Among the thousands who forsook their fatherland in 1685, was the father of Saurin, an able Protestant lawyer of Nismes. He occupied a high position among his townsmen, and held the office of perpetual secretary to the academy. His family had been distinguished for several generations in civil and military affairs, as well as for their scientific attainments. The elder Saurin, as proved by the records of the academy at Nismes, left France immediately upon the Revocation. He fled to Geneva, where his talents, conjoined with the cause for which he suffered, secured him a welcome asylum from the harassments to which, for many years, the adherents of the reformed faith had been subjected under the rule of the grand monarch. We are not told whether or not his sons, for he had two besides James, who were also distinguished for their eloquence, accompanied him in his flight. It is extremely probable they did. At any rate, we learn from contemporary authority, that James Saurin finished his education at Geneva.

In the seventeenth year of his age he quitted the gown of the student for the sword of the warrior. In 1694 the war of the coalition against Louis XIV. broke out, and Saurin served for three years as a volunteer under the Duke of Savoy, against the relentless persecutor of his family and faith. The peace of Ryswick, however, disbanded the Duke's

forces, and Saurin returned to Geneva to continue his studies, none the better, morally, for his experience of camp life. After studying philosophy for two years, he applied himself to theology under Pictet, Lewis Tronchin, Philip Mestrezat, and Alphonso Turretin. The evil effects of his military training made themselves apparent even while studying for the ministry, in a spirit of levity and scepticism, which at length drew down upon him a pointed rebuke, in public, from one of his professors.

It was the turning-point of his spiritual history. Thenceforward he was another man. He devoted himself heart and soul to preparation for his high calling, as ambassador for Heaven; and with much success. His fame, even while a student, was so great, that, being to preach on one occasion, the crowd was so large he was obliged to occupy the pulpit of the cathedral.

The worldly prospects of any one choosing to become pastor among the exiled Protestants, were certainly far from cheering. All the more honour is due to those, who, like Saurin, in the full knowledge of the sufferings and privations to be endured, chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

After finishing his studies with distinguished success, in 1700 he passed, by way of Holland, to Lon

don, where he ministered with much acceptance to a congregation of fellow-exiles for almost five years. During this period he married Miss Catherine Boyton, by whom he had a son named Philip. The climate of London not suiting his constitution, in 1705 he spent some time in Holland, a country where many of those driven from France for conscience' sake had found refuge. His preaching was received with so much acceptance at the Hague, which, as the seat of government, naturally attracted a goodly number of the refugees, that, though all the ordinary pastoral offices were filled, a charge was specially created to retain his services. He was appointed chaplain to some of the nobility of the Hague, and the palace chapel of the Princes of Orange was given to him as a place for public worship. This soon became too crowded, and had to be enlarged; yet it continued till his death full to overflowing, with the most intelligent and brilliant audiences the Hague, then the resort of all who were eminent in rank, politics, or learning, could furnish. Nor was this the only effect of his ministrations. His preaching influenced many of his hearers deeply and permanently, as manifested by their holy and consistent lives-testimony most grateful, and most trustworthy, of a faithful and successful ministry.

Nor was it with the living voice alone that

Saurin laboured in his Master's cause.

He did much with his pen, of which posterity still reaps the benefit. His works, if not numerous as compared with other writers of his day, are at least weighty and important, manifesting a commendable industry and zeal. They were all written within a period of twenty-five years, and that, too, a period in which Saurin had the daily burden of superintending and providing for a congregation of some thousands, besides his share of the general business of the Church. He wrote:

I. Sermons upon Divers Texts of Holy Scripture, 12 vols. 8vo. Of these, five volumes were published, 1708-1725, during his own lifetime. Seven additional volumes were given to the world after his decease by his literary executors. The first of these seven contains a very graceful and well-written dedication to Queen Caroline, the work of his son Philip.

II. A Treatise on the Education of Princes. This book, which has never been printed, was prepared at the special request of the Princess of Wales, Caroline of Brandenburgh Anspach; who, in passing through Holland on her way to England, honoured Saurin with very special and distinguished regard. The volume was dedicated to the young princes. It was favourably received by the princess, and immediately acknowledged by a handsome present to the author.

III. Discourses, Historical, Critical, Theological, and Moral, on the most Memorable Events of the Old and New Testaments. 6 vols. folio. This work was undertaken to furnish letterpress illustrations to a numerous series of copperplate engravings of various scriptural subjects, executed for the special purpose at the expense of a generous Dutch merchant. The first volume was translated into English by Chamberlayne, in 1723. The others have not been translated. Saurin finished only two volumes, which appeared in 1720-1728. The third, on which he was engaged at the time of his death, was completed by M. Roques, who added a fourth volume, carrying the work to the end of the Old Testament. Isaac de Beausobre, chaplain to the King of Prussia, added two on the New Testament, thus completing the undertaking. A Dissertation on the Expediency of sometimes Disguising the Truth, bearing on Samuel's anointing David king of Israel, which appeared in the second volume of the Discourses, caused Saurin a good deal of vexation and annoyance. La Chapelle cited him before several Synods; but, though Saurin willingly gave explanations, he would make no retractions. The Synod finally decided the dispute in Saurin's favour.

This was the only important controversy in which our author engaged. His loving and gentle nature was quite alien to the grim pleasures of the battle