Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie
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struck by a cannon-ball, and expired.<br />
Saumur was <strong>the</strong> symbol <strong>of</strong> a decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>the</strong>ology. Its pr<strong>of</strong>essors conducted <strong>the</strong>ir labors<br />
chiefly with an eye <strong>to</strong> smooth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> descent from<br />
Calv<strong>in</strong>ism <strong>to</strong> Arm<strong>in</strong>ianism. They were learned men<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>, and produced works which excited a<br />
various <strong>in</strong>terest. A moderate <strong>the</strong>ology has ever had<br />
a tendency <strong>to</strong> stereotype men <strong>in</strong> moderate<br />
atta<strong>in</strong>ments: <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essors <strong>of</strong> Saumur are no<br />
exception. Their names would awaken no<br />
recollections now, and it is unnecessary <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
<strong>to</strong> mention <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
Sedan had a purer fame, and a more <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry. It is associated with <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Andrew<br />
Melville, and <strong>of</strong> numerous o<strong>the</strong>r Scotsmen who<br />
here taught with dist<strong>in</strong>ction. Pierre Dumoul<strong>in</strong><br />
(1658), one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> greatest Protestants <strong>of</strong> his day,<br />
filled one <strong>of</strong> its chairs. As m<strong>in</strong>ister <strong>of</strong> Charen<strong>to</strong>n,<br />
he had been <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Protestants <strong>of</strong> Paris,<br />
where his talents and <strong>in</strong>fluence were <strong>of</strong> great<br />
service <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>in</strong> every part <strong>of</strong> <strong>France</strong>; but<br />
becom<strong>in</strong>g obnoxious <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jesuits, he fled <strong>to</strong><br />
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