228 PROF. V. ¥. IIOGET^ ON FREDERIC GODKT, SWISS DIVINE, 



elements of that story which aim at establishing the glory of 

 God. Our conscience suffices to recognise the sincerity of the 

 Bible ^nd to vindicate its moral truthfulness. As a dogmatic 

 speculation the unity of God and Christ has no particular 

 virtue. Apply it to conduct it becomes an incentive, a 

 power, a decisive element in life. There is but one word : 

 rif^liteousness." 



In 1891, Godet spent a part of the summer at Zermatt. 

 Known as a contributor to the Expositor, he was easily 

 recognised by Englisli visitors to Zermatt who had seen his 

 portrait in that periodical, and were acquainted with his 

 resemblance to Gladstone. He had, in common with the great 

 English commoner, beauty of countenance, penetrating blue 

 •eyes, an extreme mobility of voice modulation, rapidity of 

 physiognomic by-play, and that abounding interest in the topic 

 of the moment, and in the act which circumstances demanded. 



Godet was then more than ever bent upon producing his 

 Introduction to the New Testament, in which so much would 

 he finally collected that he had given before to the public in 

 fragments, or to his students, more connectedly. The first 

 volume appeared in 1892. The second volume began to appear 

 in 1897, in instalments, the last of which was issued by his 

 ■eldest son, in 1904, after the death of the author. One of his 

 most original productions belongs to the same period : " The 

 Time in the Life of Jesus that preceded His public ministry." 

 And while we speak of originality, we should mention also : 

 " Le Promethee d'Eschyle," contributed in 1883 to the periodical, 

 Ze Chrdtien Uvangeliqice, at Lausanne. 



After the model of what had taken place at Chicago, a 

 universal Congress of Eeligions was to meet in 1900 at Paris, 

 on the occasion of the International Exhibition. Such 

 •congresses Godet criticised owing to their inherent insincerity. 

 He explained that, to his mind, religious unity should be sought 

 in the missionary field, where it might be effected within the 

 widest limits of Christianity, near the outer circumference, and 

 might " regress " towards the heart of each Church at home. 



Frederic Godet breathed his last peacefully in his own 

 house in October, 1900. 



It will be noted that the above address was dehvered three 

 months before the sudden outbreak of the great European War, and that 

 both author and audience were ignorant of the aims toward which 

 Hohenzollei'n policy was then being directed. 



