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A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF NICHOLAS PAVILLON, THE BISHOP OF ALET. FROM SKIMMELPENNINCK'S TOUR TO ALET.

NICHOLAS PAVILLON, Bishop of Alêt, was son to Stephen Pavillon, who held a civil office under government. Both his father and his mother were persons of superior piety. Distinguished for affluence, they were yet more so for Christian simplicity, selfdenial, and humility. Nicholas was born in the year 1597: his tender years manifested a particular openness to religious impressions; and on his return from public instructions, he delighted to repeat all he had heard to the family. His love of prayer, when a child, was remarkable: when quite a boy, he often lingered in the church after all the congregation had departed, and spent a considerable time in prayer and solitary meditation; indeed devotion was habitually visible in his countenance; so that when M. d'Alêt was placed at school, in the College of Navarre, his companions often declared, that he not only won their friendship by his cheerful kindness; but that his whole demeanor, nay, the very expression of his countenance, silently obtained an influence over their consciences, and assisted in retaining them in their duty.

The principal and favourite study of M. Pavillon was that of the Holy Scriptures; he entered upon it at a very early age, and continued it all his life so assiduously, that it became perfectly familiar to him. As he grew up his talents unfolded; placed under the direction of Vincent de Paule, institutor of the missions, his zeal, his piety, his erudition, soon be came conspicuous. At first, indeed, he fell into an error commou to young and zealous ministers, and which not unfrequently impedes their usefuluess. His ser

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mons were too long; he, however, corrected this fault in consequence of an anecdote related to him by M. Vincent. "After having long spent much strength and labour to little purpose," said this zealous pastor, "I was one day lamenting before God, as I walked to church, the little fruits of my exertions; as I went along I was overtaken by a vine-dresser, who was also going the same way: I took an opportunity of asking him how the missions were liked. 'Sir,' replied the peasant, we all feel obliged to you for your kind intentions; we are all likewise sensible that every thing you tell us is good; but you preach too long; we ignorant boors are just like our own wine-vats, the juice must have plenty of room left to work; and once filled to the brim, if you attempt to pour in more, even if it were the very best juice in the world, it will only be spilt on the ground and lost." "M. d' Alêt always considered this little incident as an important and providential lesson; and one to which he afterwards was much indebted for the great success of his missions. Satisfied with being made useful, he always shunned preferment; but was however invested, by the Cardinal de Richelieu, with the bishopric of Alêt. This diocese was in a peculiarly deplorable state. Ravaged by the bloody civil wars, which so long desolated France: cruelty, selfishness, and ignorance, overspread the whole face of the country, and seemed indigenous to the soil. Whilst the rest of France recovered from her wounds, and tasted the blessings of peace and civilization, Alêt was still left in its wretched state. Too remote from the capital for the great,

too barbarous and too ignorant for the man of letters: none but a Christian would have undertaken the charge of reforming it: and as noue unconstrained by the love of Christ would have undertaken it; so none, unassisted by His Spirit and almighty power, could have effected it. At this juncture, God, in mercy to Alêt, raised up M. Pavillon, and established him in the episcopal see.

The new bishop immediately began a reform, which he carried on with indefatigable zeal. The instruction both of clergy and laity equally occupied his attention. Not content with establishing colleges for the one and schools for the other, in every part of his diocese, he, at a great expense, instituted an establishment for the sole purpose of educating masters and mistresses,

The basis of this reformation, was the inculcation throughout his whole diocese of the duty of hábitual prayer, the diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, and the assiduous education of all the youth. He carried his pastoral care so far, as to make inquiry of every individual family, whether they were in the daily practice of prayer both mornings and evenings.

In the seminaries which M. d' Alêt established for the education of the clergy, he made a still greater point of diligently inculcating the most assiduous study of the word of God. Penetrated with an exalted idea of the dignity of those who are ambassadors from Christ to men, he endeavoured to impress upon their minds every thing which might assist their spiritual growth. But he also strove with equal care to separate them from all those merely curious studies which tend to inflame pride, whilst they leave the heart barren. "A priest," said he, "should be solidly instructed; because Jesus Christ has established him as one of the lights of the world: but

then his learning should be confined to the law of God; because it is his duty to make his sacred word the sole subject of his instructions to the people." On this principle he was continually repeating to the ministers under his care, that in order to render those divine truths efficacious from their lips, they must first be adopted by themselves, so as to be engraven on their hearts and manifested in their lives.

