Rev. Dr. Gobat, Bishop of Jerusalem.

(Abridged from Evangelical Christendom.)

Samuel Gobat was born in the Canton of Berne, in January, 1799. His aged father is still alive, and though of the peasant class, is described as a most venerable and even respect inspiring figure. In 1819 a remarkable change took place in the religious views of the family. It was first openly evidenced by Samuel, whose impressions of divine truth were at once sudden and powerful; and from him speedily spread through the rest of the domestic circle. Still there is reason to believe that his mother's deep, though gentle and unobtrusive piety, had long secretly been employed in working this blessed change. By her young Samuel was conducted, in 1821, to Basle, and placed in the Missionary College as a student. His first appearance there conveyed the page 273 idea of a somewhat uncouth, but powerfully minded, and energetic youth; and although weak eyes greatly impeded his vigorous prosecution of study, he seemed but to make the more rapid progress in mental attainments, and in the developement of christain [sic: christian] character. In 1824 he proceeded to Paris, and speat a year under the celebrated S. de Sacy in the study of the Oriental Languages, especially the Arabic. In 1825, he entered into the service of the English Church Missionary Society, and after studying for nine months in their Seminary at Islington, he was appointed with several others to attempt a Mission to Abyssinia. He was detained, by various untoward circumstances, for three years in Malta, Palestine, and Egypt, before he could enter on the Abyssinian territory: but this delay was over-ruled for good. He laid himself out unweariedly for advancing the Gospel wherever he went. He was eminently successful in reviving the ancient Abyssinian Church, but was twice forced to leave Abyssinia and return home; first by the breaking out of war, and next by the loss of his health. He was afterwards appointed to be superintendent of the Seminary at Malta for Oriental Students; and finally, in 1845, he was appointed by the King of Prussia to the Protestant bishopric of Jerusalem, chiefly it would appear through the influence of the eminent and excellent Chevalier Bunsen, the cherished friend of the late Dr. Arnold. Speaking of himself, Gobat said, “My education did not take place in universities, but in caves of robbers; in the desert, and among wild beasts of the earth; and the means chosen and blessed by God were not books but sicknesses, by which I was brought to recognise His grace, His power, and His wisdom.

Protestant Switzerland feels itself highly honoured in having given birth to one who, without relinquishing or even compromising his evangelical liberty, has been placed by the free choice of England and Prussia among the highest of ecclesiastical dignitaries, and elevated as a Pharos of divine guidance in the midst of the idolatries of that once hallowed, but now apostate and forsaken land. The following anecdote will be read with interest.

In Malta, a native being awakened and brought to the true faith in Christ by his preaching, soon after died, and his burial occasioned a tumult. Six thousand Maltese assembled to prevent it; the military were called out, but Gobat, though in danger, received no injury. Soon after this occurrence, being appointed to go to Alexandria, he found no other vessel in which he could take his passage, but a Maltese ship, which contained, besides its crew of some twenty Roman Catholic sailors, a bigoted priest, and several fugitive officers from Spain and Italy, belonging to the demagogue party. The owner of the ship (a Maltese merchant) warned the missionary against risking his life in such company, candidly telling him, that he could not insure his leaving the ship alive, and only consented at last to enter him as a passenger on the ship's books, after solemnly declaring, in the presence of two witnesses, that he washed his hands of all responsibility, and warned the missionary accordingly.

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When Gobat went on board. he was assailed by the officers with taunting reproaches for his stupid credulity in believing Christianity at all, and the still greater folly of risking his life to promulgate it; whilst the Maltese, led on by their priest, lavished all sorts of abuse, and even spat upon him. Justification or defence was impracticable, for he was never allowed a hearing; every attempt to speak produced a new volley of abuse, and he found himself necessitated to endure all in silence. But in the seventh night of their voyage, Gobat was awoke by a tremendous noise on deck, and on inquiring the cause learned that a fire had broke out in the centre of the ship, in the immediate vicinity of the powder magazine, and that there was therefore great danger of the ship being blown up. All were in the utmost consternation. The priest and Maltese sailors prayed, shrieked, and trembled. The infidel officers invoked all the saints in the calendar Despair was painted on every countenance. When Gobat had made himself fully acquainted with the state of affairs, and saw that he could give no active assistance, he commended himself with childlike reliance to the disposal of his Heavenly Father, and then quietly seated himself to await the event. The fire was at length most unexpectedly got under, and the passengers returned to their beds. The following morning, when Gobat appeared on deck, expecting his usual salutation of mocking gibes, with “shame and spitting,” he was not a little surprised to perceive the Maltese, and their priest, in one part of the ship, and the officers in another. All greeted him with politeness, and allowed him to take a couple of turns on the deck unmolested. At last the priest approached, and said in a respectful, and even a timid voice, “Last night, when we were all trembling and despairing, we remarked you calm and composed as if nothing particular were occurring, from which I am led to conclude that your faith must be the true one; I beg you therefore to inform us on what foundation it rests.” From this moment the missionary had freedom, and opportunity, to preach the Cospel, and found attentive listeners, not only in the Maltese crew, but in the Spanish and Italian officers. On their landing at Alexandria all parted from him with expressions of gratitude, and requested his prayers. The priest, indeed, who evinced an unusual thirst for knowledge, and had apparently adopted wholly new views, came afterwards to Jerusalem; but when Gobat inquired after him he learned, that being unable to agree in sentiments with the Catholic priests in the Holy City, they had driven him from it. More particulars concerning him were either not known or withheld.