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tinsel of the schools. From a state of gross ignorance and vice up to a state of the highest perfection of christian knowledge and virtue, lie infinite degrees of improvement, one above another in a scale of excellence up to the first born of every creature, the perfect teacher sent from God. In this scale our author occupies a high place in my eye, and if the reader chooses to place him a few degrees lower, I shall not contend about that; for on my principles if he contribute in any, even in the least degree to the cause of truth and virtue, he is a foreigner worth our acquaintance, and the gallic in his appearance will not disgust a friend to the best interests of mankind. I say nothing of the translation; it does not become me. Let those who are able do better. Envy of this kind I have

none.

END OF THE PREFACES TO THE TRANSLATION OF

SAURIN'S SERMONS.

MEMOIRS

OF THE LIFE OF THE

Rev. JOHN CLAUDE,

MINISTER OF THE FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH AT CHARENTON ;

Prefixed to the first Volume of a Translation of

CLAUDE'S ESSAY ON THE COMPOSITION OF
SERMON, WITH NOTES.

[FIRST PRINTED, 1782.]

MEMOIRS

OF THE LIFE OF THE

Rev. JOHN CLAUDE.

THE great and good Mr. John Claude, author of the following Essay, is in general so well known, that it may seem needless to relate his history. I cannot, however, deny myself the pleasure of recounting a few of the memorable actions of this eminent servant of God. In them, I flatter myself, my readers will find an apology sufficient at least to excuse the following short sketch of the man and his conversation. Encomiums given him by divines are innumerable; but such men as he merit more than human applause hath to bestow.*

Calvin and Beza, both natives of France, had introduced the reformation into their country in

* Dubito, an recentiori ætate aliquem majori omnes prosequuti sint veneratione quam JOANNEM CLAUDIUM. Buddeus. Vid. etiam. Bayle-Mosheim-Act. Lips.-Vie de Claude -Cum multis aliis.

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