sufficiently admire the magnanimity of those illustrious men, who, the moment they quit an assembly, where they have appeared vested with the majesty of a sovereign state, converse with other men as if they thought them fellow citizens. The contrast between this court and that of France may well be supposed to strike our exile. Dignity here must seem the soft majesty of angels; but dignity there the ferocious swell of devils.

The Elector of Brandenburgh endeavoured to prevail with Mr. Claude to settle in his territories; but for particular reasons he declined it. The states provided for him at the Hague in a manner, which shewed their great opinion of his merit. The prince of Orange too settled a considerable pension on him. Here, then, he enjoyed all imaginable quiet. His house was the asylum of all the dispersed, and many a long night and day did he sit to hear their lamentable tales, soothing their sorrows, quieting their fears, reconciling their minds to a wise providence, and justifying the ways of God to men. Here he collected authentick materials for his last work, The complaints of the Protestants of France. He understood, that Bossuet, and the other French prelates, had the consummate impudence to affirm, that the government had used no force toward the protestants, that the bishops had converted them by reason, and argument, and gentle measures. Shocked at the accumulated impiety of the men, he stated the facts, painted the bishops in their own colours, publish

ed the book, and appealed to all Europe. All Europe (except the Pope, and our James II. who caused the book to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman.) all Europe echoed,-Everlasting infamy cover the bishops of France!

Mr. Claude's course of life at the Hague was, in general, this. He rose early, worshipped God in private, and afterward with his family. The forenoon he spent in study, afternoons he devoted to visitors, for the people, who sought to converse with him, were innumerable: he ate a light and early supper, and received after it his intimate friends. "Here, says one of them, in those hours of freedom, in those easy conversations, we saw the very Mr. Claude. His serious openness of heart, his wise and affable conversation, his penetrating genius and sweet temper, afforded us the highest delight. These conversations always ended with the usual exercises of piety in his family. The company departed, and he retired to bed."

There was, at this time, no regular preaching in the Walloon church. Mr. Claude, however, preached there occasionally in his son's stead, and at other times elsewhere. Going to pay his respects to the Elector of Brandenburg at Cleve, the Duke desired him to preach in his palace at two in the afternoon. Mr. Claude did so from these words, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, and so on. His highness was extremely pleased with the sermon, and he expressed his satisfaction to Mr. Claude in the most ample man

ner.

The prince and princess of Orange often re

quired him to preach before them. Mr. Claude had not a fine voice; but his auditors were always charmed with his sermons; and it was a smart saying of a gentleman, who was asked after sermon, how he liked the preacher :-Every voice will be for him, said he, ercept his own.

It was on December the 25th. 1686, that Mr. Claude preached one of his noblest sermons before their royal highnesses, from Luke i. 30, &c. The auditors were all extremely affected with this discourse, and passed the highest encomiums on it. All thought the preacher excelled himself; but little did they think, that, while he uttered himself with great eagerness, and was heated in his work, he was catching that illness, which would bring him to the grave.

In the evening he found himself uncommonly weary. In the night he had a fever, with violent pains all over him. Each following day he became worse and worse, and all perceived his dissolution approaching.

On Monday, Jan. 6, he sent for the senior pastor of the church, to whom in the presence of all his family he expressed himself thus. Sir, I was desirous to see you, and to make my dying declaration before you, I am a miserable sinner before God. I most heartily beseech him to shew me mercy for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope he will hear my prayer. He has promised to hear the cries of repenting sinners. I adore him for blessing my ministry. It has not been fruit

less in his church; it is an effect of God's grace, and I adore his providence for it.

After pausing awhile he added. I have carefully examined all religions. None appear to me worthy of the wisdom of God, and capable of leading man to happiness, but the christian religion. I have diligently studied popery and the reformation. The protestant religion, I think, is the only good religion. It is all found in the holy scriptures, the word of God. From this as from a fountain all religion must be drawn. Scripture is the root, the protestant religion is the trunk and branches of the tree. It becomes you all to keep steady to it. The pastor told him, he was not surprized to hear him express himself so, after what he had preached and printed in books, which had so greatly edified the church.... Ah! break off, said he, interrupting him, let us not speak of praises at a time when moments are so precious, and when they ought to be employed to a better use. Here, being fatigued, he asked to be put to bed.

He frequently spoke of the happiness of those, who had left France for religion, and besought his family and friends to prize liberty of conscience. Mrs. Claude asked him one day, whether he was not sorry to leave her? No, replied he, I am going to my God, and I leave you in his hands in a free country. What can I desire more either for you or myself?

Not being able to sit up, he desired a friend to. write, as he dictated, a letter to the prince of

Orange. It was short, gratulatory, and pathetick. With some trouble he signed it. His highness received it with great condescension; and, all hero as he was, he perceived, as he perused it, that he was a man as well as the writer. He blessed, and wept for the departing Claude.

A week before he died, with true patriarchal dignity, he sat up in his bed, and asked to speak with his son, and family. Son, said he, tenderly embracing him, I am leaving you. The time of my departure is at hand. Silence, and sobs, and floods of tears followed, each clasped in the others arms. The family all came, and asked his blessing. Most willingly, replied he, will I give it you. Mrs. Claude kneeled down by the bed-side: My wife, said he, I have always tenderly loved you. Be not afflicted at my death. The death of the saints is precious in the sight of God. In you I have seen a sincere piety. I bless God for it. Be constant in serving him with your whole heart. He will bless you. I recommend my son and his family to you, and I beseech the Lord to bless you. To his son, who, with an old servant, was kneeling by his mother, he said, among other things, Son, you have chosen the good part. Perform your office as a good pastor, and God will bless you. Love and respect your mother. Be mindful of this domestic. Take care she want nothing as long as she lives. I give you all my blessing. The afflicted family had not the power of making any answer, their tears and their silence spoke for them, The pastor being present, Mr. Claude desired him