Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Sunday, July 6, 2014

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


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]

Caesar Malan was the father of orientalist and linguist Solomon Caesar Malan.

Malan died and is buried at Vandoeuvres, Switz­er­land

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.

2.       ^ Jump up to: a b Stewart, K J (2006). Restoring the Reformation: British Evangelicalism and the Francophone 'Réveil' 1816-1849. ISBN 1-84227-392-2




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