Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew (1st ed. vol 3).djvu/135



Appended to “Shibboleth” is a copy of a speech entitled, “The thanks returned to the Lord Generall in the name of the French Church, Gathered in the Chapell at Somerset house, by John Despayne, Pastor of the said church, August 8, 1653.” The following note is appended:— “His Excellence most graliously did answer us; and having declared that our thankfulness were due more unto the State than to his person, he did assure us alwaies to imploy his power to protect us, but most remarkably pronounced these words, which we never shall forget: I love strangers, but principally those who are of our religion.” After the Author’s death, there was published “An Essay on the Wonders of God in the Harmony of the times, generations and most illustrious events therein enclosed, from the original of ages to the close of the New Testament.” — written in French by John D’Espagne, Minister of the Holy Gospel. Both parts published in English by his Executor, London, 1662. [Another publisher re-issued this book with a new title page, dated 1682, in which it is designated. The Harmony of the Old and New Testament] The executor signs his name, Henry Browne, and describes himself as an English Churchman, who, “during these late times of horror and confusion, both in our Church and State,” found a refuge in the French Church at Durham House, along with “many of the Nobility and the best of the Gentry who rendered both to God and Caesar their due.”

I cannot pass from Monsieur D’Espagne without giving a specimen of his style. The following is a translation of two paragraphs in his Observations on the Creed:— “When our Lord was going to display his divine power by a miracle, it was frequently preceded by some sign of human weakness. Previous to his rebuking the wind and the sea, he was asleep. Before he cured the deaf man he looked up to heaven and sighed. Being pressed by hunger, he caused the fig-tree to wither. When he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, he first groaned in the spirit and was troubled. Finally, when he caused the earth to quake, the