6
July 1787 A.D. Birth
of Swiss Reformed Churchman, Henri Abraham Cesar Melan, a Product of the Ministry of
a Scots Presbyterian, Robert Haldane
Henri Abraham Cesar Malan (1787
to 1864)
Reform Church
He made it hot for heretics.
Henri Abraham Cesar Malan was
born in Geneva, Switzerland. Schooled at the College of Geneva, where his
father was a professor, he was ordained in the Reformed church, and served as
pastor of the Chapelle du Temoignage in Geneva. His preaching was bold and
outspoken against Universalism and formalism. This aroused such opposition that
he resigned and founded a chapel on his own property, and preached there for
the next 43 years. He made evangelistic tours of Belgium, Scotland, France and
England and wrote a thousand hymns and tunes. We sing "Take My Life and
Let it Be" to a tune he wrote.
6
July 1787 A.D. Birth
of Reformed Churchman, Henri Abraham Cesar Melan, a Product of the Ministry of
a Scots Presbyterian, Robert Haldane and Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.
Henri Abraham César Malan (July 7, 1787 – May 8, 1864) was a French-speaking Protestant Christian,
minister of the gospel and hymn-writer.[1]
Caesar Malan aged 20,
circa 1807
Life
Malan was born in Geneva, Switzerland and was a
believing Christian from childhood. After completing his education, he went to
Marseilles, France, intending to learn business. But soon after, he entered the
by then rationalistic Geneva
Academy in preparation for the ministry. He was ordained in
1810.
Malan was part of the Société des
Amis, a group of conservative evangelicals at Geneva, which included Merle
D'Aubigne, Louis Gaussen, the Monod brothers and others. In 1816–1817 during a visit to Geneva, Scotsman Robert
Haldane met up with this group on a regular basis and taught
through the letter to the Romans. This catalysed a movement which has come to
be known as the Le Réveil, bringing fresh life to the Protestant churches on the continent of Europe
in Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and further afield.
Malan was suspended from ministry in
1818 for a forthright sermon preached in 1817 on justification by faith alone
(doctrinal preaching was frowned upon at the time). Following an apology and
restoration he was again suspended for similar preaching and formally defrocked
in 1823.
In 1820 Malan founded an independent
church called L'église du Temoinage. After a period of intense growth, from
1830 members from this church migrated to another independent church, Bourg-de-Four.
Malan was known for his high Calvinist theology and somewhat autocratic manner,
both of which contributed to the decline.[2]
Malan travelled widely outside Geneva,
making frequent trips to Britain (at least nine trips between 1819 and 1863).
During his time in England and Scotland Malan showed his "effectiveness in
personal interviews".[2] Among others
'Rabbi' John Duncan owed his conversion to the ministry of the Genevan.[3]
Hymns
Malan was one of the originators of
the hymn movement in the French Reformed Church[4] and some of his
hymns remain in use today:
“My Savior’s praises I
will sing,
And all His love express;
Whose mercies each
returning day
Proclaim His
faithfulness.”
Everyday I Will Bless you - Hymn by Cesar Malan
Speaking of Caesar Malan's hymns, Julian, the hymnologist wrote: "The spirit of Malan's hymns is perpetuated
in the analysis of christian experience, the never-wearied delineation of the
hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows of the believer's soul, which are still
the staple of French Protestant hymns".[5]
Malan was also a prolific author. He
was very poetic in his writings and through the Spirit spoke to the heart
compelling them to reconcile to God.[6]
References
1.
Jump up ^ Malan, Solomon Caesar (1869). The life,
labours, and writings of Caesar Malan. London: James Nisbet & Co.
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