The good effects of M. d' Alêt's plans were soon conspicuous. His diocese seemed completely transformed. Alêt became distinguished for piety, sobriety, industry, and regularity. M. de Richelieu was complimented on every hand for his wise choice; and France bestowed on M. d' Alêt the honourable titles of Father of the Poor, Counsellor of the Good, Light and Support of the Clergy, Defender of Truth and of Christian Discipline. Lastly, he was esteemed the most humble, although the most highly valued character in the kingdom.

Such was then the opinion of France. Well might we have inferred, that after a long night of Cimmerian darkness, the kingdoms of this world were at length becoming the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ. It was, however, soon evident, that now, as in the apostle's days, the carnal mind is still enmity against God, and that he who will be a servant of Christ cannot long please men. The powerful, whose vices he attacked, preferred very serious charges against him at court. On examination, his innocence was fully proved. Soon after the persecution of the Jansenists took place, M. d' Alêt was invited to countenance them by his signature; this he steadily refused to do.

In consequence of his integrity he became obnoxious to the persecutors, and the court publicly disgraced the holiest prelate in the

realm. Instigated by ambition, Cardinal Richelieu deliberately undertook the unrelenting persecution of a man, of whom he had repeatedly declared, that in the pulpit he exhibited the zeal of St. Paul; at the altar, the devotion of St. Basil; that with princes, he had the wisdom of St. Ambrose; with the poor, the charity of St. Nicholas. That in the midst of the world he had always the guilelessness of Nathaniel; and that the recesses of his heart always burnt with the love of St. John. The Bishop of Alêt's house exhibited a model of true Christian hospitality, as well as of primitive simplicity. Some considerable portion of every day was devoted to cheerful yet pious and instructive conversation, and to social, yet beneficial, occupations. The topics of discourse at Alêt had always truth of some description for their object. Philosophy, natural and experimental, history, mathematics in all its branches, and mechanics, afforded frequent recreations at the episcopal palace. Nor were the languages, or sacred music, excepted. The bishop generally avoided introducing poetry, or works of imagination; thinking they were useless, as not having truth for their object; and deleterious, as tending to inflame the passions. In his converse with others, he equally avoided the error of those worldlings who always shun religion; and of those unwise religionists, who, by making it the sole subject of their discourse, are often led into formality and hypocrisy. There was no religious chit-chat. He never uttered a word of sacred truth without appearing deeply penetrated by the awful reality. When the bishop himself led the conversation, it was mostly of a religious nature, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. His wisdom, information, and good sense rendered his DEC. 1824.

conversation indeed instructive on all subjects: yet it was evident that religion was the one on which his heart dilated, and that it was the point in which all his other studies centered: every subject on which he discoursed, it might almost be said, every sentence which he uttered, received a tincture from his piety. The spirit dwelling in the heart, as on an altar, sanctified in some sort whatever gift had been upon it, and imparted to it a sacred character. His piety so modified his learning, that the most religious might be edified; and his learning so adorned his piety, that the most sceptical might be convinced. Contrary to the manner of some, M. d' Ålêt seldom spoke of religion to determined infidels; but, where it was possible, joined in their subjects of discourse, only speaking in a Christian spirit. The unbelief of the head, he used to say, is mostly founded in the enmity of the heart; he, therefore, thought the persuasion of the affections ought to co-operate with the conviction of the judgment. On this account, he esteemed it most judicious to let them feel the excellency of Christianity in its practical effects, before he recommended it as a general principle.

The Bishop of Alet's repasts were truly Christian. His table was moderate and frugal. He ate but little himself, and never sat at dinner longer than half an hour, on any pretext whatever. In his mode of transacting business, he seemed guided both by wisdom, humility, and faith. The two former led him to ask every body's opinion whom he judged capable; the latter caused him never to decide any thing without consulting Scripture, and laying the matter before God in prayer; by this rule he was steadily guided. "May we all," said the good bishop, "become more and more of Bible Christians; as every branch of our

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faith is immutable, so may every part of our walk become more and more modelled by Scripture. We are commanded to eat, to drink, and to do all to the glory of God. Surely, then, the law of Christ should regulate all these things; for how but by that shall we know what is for his glory? The natural man knows as little of a Christian walk as of a Christian faith. Though many professing Christians suppose they walk according to the mind of Christ in these respects, yet it is evident, that they frame the rule in their own imaginations, and suppose it to be that of Christ; instead of truly studying the Scripture in every individual practice, and carefully tracing the connexion between every precept and doctrine of the Gospel. One reason, indeed, of studying the Scripture is, that we may grow in the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus; another, that we may be able to give an answer to every man concerning the hope which is in us: but, let us remember, that a third, and not a less important one is, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished to every good work. The office of the Holy Spirit is to apply Scripture to the heart, and not to supersede it. This is a truth as essential as it respects a Christian walk, as with respect to a Christian faith."

