Jacob Vernet
Encyclopedia
Jacob Vernet was a prominent theologian in Geneva
, Switzerland
who believed in a rationalist approach to religion. He was called "the most important and influential Genevan pastor of his day".
In 1722 he went to Paris
as tutor for the children of a wealthy family, a post he held for nine years, and it was here that he entered into discussions with the French philosophes.
In 1728 he took his charge to Italy, where he met Lodovico Muratori, Montesquieu and the economist John Law
, and to Holland where he met several of the Collegialists and Jean Barbeyrac
, a prominent advocate of Moderation.
Vernet returned to Geneva in 1730 to become pastor of a parish in Jussy
.
He became the tutor of Turrentin's son, whom he took on a tour in 1732 of Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England and France.
In Marburg
he met the philosopher Christian Wolff
, later describing him as someone "who inspired moderation in his disciples".
He was impressed in the four months he spent in England by the moderation in religion and freedom in government that he found in that country.
Back in Geneva, Vernet became pastor at St. Pierre and St. Gervais in 1734, and rector of the academy in 1937.
In 1739 he became a professor of Belles Lettres, and in 1756 a professor of Theology.
Vernet was close to the highest levels of government in Geneva.
In 1734 he published "Relation des affaires de Geneve", strongly biased towards the patrician regime that governed the city, praising them for their concern to do good for the public and their wise administration of finances.
He did not believe that the people needed to control the government to be free, as long as government was placed in good hands.
in Paris in 1733, and entered into a correspondence in which they discussed publication of Voltaire's works in Geneva.
After Voltaire moved to Geneva in 1754, the two men soon quarelled over several subjects, and as the controversy became public the Syndics were involved in moderating the dispute.
When D'Alembert visited Geneva to collect material for an encyclopedia article on the city, he stayed with Voltaire, but was assisted by Vernet who provided much material on the city's history and government.
In 1754 Rousseau wrote to Vernet about being readmitted to the church of Geneva.
In 1758 Vernet praised Rousseau for recognizing that "in a state constitution everything is connected".
When a controversy arose over D'Alembert's article on Geneva, Rousseau supported Geneva's pastors.
The article suggested that the Geneva clergymen including Vernet, Jacob Vernes
and others had moved from Calvinism
to pure Socinianism
.
The Pastors of Geneva were indignant, and appointed a committee to answer these charges.
Under pressure, d'Alembert eventually made the excuse that he considered anyone who did not accept the Church of Rome to be a Socinianist, and that was all he meant.
The relationship with Rousseau broke down when Rousseau published his Contrat Social and his attack on revealed religion in Emile: or, On Education
, both in 1762.
Vernet played a leading role in having both these works condemned in Geneva.
Searching for a middle way between extremes, he wrote that "the middle way ... constitutes the true religion".
Vernet followed Turretin's approach of advocating reasonable faith, and felt that no aspect of theology should be objectionable to a Deist or Atheist.
He refused to speculate over mysteries such as predestination, reprobation or the nature of the Trinity.
His major work was a French edition of Turrentin's Latin theses on the Christian religion, which is designed to show that the faith is aligned with reason.
He considered that a "heathen in Africa" could be saved without ever hearing of Christ if he responded to the revelation that God had given him in his nature and his conscience.
Vernet believed that God wanted man to obey the Creator and do good of his own free will, and thought that the path to virtue was open to everyone.
In his "Instruction chretienne", intended as a theological primer, he attempted to present a simplified view of the faith and thus reduce dissent between different sects.
He was against the precision of Reformed scholasticism, which he felt led to divisions.
He said that the major goal of the truly religious person was to honor God as the supreme and infinitely wise master of the universe, and in the process religion would lead to personal happiness.
He did not however consider that the choice of one's religion was unimportant, since he felt that only Christianity was based on reasonable standards.
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
who believed in a rationalist approach to religion. He was called "the most important and influential Genevan pastor of his day".
Life
Vernet was born in 1698. He was taught by Jean-Alphonse Turrettini, and was consecrated as a pastor in 1722.In 1722 he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as tutor for the children of a wealthy family, a post he held for nine years, and it was here that he entered into discussions with the French philosophes.
In 1728 he took his charge to Italy, where he met Lodovico Muratori, Montesquieu and the economist John Law
John Law (economist)
John Law was a Scottish economist who believed that money was only a means of exchange that did not constitute wealth in itself and that national wealth depended on trade...
