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cast upon us we receive as an honor. Three centuries ago, Geneva arose against Rome; let Geneva now rise against Oxford. "I should like," said one of the Oxford divines, "to see the Patriarch of Constantinople and our Archbishop of Canterbury go barefoot to Rome, throw their arms round the Pope, kiss him, and not let him go till they had persuaded him to be more reasonable;" that is to say, doubtless, until he had extended his hand to them, and ceased to proclaim them heretics and schismatics.

Evangelical Christians of Geneva, England, and all other countries! It is not to Rome that you must drag yourselves, "to those seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations;" the pilgrimage that you must make is to that excellent and perfect tabernacle "not made with hands;" that "throne of grace, where we find grace to help in time of need." It is not upon the neck of the "man of sin" that you must cast yourselves, covering him with your kisses and your tears; but upon the neck of him with whom "Jacob wrestled, until the breaking of the day;" of him "who is seated at the right hand of God, in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come."

Yes, let the children of God in the east and in the west arise; let them, understanding the signs of the times, and seeing that the destinies of the church depend upon the issue of the present conflicts, conflicts so numerous, so different, and so powerful, form a sacred brotherhood, and with one heart and one soul, exclaim, as Moses did when the ark set forward, "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee."

DISCOURSE XI.

S. R. L. GAUSSEN, D.D.

DR. GAUSSEN is Professor of Systematic Theology, in connection with Dr. Merle D'Aubigné, in the Evangelical School at Geneva. He is a native either of the Canton or of the city of Geneva, and about sixty years of age. Educated in his native city, he was first settled as pastor in the beautiful rural parish of Santigny. This was about the year 1815, when few of the pastors belonging to the Canton were decidedly evangelical in their views. It was during his connection with this church, according to his own account, that he first became a true Christian. He preached with great simplicity and earnestness, and his flock looked up to him with much reverence and affection. In his teachings among his parishioners, he became dissatisfied with the catechism imposed for instruction by the national church, chiefly because it contained no recognition of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel. On this account, he laid it aside, and began to teach the children and candidates for communion in his own way, using for a text-book nothing but the sacred Scriptures. For this he was arraigned before the "Venerable Company of Pastors," by whom he was censured, and finally suspended, for a year, from his right to sit in the Company.

But Gaussen, D'Aubigné and others, “in nothing terrified by their adversaries," proceeded yet further, and formed the Evangelical Society of Geneva, established a new theological seminary, and took measures to preach the gospel in the city of Geneva. In consequence of this, Mr. Gaussen was ejected by the Company of Pastors from the church of Santigny, and forbidden to exercise the functions of the ministry in any of the churches or chapels of the Canton. A similar interdict was laid upon the ministry of Merle D'Aubigné, Galland, and others. But these noble and self-denying men rejoiced in their freedom, went forward with their plans, and to-day are rejoicing in the progress of truth and liberty, not only in Geneva, but throughout the world.

Dr. Gaussen not only performs the duties of his professorship, but officiates as pastor at "The Oratoire." Deeply interested in the young, and possessing peculiar tact in addressing them, he has taken the children and youth connected with the church in "The Oratoire" under his special care; and every Sabbath, at eleven o'clock in the morning, conducts a catechetical exercise, for their benefit. This exercise is attractive, not only to the young, but to their parents and others, being frequently attended by citizens and strangers.

Some particulars as to personal appearance, etc., are thus given by Dr. Turnbull:* “In stature he is rather short, and slightly made, and possesses much dignity

*See "Pulpit Orators of France and Switzerland;" to which we are largely indebted in the preparation of this sketch.

and urbanity of manners. His countenance is expressive of great amiableness and refinement of character. He is justly esteemed for his fine literary attainments, and his profound, but radiant and cheerful piety. No one combines in a higher degree manly energy with delicacy and fervor of feeling. He is a great lover of nature, and lives in a charming rural retreat, just beyond the city walls, and on the way to Ferney, the former residence of Voltaire, commanding a magnificent view of the Alps, and the surrounding scenery." Dr. Cheever, who knows him well, says, "His countenance is full of life, frankness, and intelligence. There is a pleasing combination of energy and suavity in his manners, indicating, perhaps, the characteristics of his mind; for he is a man of learning in action, and of solid accomplishments gracefully employed. His style is admirable for its united richness and vivacity. There is the same interest and life in his conversation as in his writings, with the great charm of a simplicity and friendliness of character as open as the sun, and a most attractive warmth and enthusiasm of Christian thought and feeling. His mind kindles and glows, especially on the preciousness of the word of God, the advancing kingdom of the Redeemer, and the nature of the enmity which the church of Christ in Europe must now encounter."

The work of Dr. Gaussen, which has gained for him his principal reputation as an author, is a very ingenious and able treatise on "The Inspiration of the Bible." He has also published one or two volumes of discourses. These have been widely circulated by the Society for publishing Christian books, stationed at Toulouse, in France. They abound in fine thoughts and lively appeals. The style of Gaussen is easy and flowing, much resembling that of Fénélon—rather diffuse and redundant, but sparkling with a quiet beauty, and often rising to a high degree of eloquence.

We have met with no discourse that gives a fairer idea of Dr. Gaussen's preaching than the one published below. It is translated from his "Ten Sermons," printed at Toulouse in 1842. A single local allusion at the close is omitted.

