religious Protestant assemblies by soldiers who scrupled not to fire in among them, the condemnation of some who were apprehended to the prison, and of others to the gal lies, and the murders of ministers from the year 1745 to 1750, dreadfully testify. In the year 1750, the French king published an ordonnance at Ver sailles, January 17, willing, that for mer edicts against the Protestants, and particularly that of 1724, should be executed; and enjoining officers and judges to attend diligently to their exe cution. How rigorously these edicts have been executed, take in the fol lowing accounts: "Two Discourses, occasioned by the cruel oppressions of the Protestants in France, and enlarged with a recent and particular account of the state of the persecution in that kingdom. To which are prefixed some serious reflections on the present situation of these nations, and our American Co-Extract of a Letter from Mr. lonies: by Thomas Gibbons." 8vo. 1755. The author of these Discourses which appear to have preceded a congregational collection was a Minister among the Independents. He died in 1785, aged 65, having been distinguished through life, as I can describe him from personal acquaintance, by practical piety and extensive benevolence. For the historical particulars Dr. Gibbons quotes a pamphlet en titled Annals of the Rise, Progress and Persecutions of the famous Reformed Churches in France, published by the Reverend Mr. Isaac Toms, of Hadleigh, in Suffolk, in 1753," and an Appendix by the same "worthy and excellent friend," in 1755. On these authorities, the author of the Discourses thus introduces the following details. During the minority of Lewis XV., the Duke of Orleans being Regent, the government was more favour ble to the Protestants than it had formerly been; but the administration "The Regent moderated the fury of the clergy, [towards the Protestants,] Protestant minister of Lower Languedoc, July 26, 1754. About July 5th, a religious assembly returning home, the garrison fell upon them, fired, put them to flight, and seized three men and five women-Another assembly having broke up were attacked by a party of dragoons, who fired among them wounded one man, and ended his life with their bayonets. Forty-five were taken prisoners.Other accounts of the assembly inform us, that five or and took out of the gallies sixty-eight of these unhappy persons, to whom he gave full liberty to go out of the kingdom wherever they thought proper." Priv Life of Lewis 15th. 1781. i. 135.---R. B. The Duke of Bourbon was prime minister on the Regent's death, in 1724;; but Cardinal Fleury was supposed to influence the affairs of government, before is appointment to succeed the duke ip 1726. Priv. Life, &c. i. 148, 9---R. B. See this edict in Laval's History vol. iv. or in the appendix to a pamphlet entitled, Popery always the same, p. 76* "Popery always the same, appendix p. 76," six were killed on the spot, and fourteen or fifteen wounded.-Towards the latter end of the same month, an assembly was surprised by a party of dragoons, who fired upon them, and seized several of both sexes, who remain in prison. The 17th instant, an officer and five gentlemen were taken up, for what reason we cannot yet certainly know. Some say it is for hold ing assemblies, and others for perform ing baptisms and marriages.' “Part of a Letter from Mr. -a Protestant minister at Aug. 8, 1754. "I am well acquainted with the affairs of our churches, and the several unjust and cruel methods which are daily used to destroy them. Never before have they been so artfully attacked: they are beset on every side, and ravaged from every quarter. And it will be impossible to bear up under this heavy calamity, unless sustained and upheld by God himself. Let us, therefore, incessantly offer up our prayers to him for assistance, and, perhaps, sooner than we expect, a happy Providence may change the present awful appearance of things to scenes more happy and delightful. The provinces of this part of the kingdom, where the Protestant religion has most flourished, are crowded with troops, as I imagine to extirpate all the Protestants, if possible, for they are to quarter here for some time. And what strengthens my opinion is, that they have expended large sums of money to furnish beds and other necessaries sufficient for 20,000 troops. Expenses which are entirely needless, if they were stationed here only for the convenience of pasture. On the fourth instant they made a general sally. They plundered not only the houses in the country, but even those in the city did not escape their fury. A minister, who has taken upon him that office no more than two years, had the house sur rounded where he was, and, attempting to escape, was shot by a fuzee, and was arrested, as was all the family where he was. He was carried prí Soner to Montpellier, where, in all probability, he must suffer, as most of his predecessors have done before him. "He (by name M. la Fage) finished his course gloriously at Montpellier, on the 16th of the same month, after having ved the esteem of those who saw him me. Myself must have shared the same fate had it not been for the kind protection of a Catholic friend. For 1 had no sooner left my house than it was surrounded by a numerous detachment, which made the most exact search for Since this fatal time ny day is turned into night; and my people, seeing it is impossible for me to elude their diligent search, advise me to retire for some time into Switzerland, there to wait till more quiet and peaceable days; and, as our church is oppressed with taxes and impositions, and struggling with difficulties, it cannot be expected they should be any longer able to support their minister.