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/253

 A M Y R A U T. 217 the national fynod of Alcn^on came charged with inftruc* tions againft him, and fome were even for depofing him. The deputies of the provinces beyond the Loire were the moft violent againft him : however, the fynod, after having heard Amyraut explain his opinion, in feveral feflions, and anfwer the objections made thereto, honourably acquitted him, and enjoined filence in refpeft to qucftions of this na- ture : but this was not juftly obierved by either fide, for com- plaints were made againft Amyraut, in the national fynod of Charenton, for having acted contrary to the regulations con-^ionid, cerning that filence ; and he, in his turn, complained of in- Amhenfic /radions of the fame nature. The aflembly, by an Holy Aftl P'3* Amnefty, fupprefied thefc mutual complaints ; and having renewed the injunction of filence, fent back Amyraut to his employment, and permitted him to oppofe foreigners who Jhould attack him, in what manner the fynod of Aojou fhould think proper. This fynod allowed him to publifli an anfwer to the three volumes of Spanhemius upon univerfal grace,ibU. which occafioned the writing of feveral others. Amyraur, being a man well acquainted with the world, was very entertaining in converfation, which contributed no Jefs than the reputation of his learning to render him efteern- ed by fo many perlons of quality, though of oppofite prin- ciples in religious matters : among thofe who particularly diftinguiflied him, were the marfhals De Breze and DC la Meilleriac, Mr. Le Goux de la Berchere,firft prefident of the Parliament of Burgundy, and cardinal Mazarin. What gained him the favour of this cardinal was, in all probability, his openly declaring in favour of the obedience due to fove- reigns, which proved very advantageous to the court of France duiing the troubles of the league againft cardinal Mazarin, called de la Fronde. In his " Apology," publifhed in 1647, in behalf of the Proteftants, he excufes as well as he can, the civil wars of France ; but he declares at the fame time, thatp <7 g 4 he by no means intends to juftify the taking up of arms againft one's lawful fovereign upon any pretence whatfoever ; and that he always looked upon it as more agreeable to the na- ture 6/ the Gofpel and the practice of the primitive church, to ufe no other arms but patience, tears, and prayers. But not- withttanding his attachment to this doctrine, he was not for obeying in matters of confcience, which plainly appealed when the fenefchal of Saumur imparted to him an order from the council of ftate, enjoining all thofe of the reformed reli- gion to hang the outfide of iheir houfes on Corpus Chrifti day. The fenefchal notified this order to him the eve of this holi- day,