, and to Holland where he met several of the Collegialists and Jean Barbeyrac
Jean Barbeyrac
-Life:Born at Béziers in Lower Languedoc, the nephew of Charles Barbeyrac, a distinguished physician of Montpellier. He moved with his family into Switzerland after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. After spending some time at Geneva and Frankfurt am Main, he became professor of belles-lettres...
, a prominent advocate of Moderation.
Vernet returned to Geneva in 1730 to become pastor of a parish in Jussy
Jussy, Switzerland
Jussy is a municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. The historical Chateau Du Crest is located here.-Geography:Jussy has an area, , of . Of this area, or 55.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 36.7% is forested...
.
He became the tutor of Turrentin's son, whom he took on a tour in 1732 of Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England and France.
In Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
he met the philosopher Christian Wolff
Christian Wolff (philosopher)
Christian Wolff was a German philosopher.He was the most eminent German philosopher between Leibniz and Kant...
, later describing him as someone "who inspired moderation in his disciples".
He was impressed in the four months he spent in England by the moderation in religion and freedom in government that he found in that country.
Back in Geneva, Vernet became pastor at St. Pierre and St. Gervais in 1734, and rector of the academy in 1937.
In 1739 he became a professor of Belles Lettres, and in 1756 a professor of Theology.
Vernet was close to the highest levels of government in Geneva.
In 1734 he published "Relation des affaires de Geneve", strongly biased towards the patrician regime that governed the city, praising them for their concern to do good for the public and their wise administration of finances.
He did not believe that the people needed to control the government to be free, as long as government was placed in good hands.
Voltaire and Rousseau
Vernet first met VoltaireVoltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
in Paris in 1733, and entered into a correspondence in which they discussed publication of Voltaire's works in Geneva.
After Voltaire moved to Geneva in 1754, the two men soon quarelled over several subjects, and as the controversy became public the Syndics were involved in moderating the dispute.
When D'Alembert visited Geneva to collect material for an encyclopedia article on the city, he stayed with Voltaire, but was assisted by Vernet who provided much material on the city's history and government.
In 1754 Rousseau wrote to Vernet about being readmitted to the church of Geneva.
In 1758 Vernet praised Rousseau for recognizing that "in a state constitution everything is connected".
When a controversy arose over D'Alembert's article on Geneva, Rousseau supported Geneva's pastors.
The article suggested that the Geneva clergymen including Vernet, Jacob Vernes
Jacob Vernes
Jacob VernesNot to be confused with Jacob Vernet, a prominent theologian in Geneva around the same time. was a Swiss theologian and Protestant pastor in Geneva, famous for his correspondence with Voltaire and Rousseau.-Life:...
and others had moved from Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
to pure Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
.
The Pastors of Geneva were indignant, and appointed a committee to answer these charges.
Under pressure, d'Alembert eventually made the excuse that he considered anyone who did not accept the Church of Rome to be a Socinianist, and that was all he meant.
The relationship with Rousseau broke down when Rousseau published his Contrat Social and his attack on revealed religion in Emile: or, On Education
Emile: Or, On Education
Émile, or On Education is a treatise on the nature of education and on the nature of man written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered it to be the “best and most important of all my writings”. Due to a section of the book entitled “Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar,” Émile was be...
, both in 1762.
Vernet played a leading role in having both these works condemned in Geneva.
Beliefs
Vernet was inspired by Descartes's philosophy, English moderation and Arminian theology.Searching for a middle way between extremes, he wrote that "the middle way ... constitutes the true religion".
Vernet followed Turretin's approach of advocating reasonable faith, and felt that no aspect of theology should be objectionable to a Deist or Atheist.
He refused to speculate over mysteries such as predestination, reprobation or the nature of the Trinity.
His major work was a French edition of Turrentin's Latin theses on the Christian religion, which is designed to show that the faith is aligned with reason.
He considered that a "heathen in Africa" could be saved without ever hearing of Christ if he responded to the revelation that God had given him in his nature and his conscience.
Vernet believed that God wanted man to obey the Creator and do good of his own free will, and thought that the path to virtue was open to everyone.
In his "Instruction chretienne", intended as a theological primer, he attempted to present a simplified view of the faith and thus reduce dissent between different sects.
He was against the precision of Reformed scholasticism, which he felt led to divisions.
He said that the major goal of the truly religious person was to honor God as the supreme and infinitely wise master of the universe, and in the process religion would lead to personal happiness.
He did not however consider that the choice of one's religion was unimportant, since he felt that only Christianity was based on reasonable standards.