He had found in his father's house two brothers and a sister, Anthony, Charles, and Mary: these were the first persons he invited to Christ, in affectionate and pious conversations. He then turned to some members of the episcopal clergy and other inhabitants of Noyon. He put his hand (to use his own expression) on those who were running elsewhere, 'to stop them short.' Anthony and Mary were the first to answer to him. Charles resisted longer; he received however at that time a seed in his heart which germinated afterwards.
A canon, named Henry de Collemont, some other clergymen, and a few of the citizens, appear to have lent an ear to the pious and eloquent words of their young fellow-citizen. However, he was anxious to return to the capital, and about the end of May he was in Paris, where fresh struggles awaited him.
[116] Théodore de Bèze, Hist. des Eglises ref. i. p. 63.
[117] Lièvre, Hist. des Protestants du Poitou, i. p. 38.
[118] 'Hic Calvino in ecclesiæ navi suæ perversa dogmata prædicare permisit.'—Gallia christiana in loco. See also Lièvre, p. 38.
[119] Flor. Rémond, Hist. Hérés. vii. p. 919.
[120] Ibid.
[121] This family has reckoned, even to our own days, men decided for the Gospel. The interview of Armand-Louis de St. George, Count of Marsay, with Voltaire, in his château of Changins, near Geneva, is well known. Appointed British resident in that city in 1717, he acquired the rights of citizenship (France Protestante, under Saint George). The present head of the family, Count Alexander de St. George, for many years president of the Evangelical Society of Geneva, took an active part in the liberation of the Madiai and in other christian works.
[122] 'Calvinus interim, ferrum sibi in igne esse intelligens.'—Flor. Rémond, Hist. Hérés, ii. p. 253.
[123] 'Ut miseris papistis oculos aperiendi provinciam susceperint.'—Ibid.