The high reverence which M. d' Alêt entertained for the Sacred Scriptures, was particularly manifested during a very dangerous illness, which in the year 1675 brought him to the brink of the grave. Being given over by all his medical attendants, he sent for his Archdeacon to administer the sacrament to him. On entering the sick room, the Archdeacon had no sooner pronounced the words,

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Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go forth to meet him;" than the venerable bishop, exhausted as he was, raised himself up in his

bed, and with child-like simplicity answered distinctly to every interrogation; all of which were put to him, at his own desire, as to the very last and least of his flock. He then desired to make profession of his faith; and having received the holy Sacrament with peculiar devotion, endeavoured to collect the remains of his exhausted strength, making a sign to the assembled multitude, who were weeping around his bed. Silence being obtained, with solemn earnestness he thus addressed them: " My very dear friends, you behold me now upon the point of appearing before the awful tribunal of Jesus Christ. Every one of you, also, will one day be cited before it! My dear brethren, for the very last time I conjure and implore you, to live now, and from this very hour, in that manner in which you will have wished to have lived, when you arrive at that state in which I this moment am.

For five and thirty years I have borne you as a nurse does her tenderly beloved child; and what I have nourished you with has been the pure milk of the Word of God. That Word, my dear brethren, will be your judge. Oh! then, I beseech you, let that blessed Word be now the guide and rule of your conduct." The venerable bishop, however, soon afterwards recovered from this illness.

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The Bishop of Alêt was a great friend to self-denial and mortification, both external and internal. He thought that many persons deceived themselves in supposing they take up the inward, whilst they refuse the outward cross. very frequently had in his mouth the words of our Lord; "Strive,” or as the meaning in the original is, Agonize to enter in at the strait gate; for many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able." "Surely," said he, "this agonizing must as much relate to that

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vile body, which even St. Paul kept under, for fear of becoming a castaway, as to those high imaginations and tempers of soul, which are to be brought down and subjected to the law of Christ."

The bishop was extremely abstemious in his way of living; and was, therefore, just as ready for business after dinner as before. He saved himself a great deal of perplexity, by rather aiming at acting on true principles, than at being anxious respecting consequences. He endeavoured in every undertaking to keep close to God, in his Spirit, his providence, and his word; never entering on any matter without prayer, nor unless both the means and end were sanctioned by Scripture. Yet our Lord had shown him the necessity of wholly leaving the success to him; and in a great measure enabled him, when any error in his own judgment caused the thing to fail, to humble himself before the Lord, under that as under other cross providences. By these means M. d'Alêt was favoured with an unusual degree of freedom from care and needless perplexity. Peace and serenity were written on his countenance. How seldom do we reflect, that the peace which passeth all understanding is not only the privilege of Christians to enjoy; but that it is, also, one of those fruits of the Spirit by which those are distinguished who are the children of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Even good men are apt to let their peace be interrupted, by dwelling on effects they cannot command, instead of calmly reposing all by faith in Christ, whose promises stand on an immutable basis.

He attended with the greatest love and patience to all those who opened to him their spiritual wants. He, however, wished to accustom them rather to seek aid of God than of men; as he thought, the practice of constantly unbosoming

ourselves to men, created religious gossipping, extinguished vital piety, and inclined young believers to consider men as more necessary to them than God. Frequently too, he thought, that by creating human attachments it weakened divine love. Jesus says, He is both the Alpha and Omega of Christianity: with him let us begin, as with him we must end. From first to last, all is of him, to him, and through him. He it is who is exalted a Prince and a Saviour in Israel, to give repentance as well as remission of sins. He it is who is come a great light into the world; that whosoever follows him, should not walk in darkness, but should have the light of life. He is the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the whole world; yea, that bore our sins in his own body on the tree. He is the good Shepherd who goes before, and calls his sheep by name. He is the good Physician, who makes whole those who touch the hem of his garment, and the residue of the Spirit is with him. Whatever then may be our wants from first to last, we must come to him: however vile we may be, we must resolve to come to him; for he expressly terms himself the door, through which we must enter, if we would find pasture. He has promised that he will not cast out, but save to the uttermost, those who come to God by him; and he has declared, that there is no name given under heaven, by which men can be saved, but by that which is given; Emmanuel, God with us, God manifest in the flesh, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

When M. d'Alêt gave pastoral instruction, he did it as nearly as possible in Scripture language. He was quite an Apollos, mighty in the Scriptures; quoting the original as familiarly as we do the vulgate. "The road to the kingdom," he frequently observed, "is narrow: it is best taught in Scripture lan

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