Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/252

 216 A M Y R A U T. In 1631, he was fent deputy to the national council at Charenton ; and by this afiembly was appointed to addrefs the king, and lay before his majefty their complaints con- cerning the infraction of the edicts: he was particularly charged not to deliver his fpeech upon his knees, as the de- puties of the former national fynod hid done. He managed this affair with fo much addrefs, that he was introduced to the king according to the ancient cufto'm, and in the manner that was agreeable to the affembly : and it was on this occa- fion that he became acquainted with cardinal Richelieu, who conceived a great eftetm for him [A]. About this time he publifhed a piece, wherein he explained the myftery of pre- deftination and grace, according to the hypothefis of Camero, which occafioned a kind of civil war amongft the proteftant divines of France [B]. Thofe who difliked the hypothefis, derided it as a novelty, efpecially when they faw themfelves joined by the great Du Moulin, who accufed Amyraut of Arianifm. The authority of this famous divine, to whom the people paid a great refpe& and veneration on account of the many books of controverfy he had published, made fo deep an impreflion in the minds of many minifters, that, though Amyraut had publifhed a piece, wherein he maintained Calvin to have held univerfal grace ; yet many deputies at [A] Carflinal Richelieu imparted to him the defign he had formed of re- uniting the two churches. The Jefuit who conferred with Mr. Amyraut upon this fubjeft was father Audebert. Mr. De Villeneuve, lord lieutenant of Sau. mur %> having invited them both to din- ner, took care they ftiould confer in pri- vateafter dinner. It is ttue Mr. Amy- raut protefted, that he could not forbear imparting to his colleagues all that /hould pafs between them. The Jefuit t;ld him he was fent by the king and his eminence, to prnpo e an agreement in point of religion : and he declared that the Roman cothrlics were ready to fa- ciifice to the public tranquillity the in- vocation of faints, purgatory, and the merit of good vorks; that they would fet bounds to the pope's power, and in cafe they met wiih oppolition from the court of Rome, they would lay hold on that occafion 10 create a patriarch; that the laity fliould be allowed the commu- nion in both kinds; and that they would give up feveral other points, provided they found in the proteflants a fincere liefire of peace and union. But he de- clared, when Mr. Amyraut toucfied upon the doftrines of the eucharift, that no alteration would be admitted there : whereupon the other anfwered, that then they would come to no agreement. This conference la/led about fcur hours : the Jefuit required fecrefy ; but Mr. Amy. raut protefted, according to the declara- tion he had made firft to Mr. Villeneuve, that he would communicate the whole matter to his colleagues, but that he would be snfwerable for their prudence and discretion. f B] Mr. Bayle makes the following reflexion on thcfe difputes : " If nei " ther party," fays he, " apprehends ' the opinions they rejefi, to be perri- " cious; why (hould they cany on the " difputes farther than is confident with " the peace and tranquillity of the pub- " they perceive that they foment divi- ' fions m families, or give life to par- " ties ? will not their obflinacy rouze a " thouland mifchievous padions, that " ought to be chained up like fo many " wild beads ? and woe to the man that {' makes ihem get loofe." the
 * ' lie; and not rather defift, as foon as