SAURIN (James), a celebrated preacher, was born at Nîmes in 1677, and was the son of a Protestant lawyer of considerable eminence. He applied to his studies with
Saurin. with great success; but at length being captivated with a military life, he relinquished them for the profession of arms. In 1694 he made a campaign as a cadet in lord Galloway's company, and soon afterwards obtained a pair of colours in the regiment of colonel Renault which served in Piedmont. But the duke of Savoy having made peace with France, he returned to Geneva, and resumed the study of philosophy and theology under Turretin and other professors. In 1700 he visited Holland, then came to England, where he remained for several years, and married. In 1705 he returned to the Hague, where he fixed his residence, and preached with the most unbounded applause. To an exterior appearance highly prepossessing, he added a strong harmonious voice. The sublime prayer which he recited before his sermon was uttered in a manner highly affecting. Nor was the attention excited by the prayer dissipated by the sermon: all who heard it were charmed; and those who came with an intention to criticise, were carried along with the preacher and forgot their design. Saurin had, however, one fault in his delivery; he did not manage his voice with sufficient skill. He exhausted himself so much in his prayer and the beginning of his sermon, that his voice grew feeble towards the end of the service. His sermons, especially those published during his life, are distinguished for justness of thought, force of reasoning, and an eloquent unaffected style.
The first time that the celebrated Abadie heard him preach, he exclaimed, "Is it an angel or a man who speaks?" Saurin died on the 30th of December 1730, aged 53 years.
He wrote, 1. Sermons, which were published in 12 vols. 8vo and 12mo; some of which display great genius and eloquence, and others are composed with negligence. One may observe in them the imprecations and the aversion which the Calvinists of that age were wont to utter against the Roman Catholics. Saurin was, notwithstanding, a lover of toleration: and his sentiments on this subject gave great offence to some of his fanatical brethren, who attempted to obscure his merit, and embitter his life. They found fault with him because he did not call the pope Antichrist, and the Romish church the subore of Babylon. But these prophetic metaphors, however applicable they may be, were certainly not intended by the benevolent religion of Jesus to be handled about as terms of reproach; which would teach those to rail who use them, and irritate, without convincing, those to whom they were applied.
Saurin, therefore, while he perhaps interpreted these metaphors in the same way with his opposers, discovered more of the moderation of the Christian spirit. Five volumes of his sermons were published in his life, the rest have been added since his decease.
2. Discourses Historical, Critical, and Moral, on the most memorable Events of the Old and New Testament. This is his greatest and most valuable work. It was printed first in two volumes folio. As it was left unfinished, Beaufoire and Roques undertook a continuation of it, and increased it to four volumes. It is full of learning: it is indeed a collection of the opinions of the best authors, both Christian and Heathen; of the philosophers, historians, and critics, in every subject which the author examines. 3. The State of Christianity in France, 1725, 8vo. In this book he discusses
many important points of controversy, and calls in question the truth of the miracle said to be performed on La Fosse at Paris. 4. An Abridgment of Christian Theology and Morality, in the form of a Catechism, 1722, 8vo. He afterwards published an abridgment of this work.
A Dissertation which he published on the Expediency of sometimes disguising the Truth, raised a multitude of enemies against him. In this discourse his plan was, to state the arguments of those who affirm that, in certain cases, it is lawful to disguise truth, and the answers of those who maintain the contrary. He does not determine the question, but seems, however, to incline to the first opinion. He was immediately attacked by several adversaries, and a long controversy ensued; but his doctrines and opinions were at length publicly approved of by the synods of Campen and of the Hague.
The subject of this controversy has long been agitated, and men of equally good principles have supported opposite fides. It would certainly be a dangerous maxim that falsehood can ever be lawful. There may, indeed, be particular cases, when the motives to it are of such a nature as to diminish its criminality in a high degree; but to lessen its guilt is a very different thing from justifying it by the laws of morality.