Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 8 - Section IV
IV. De La Motte.[1]
Francis de la Motte and Hippolite Luzancy are the only two names in the Grant of Naturalization, dated at Westminster, 16th November 1679. De la Motte, like Luzancy, preached an Abjuration Sermon in the French Church in the Savoy in 1675. The former does not mention a month and a day; but as he is named first in the Grant, and as his sermon is advertised as already published, upon Luzancy’s printed sermon, we may conclude that he abjured first. The title-page of De la Motte’s sermon is:—
“The Abominations of the Church of Rome discovered in a Recantation Sermon lately preached in the French Church of the Savoy, whereunto are added many curious particulars of the practices of the Papists beyond the seas. By Franc. de la Motte, late Preacher of the Order of the Carmelites newly converted to the Church of England. English’d. London: Printed by W. G., and are to be sold by Moses Pitt, at the sign of the Angel, over against the little North door of St. Paul’s, 1675. Where you may likewise have the same in French, as it was Preached.”
The sermon was printed about a month after it was preached. His text was Rom. v. 20, Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. It was not so much the text, as a motto, intended to express his contrition for having delayed so long the step which he has taken. He says, “I have been for seven years in a continual deliberation, struggling with myself, convinced in my judgment, but could never resolve until now.” “I have learned in the study of the Holy Scripture, in the reading of the Ancient Fathers of the Church, and from the records of antiquity, without the assistance of Protestant books, or any information from ministers.” “All that I have said [in this sermon] concerning the abuses of the Romish Church are things whereof I am very well assured. I have for six or seven years searched for reasons whereby I might defend them, sometimes applying myself to the Holy Scripture, sometimes to the ancient fathers and modern authors. I sometimes seriously proposed my objections to a great number of most accomplished men, with whom I had been long conversant, and never could receive any satisfactory return." Therefore he said in his prayer before the sermon, “Forgive, O my God! forgive me the sin of having so long detained Thy truth in unrighteousness, against my conscience and Thy secret motions.”
De la Motte seems to have been a distinguished Brother of the Order of the Carmelites. He was admitted by the Bishops to be a Preacher in Cathedrals; he acted three times as Prior’s Deputy in his monastery. His abjuration was not resolved upon for worldly reasons. He says, “I never wanted bread, I have always had too much at command, and have ever met with more happiness in my undertakings than I could wish.” Now, “according to the laws of the land that I have forsaken, I am [liable] to be punished in an exemplary manner” “as a declared rebel and apostate.” “The greatest crime that I have committed is that which I have been guilty of this day by forsaking a superstitious religion.” “I have left the assurance of a sufficient provision for my maintenance to embark myself and rely wholly upon God’s good providence. I have caused my best friends to become my most deadly enemies; I have made of my parents and relations my persecutors and sworn adversaries. I have left for ever a country where I enjoyed as much worldly happiness as was possible, to come to live and die in another, where I have no other expectation nor means to advance myself but only through your kindness and favour.” “And at what time? I must to the glory of God acknowledge it that it was at a time in which I had the strangest and natural engagements to keep me in my predecessors’ religion and in my former profession.”
The preacher gives an interesting anecdote connected with his monkish career. He is replying to an argument in favour of Popery grounded upon the desertion of the Protestant church by Turenne (who died that very year), and many noblemen and gentlemen. Such changes, he maintains, are brought about by worldly fashion and interest; but that French Protestants, as a body, are stedfast. His anecdote is this:— “A lady of quality, whilst as a messenger from God, I solicited and exhorted her to acts of charity and compassion, caused me once to make an offer of 8000 francs [£320], to a maidservant of the Reformed Religion, to try if I could by that means make her become a proselyte. I attempted it with all the rhetoric and philosophy I could make use of for such a purpose, but she still remained constant, and slighted us both for the vanity of our attempt.”
As De la Motte declared that he had not been proselytized by Protestant ministers, so he chose as his patron a statesman and not a bishop. His printed sermon is dedicated, To the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Williamson, One of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council and Principal Secretary of State, to whom he writes thus:—
“The approbation with which you were pleased to honour this Discourse when it came out of the pulpit at the time of my recantation, will not suffer me to doubt but that you will accept of it also now that it comes out of the press. I hope it will not be unserviceable in this nation to settle in the profession of the truth the wavering minds of many too much inclinable to Popery. This consideration with the importunity of my auditors have prevailed upon me to publish these lines, which I desire may be look’d upon as a testimony of the sincere profession of my faith, and of that loyalty and obedience which I do hereby vow to the Gracious Monarch o( these Noble Kingdoms where I come to seek for a shelter. I might with reason expect to find it amongst Protestants. But the insolence and insulting humour of the party that I forsake, and the affronts that I have already met with, even in the streets, since my profession, force me to flie to the protection of your Honour. . . . Your generosity and goodness will, I hope, pardon my present boldness, as proceeding from a thankful! acknowledgement of your former favours.”
- ↑ At a much later dale a military officer, proprietor of the estate of La Motte, near Courtray, who had settled at Utrecht, was converted to Protestant faith. See the pamphlet, “The Conversion of Francis de Chalus, Sieur de la Motte, and all his family to the Reformed Religion;” done out of French, by Mr. Rawlins. London, 1714.