-We have great reason to fear our enemies will exert all their power to disturb and molest them, (the ministers and others that baptize, &c. in the desert,) since the Bishop of Alais has sent a letter for that purpose to all the curates of his diocese."' "An Account of Mr. P -c, drawn up by himself. "On the parish curate's (the same as rector here) taking my child by force, and baptizing it according to the rites of the Church of Rome during my absence, on my return home I the curate, who hereupon complained expressed my resentment, and reproved of me to the deputy, and a warrant cused, and, though innocent, conwas granted against me. I was acdemned to death, as accessary to the murder of a woman found dead in the prison. I appealed to the parliament of Thoulouse, and thereby was acquitted and discharged from imprisonment; but after some time was again ordered to be arrested; but a friend gave me private intelligence. I immediately embraced the favourable opportunity, left my family the very same day, and fled for refuge to this happy is, where, by the kind Providence of God, I am safely arrived.' "Extract of a Letter from Mr. Bour dillon, minister in London, Secretary to the Society for the Relief of the Persecution of French Protestants in 1755. French Refugees, dated Nov. 14, “Our dear brethren are more and more persecuted in France. They increase every day; and by the last letters which were read the day before yesterday at our society, we hear that the troops in Languedoc search in the night-time, not only for the pastors, who are mostly fled to woods and dens, but for their defenceless flock. A great many of the faithful have been taken and confined to prisons. The terror is spread every where. The worship of the Lord suspended. Few congregations meet together. Courage is abated. Zeal slackens. They have nothing left but their private prayers, in the midst of their alarms and sor rows.' "Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Isaac Toms, minister at Hadleigh in Suffolk, dated Dec. 30, 1754. "Very affecting accounts from France. Does a spirit of concern for the dear sufferers increase? One minister says, I have been these five weeks like a wild goat going from rock to rock, and have not lain in a house. And this to attend the interests of his persecuted flock, when he might have lived at ease in a city; but he says, We are accustomed to pursuits, and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the common faith.' "Extract of a Letter from the same gentleman, dated March 13, 1755. "I have to acquaint you that Mr. has informed me by last post but one, that in Normandy things are more quiet, but that they have very few ministers for above 100,000 souls. In Languedoc things are worse and worse. Ministers are so closely fol lowed, that, there being no possibility of being useful to the flocks, they are retired to Switzerland, &c. There are near eighty men now in the gallies for their religious zeal, and very many, great numbers, in prisons and fetters.' 269 ple, killed some of them, and took some prisoners. The persecutions are going on in many other parts, with great severity. The prisoners upon the gallies* earnestly desire our prayers, and are sent from Marseilles to Toulon, where they are far from their friends, who used now and then to give them some help.' "Such was the situation of the persecution in France but a few months ago. I have learnt since, from the Rev. Mr. Bourdillon, the Secretary to the Society for the Relief of the Protestants that fly into this kingdom for the sake of religion, that there is no remission of the cruel edicts; that the people have been miserably exhausted by taxes, &c.; that the ministers are driven away by the severity of the perhave been in a manner totally sussecution; and that religious assemblies pended. Such is the mournful state of the Protestants in France, whose number is computed at 3,000,000 of souls." which distinguished the reign of Such were some of the blessings Louis le bien aimé, from whom the modern Louis le désiré delights to trace his descent and his roval authority. A few years after in 1761, occurred the horrid tragedy of the Calas family, a striking result of the prejudices excited against the Protestants. The Continuation des Causes Celebres (Vol. 4, 18mo. Amst. 1771), in addition to the interesting details respecting Calos, records other proofs of the antipathy excited against the Protestants at the same period; particularly notieing (p. 308), the pleasure with which some ladies at Tholouse, attended the execution of a Protestant minister who was hanged in that city and of three * "A galley is a low-decked vessel, generally from 120 to 182 feet long, 18 feet broad, and 6 fect deep. They are navigated by oars, and chiefly used in the Mediterranean sea. The slaves are chained to the oars, their shirts being stripped down to their waist, and exposed to all weathers. They must strike the oars all together, or they are severely handled. The chains sometimes gnaw them to the excepting Protestants for their religion, bone, and occasion gangrenes. The slaves, are notorious malefactors, who, having escaped the sentence of death, are condemned to this punishment for a time, or for life. See Toms's Annals, p. 30." merchants who were, at the same "time beheaded. Returning to the pamphlet I quote, from page 33, the following account of a "paper published Sept. 1755." "The gentlemen who three years ago engaged in a society for the relief of those Protestants that fly into this kingdom for religion's sake, think themselves in duty bound to acquaint the benefactors to this charity with their 'proceedings, success and present situation: "Out of two thousand one hundred and forty-four pounds, thirteen shillings and nine pence received, they have expended one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four pounds, one shilling and ten pence, so that no more remains in cash than two hundred and twenty pounds, eleven shillings and eleven pence. "To this time they have relieved three hundred and eighty-nine persons, most of whom are actually settled in England, and now subsist by their industry and labour, viz. one hundred and seventy-three men, ninety women, and one hundred and twenty-six children; the greatest part of these last have been put to apprenticeships: besides a very large number whose expenses the society defrayed in their journey through Switzerland and Holland to Ireland." Your readers may