Jacob Vernes
Encyclopedia
Jacob VernesNot to be confused with Jacob Vernet
, a prominent theologian in Geneva around the same time. (31 May 1728 - 22 October 1791) was a Swiss theologian and Protestant pastor in Geneva, famous for his correspondence with Voltaire
and Rousseau.
, and was educated as a pastor.
He was a wealthy man, well-mannered and cultivated, and had many friends.
At the age of 22 he made a tour of Europe, where he met many of the leading intellectuals of the day.
Vernes was pastor of Céligny (1761-1768) and of Grand-Saconnex (1768-1770).
He became a pastor at Geneva in 1771.
Vernes married Marie-Francoise Clarence de Puylaurens, but she died less than a year later.
On 18 March 1764 he married Marianne Simonde, aunt of the historian Jean Charles Léonard de Sismondi
, who was to be the mother of Francois Vernes de Luze.
In November 1782 Vernes was deposed from his position as pastor after disturbances in the city led to the intervention of the French and the cantons of Zurich and Bern on the side of the aristocratic party.
Vernes died on 22 October 1791.
in writing a History of Geneva, which remained in manuscript form.
He wrote and published many other books on religious subjects.
Vernes shared with some of his contemporaries the view that religion should not be considered only through cold reason but also through emotion. God had given men "sensitive hearts" and the ability to feel an "inner religious sentiment".
He was ambiguous on some subjects, for example writing that the Bible contained evidence both for and against the doctrine of eternal punishment.
Vernes was said to have held Socinianist
or Arian
views, with unorthodox opinions on the nature of Christ, and these were said to be reflected in his writings.
His Catéchisme a l'usage des jeunes-gens published in 1779 was not officially adopted by the Genevan Church. It differs from other post-orthodox Calvinist in its simplified theology, while still recognizing the need to rely on Scripture to understand fully essential religious truths.
To Voltaire, Vernes' Calvinism seemed no more than nominal.
In December 1761 Voltaire sent him a copy of his "Sermon du rabbin Akib", a scathing attack on Christian persecution of the Jews.
However, in his book Confidence Philosophique (1779), written as a novel, Vernes attacked Voltaire and the principles of Encyclopédistes.
At first, Vernes was a friend of Rousseau, with whom he corresponded.
When he talked with Rousseau during his visit to Geneva in 1754 he was impressed by the sincerity with which the philosopher discussed divine providence.
In 1757, Jean le Rond d'Alembert
published an article on Geneva in the seventh volume of the Encyclopedia that suggested that the Geneva clergymen had moved from Calvinism
to pure Socinianism
, basing this on information provided by Voltaire.
The Pastors of Geneva were indignant, and appointed a committee to answer these charges.
Vernes asked Rousseau as a friend to obtain some sort of retraction from d'Alembert, but Rousseau had to say that he was not on close terms with d'Alembert, so was unable to do so.
However, 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.
Later, Vernes attacked Rousseau for the views he expressed in the Confession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar in the last section of Emile: or, On Education
(1762).
Voltaire was also extremely hostile to Rousseau, and the two engaged in a war of pamphlets, some anonymous and purportedly written by their antagonist. When Voltaire published one such attack called "Sentiment of the Citizens", Rousseau at first thought it had been written by Vernes, who had expressed similar views. Rousseau had the pamphlet republished in Paris naming Vernes as the author, and only later accepted that this was not the case.
Jacob Vernet
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".-Life:Vernet was born in 1698...
, a prominent theologian in Geneva around the same time. (31 May 1728 - 22 October 1791) was a Swiss theologian and Protestant pastor in Geneva, famous for his correspondence with Voltaire
Voltaire
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...
and Rousseau.
Life
Vernes was born on 31 May 1728 in GenevaGeneva
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...
, and was educated as a pastor.
He was a wealthy man, well-mannered and cultivated, and had many friends.
At the age of 22 he made a tour of Europe, where he met many of the leading intellectuals of the day.
Vernes was pastor of Céligny (1761-1768) and of Grand-Saconnex (1768-1770).
He became a pastor at Geneva in 1771.
Vernes married Marie-Francoise Clarence de Puylaurens, but she died less than a year later.
On 18 March 1764 he married Marianne Simonde, aunt of the historian Jean Charles Léonard de Sismondi
Jean Charles Léonard de Sismondi
Jean Charles Léonard de Sismondi , whose real name was Simonde, was a writer born at Geneva. He is best known for his works on French and Italian history, and his economic ideas.-Early life:...
, who was to be the mother of Francois Vernes de Luze.
In November 1782 Vernes was deposed from his position as pastor after disturbances in the city led to the intervention of the French and the cantons of Zurich and Bern on the side of the aristocratic party.
Vernes died on 22 October 1791.
Work
Vernes collaborated with his friend Antoine-Jacques RoustanAntoine-Jacques Roustan
Antoine-Jacques Roustan was a Swiss pastor and theologian, who engaged in an extensive correspondence with Jean-Jacques Rousseau....
in writing a History of Geneva, which remained in manuscript form.
He wrote and published many other books on religious subjects.
Vernes shared with some of his contemporaries the view that religion should not be considered only through cold reason but also through emotion. God had given men "sensitive hearts" and the ability to feel an "inner religious sentiment".
He was ambiguous on some subjects, for example writing that the Bible contained evidence both for and against the doctrine of eternal punishment.
Vernes was said to have held Socinianist
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...
or Arian
Arian
Arian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
views, with unorthodox opinions on the nature of Christ, and these were said to be reflected in his writings.
His Catéchisme a l'usage des jeunes-gens published in 1779 was not officially adopted by the Genevan Church. It differs from other post-orthodox Calvinist in its simplified theology, while still recognizing the need to rely on Scripture to understand fully essential religious truths.
Voltaire and Rousseau
Vernes became a close friend of Voltaire, who called him his "dear priest" and he often visited Voltaire at Ferney.To Voltaire, Vernes' Calvinism seemed no more than nominal.
In December 1761 Voltaire sent him a copy of his "Sermon du rabbin Akib", a scathing attack on Christian persecution of the Jews.
However, in his book Confidence Philosophique (1779), written as a novel, Vernes attacked Voltaire and the principles of Encyclopédistes.
At first, Vernes was a friend of Rousseau, with whom he corresponded.
When he talked with Rousseau during his visit to Geneva in 1754 he was impressed by the sincerity with which the philosopher discussed divine providence.
In 1757, Jean le Rond d'Alembert
Jean le Rond d'Alembert
Jean-Baptiste le Rond d'Alembert was a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist, philosopher, and music theorist. He was also co-editor with Denis Diderot of the Encyclopédie...
published an article on Geneva in the seventh volume of the Encyclopedia that suggested that the Geneva clergymen 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...
, basing this on information provided by Voltaire.
The Pastors of Geneva were indignant, and appointed a committee to answer these charges.
Vernes asked Rousseau as a friend to obtain some sort of retraction from d'Alembert, but Rousseau had to say that he was not on close terms with d'Alembert, so was unable to do so.
However, 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.
Later, Vernes attacked Rousseau for the views he expressed in the Confession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar in the last section of 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...
(1762).
Voltaire was also extremely hostile to Rousseau, and the two engaged in a war of pamphlets, some anonymous and purportedly written by their antagonist. When Voltaire published one such attack called "Sentiment of the Citizens", Rousseau at first thought it had been written by Vernes, who had expressed similar views. Rousseau had the pamphlet republished in Paris naming Vernes as the author, and only later accepted that this was not the case.