Yet, after my solemn union with the reformed church, and
living in a Protestant country, I could not, without failing in my
engagements, as well as in the duty of a citizen neglect the public
profession of the religion into which I had entered; I therefore
attended divine service. On the other hand, had I gone to the holy
table, I was afraid of exposing myself to a refusal, and it was by
no means probable, that after the tumult excited at Geneva by the
council, and at Neuchatel by the classe (the ministers), he would,
without difficulty, administer to me the sacrament in his church.
The time of communion approaching, I wrote to M. de Montmollin, the
minister, to prove to him my desire of communicating, and declaring
myself heartily united to the Protestant church; I also told him, in
order to avoid disputing upon articles of faith, that I would not
hearken to any particular explanation of the point of doctrine.
After taking these steps, I made myself easy, not doubting but M. de
Montmollin would refuse to admit me without the preliminary discussion
to which I refused to consent, and that in this manner everything
would be at an end without any fault of mine. I was deceived: when I
least expected anything of the kind, M. de Montmollin came to
declare to me not only that he admitted me to the communion under
the condition which I had proposed, but that he and the elders thought
themselves much honored by my being one of their flock. I never in
my whole life felt greater surprise or received from it more
consolation.
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