THE FALL OF CHARLES THE TENTH.*

"Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”— REV., iii. 11

ONE of the greatest events of history has just happened in our sight. It shakes Europe; it astonishes the world; and the fame of it will, for a long time, resound to the extremities of the earth. The descendant of forty kings, the powerful monarch of France, who, but within the past week, was seated upon his throne in all the greatness of his power, has in the space of four days been overthrown, and three generations of kings, with him fallen from this ancient seat, have also lost their crown. It is on this occasion that I would have you listen to the words of the King of kings: "Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

God grant that no minister of the gospel should, in this pulpit, turn * Preached on the Sunday which followed this event.

away religious thought to occupy your attention with the politics of nations, and present a dangerous aliment to the passions, or even to the curiosity, of those who listen to him. I have graver interests to recall to you, my brethren. I have things much greater and more enduring to say to you in this temple; and since the Christian should make it his constant study to apply all the events of this life to the teachings of the divine word, and the condition of his soul before God, it has seemed to me that, without pretending here to judge either of people or of kings, we may draw useful reflections from so great a catastrophe. The hand of God, in this, appears so manifest, that one may now say, as in the revolt of the ten tribes against Rehoboam: "This thing is done of me," said the Lord; and I have thought that if the unexpected fall of a great prince may be a lesson for kings, it may also be a lesson for each one of us. It cries to all, in the exhortation of my text: And thou also, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

This monarch has fallen by a fault, which some would call imprudence, others unfaithfulness; but thou, O my soul! while thou reignest, I would say, while thou dost pass through this short life, take care that by thy imprudence and unfaithfulness thou dost not lose "thy crown." Thus, by very simple reflections, I will apply to you the text selected for this day, in connection with the great event which, doubtless, still occupies the thoughts of most of you.

I will recall to you:

First. That you, also, have a crown either to acquire or to preserve : "Take care that no man take from thee thy crown."

Second. That you, also, have received recent and numerous warnings to avoid so great an evil: "Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Third. That you also have an appointed time, a time of trial, a time given that your name may be honorably recorded upon the pages of that history which is being written in heaven; but the time is short: "Behold," says the Lord, "behold, I come quickly.”

Fourth. Finally, that you, also, to obtain this, have something to do: "Hold that fast which thou hast.”

In a word, my brethren, may the subjects of conversation, which, for eight days, have occupied every mind, bring to you useful and holy thoughts! May politics recall you to the gospel; the movements of the present time to the repose of eternity; the kingdoms of the earth to the kingdom of heaven; and the fall of a powerful monarch to the fall, much more dreadful, of a soul cast into the pit of despair-to the solemn remembrance of your relation to God, of your rapid course toward the invisible world, and of the great end of your existence !

Oh, my God! we ask thine assistance upon these warnings of thy word and thy providence, that their double lesson may this day be blessed to each of us.

I will then commence by recalling to the minds of all who hear me the solemn truth, that Jesus Christ having come into the world to gain for us the crown of life, it is the duty of each one of you, either to obtain it or to preserve it; and, in view of this, I address to every one the exhortation of the Lord: "Oh, let no man take from thee thy crown!" A crown, you know, is the emblem of peace and joy, of happiness and glory. Now, I am charged by the word of God to announce to you here, from the King of kings, the good news of peace and joy, of happiness and glory. This is the gospel. As long as my ministry among you shall endure, it will be my task, as well as my happiness, to repeat to you, as often as I enter this pulpit, that though in yourselves you are destitute of the favor of God, deprived of his glory, removed, and justly removed, far from him, by reason of your transgressions, and the alienation from holiness which manifests itself naturally in every heart; notwithstanding all this, "God has so loved the world, that he has given his only Son, so that he might save by grace, through faith, all those who believe on him; that they shall not perish, but have eternal life" "For there remaineth a rest to the people of God; and it is thus, through his great mercy, God regenerates his elect, in the lively hope of obtaining, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved for them in heaven."

Then shall he dwell with them; they shall be his people and he will be their God. He will console them with his powerful hand; he will wipe away all tears from their eyes; death shall be destroyed, and there shall be no more mourning, nor crying, nor labor; for the former things shall have passed away, and eternal joy shall rest upon their heads.

Such is the crown spoken of in our text; the crown which we must gain-which, at whatever price, we must keep; the crown which the Scripture calls a crown of righteousness, "a crown incorruptible,” “a crown of glory," "a crown of life."

It is then righteousness, life, glory, reconciliation with God; it is the help of God; it is happiness; it is everlasting consolation; it is joy eternal in the heavens.

And this crown is offered to all who now hear me-to the poor as well as to the rich, to the rich as to the poor; to the young and to the old; to the king and to the peasant. It is the crown which awaited poor Lazarus, after a life passed in suffering and beggary. It is the crown which was found by the poor widow of Jerusalem after a life of great privation. It is the crown received by the humble and gentle Dorcas, after a life spent among the poor in the blessed occupations of charity. It is the crown which is offered to every one of you, after the passage through this life of trial. It is the crown which you should take heed not to have lost, when in a few years—in eight, in ten years, who can know? in time, still shorter-you may quit this earth, to pass into that unknown eternity.

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