compare the statements in this paper with the recent exertions in the same cause. SIR R. B. April 9. valuable ILL you allow me a few co W tory, to call the attention of our Unitarian brethren to the peculiar situation in which they are placed, and the duties which this peculiar situation appears to me most imperiously to call upon them to perform? We are fully persuaded that our views of the gospel dispensation are more simple, more sublime, more rational, and far more scriptural, than those of our fellow-christians; that Unitarianism is "the faith once delivered to the saints;" the " tidings of great joy" to all nations, which shall carry salvation even unto the ends of the earth! We believe all this,-and is it not then our bounden duty to use every mean within our power, to give the pure word of God "free course"? to spread it widely amongst our fellow creatures? Surely no heart can be so cold and selfish as to doubt of this; and no one who has the desire, can in his measure, want means; for the most powerful of all, lies within the reach of every one;each in his own station whether high or low, may so conspicuously let his "light shine before men," that seeing his good works, they will inquire from whence they spring, and what the tree is, which bears such heavenly fruits. If we have indeed more perfectly "learned Christ," it becomes us to remember that we are accountable for the treasure, the "pearl of great price," which is committed to our charge; and not satisfied with a cold, heartless profession of our faith, we should zealously endeavour, by a constant manifestation of every Christian virtue, to "live down" the evil reports which ignorance and prejudice are ever ready to raise against men who venture to think for themselves, and doctrines which they fear to inquire into, and therefore do not understand. It is vain, I had almost said it is absurd, and must appear hypocritical, to withdraw ourselves from what we account false and unscriptural modes of worship, if in all other points we conform to the selfish, vain, and frivolous pursuits of the world. If we "worship the Father" acceptably, we must do it "in spirit and in truth"; for devotion is enthusiastic, and faith dead and unprofitable, in the heart of that man, in whom it fails to produce true Christian practice. And in what does true Christian practice consist? Not in merely passing harmlessly gross faults which would call down upon us the censures of our fellow men! A child of worldly wisdom would do this: but the disciple of Jesus stands on higher ground, has nobler motives, and acts on other principles. Harshly as it may sound in the ears of some, a conformity with the world, even in this nation which so much boasts of the decorum and propriety of its manners, may often be too justly denominated, " enmity with God." According to the standard of the former we may feel ourselves justified in a course of conduct, which, weighed in the Christian balance, will be found wanting.".. And is this less the case in Unitarians than in other men? Would to God that I could clearly see it so ;— On the peculiar Duties of Unitarians. would to God that those who hold the Unitarians would do well to consider, that all will, at the solemn day of retribution, be judged according to the degree of illumination which has shone upon their minds: and if our views are more sublime and beautiful, and more powerfully incitive to the practice of all that is excellent, than those entertained by other Christians; shall we not be expected and required to walk according to our light? Shall we who behold in our Maker "the Lord, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy and truth" who " hath no pleasure in the death of sinners," but "willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth!"-shall we, who see in the holy scriptures 971 these heart-cheering and most attractive views of our great Creator plainly set forth; love him no more, and obey him no better, than others? Cold in deed must be our affections and hard our hearts if it be so! I would warn you, I would earnestly warn you, as Christians, and more Unitarian Christians, especially as against religious negligence. "To whomsoever much is given, of him will pure docmuch be required." If the trines of the gospel are happily opened to our understandings, let them sink deep into our hearts and be powerfully set forth in our lives. The Christian warfare cannot be made a mere secondary concern of life, a matter that is only now and then, at stated times, or in the hours of sickness or of sorrow to occupy our thoughts. What the good Dr. Barrow says of virtue, may be well applied to that purest form of it, Christianity:-" It is not a mushroom that springeth up in one night, when we are asleep or regard it not; but a delicate plant that groweth slowly and tenderly, needing much pains to cultivate it, much care to guard it, much time to mature it, in our untoward soil, in this world's unkindly weather: happiness is a thing too precious to be purchased at an easy rate; heaven is too high to be come at without much climbing; the crown of bliss is a prize too noble to be won without a long and tough conflict." This is confirmed both by the precepts and the example of our Lord; "He that will come after me," says this great Teacher, “must take up his cross and follow me." We must "strive to enter in at the strait gate," for "narrow is the which leadeth way It is not the wide and unto life." beaten road which, because so much frequented, seems safe and pleasant to the thoughtless multitude. The fashions of this world speedily pass away and their followers will at length find, that they have been pursuing shadows; airy phantoms; while the great end and purpose of existence has been overlooked and cast aside, as a thing of little value or importance. Oh that Unitarians would come out from amongst the sons and daughters of va nity and selfishness, and prove to the world that they have higher aims than this uncertain life can satisfy; that 65 as strangers they consider themselves and pilgrims upon earth," seeking a |