Monniotte, Jean-Franqois, a French Benedictine monk, was bom at Besancjon in 1723. He early entered the Congregation of St. Jlaur, and subsequently taught philosophy and mathematics in the abbej^ of St. Ger- main-des-'Pres, at Paris. After the suppression of his order, he withdrew to the village of Tigerj^, near Cor- beil, where he died, April 29, 1797. He was the editor of the Institutiones Philosophic of Franc^ois Rivard (Paris, 1778 and 1780, 4 vols. 12mo). It is an erroneous opin- ion which Courbier and other bibliographers have enter- tained that Monniotte should be considered the author of L'Art du Facteur d'Orgues, published, under the name of Bedos de Celles, in the Description des A rts et Metiers (11 6'A,^o\.). SfieFe]ler,Dict. Biog. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v.
Monod, Adolphe, one of the distinguished divines of this century, was born at Copenhagen Jan. 21, 1802. He belongs toa family to which France is indebted for an uncommonly large number of celebrated clergy-
MOXOD
504
MONOD
men. Mis father, Jean Monod, who was a native of Switzerland, born about 1700, was at tlie time pastor of a French Protestant church ; but in 1808, having re- ceived a call from a church at Paris, he removed thither with bis family, and there enjoyed much distinction. He was president of the Reformed Consistorj- until 1834, and died in 18o(l. Adolphe was educated at the Col- lege Bonaparte at Paris, and after the completion of his
edge. His Christian character was the foundation of his activity and his oratorical power. Of many a cele- brated man it is said, "He was a perfect man;" all those who knew Monod say, " He was a perfect Christian." Since the moment when his heart was touched by Jesus, his whole life belonged to him. He saw and felt what he believed, and so he preached to others. Gifted with many talents for the Christian ministry, he proved i
studies there he pursued a course in theology in the i perfect model as a preacher of the Gospel. One princi- UniversityofGeneva, where he remained until 1824. In i pie characterizes all his speeches — that is, to save ira- 182.J he made a journey to Italy, during which he felt I mortal souls from destruction. His noble appearance.
drawn nearer to God, and decided to preach the (iospel to the little Protestant congregation of Naiiles. There lie remained until 1827. On his return he was appoint- ed pastor of Lyons ; here, however, his earnest Christian exhortations proved distasteful to a worldly congre- gation, and his removal was asked for and granted. Strengthened and encouraged by the spirit of the Lord, he now continued to preach and to teach. The Church of the state was locked for him. His congregation met in a jjrivate room, which was, however, soon ex- changed for a spacious chapel, where numerous peo- ple were fed with the bread of eternal life. Thirty years have passed since, and at present the Evangelical Churcli of Lyons is a great association, with four pastors, many evangelists, and eight chapels. The government — either touched by the religious activity of Monod, or wishing to make good the wrong it had done to him — appointed him professor of theology at Montauban, where he remained eleven years. During this time he held prayer-meetings every Sunday, and in the vaca- tions travelled in Southern France to i)reach and to in- struct. Wherever he appeared, multitudes of people followed him, attracted by the spiritual power of his orations. Li 1847 the Consistory of Paris appointed him minister of the Reformed Church there, the govern- ment conlirming the selection and he accepting. He labored there with remarkable success for seven years. The churches where he preached, especially the large Oratoire, were filled every Sunday by pious people. In the smaller room of the Oratoire he gave Bible-lessons every Sunday ; and a great many of his liearers, sur- prised by his beautiful, practical remarks on the AVord of God, by' his great knowledge of the Scriptures, and by his si)iritual experience, preferred the Bible-lessons to his greater sermons. In 185G he was suddenly stricken down by disease ; but, with his Christian resignation, he acknowledged in sickness also the voice of (iod to his servant — '"Lo, I come quickly." The physicians jironounced his disease incurable ; Monod quietly heard the announcement, and prepared himself for departure to his Master. His faith grew stronger daily; not only a full resignation to the will of God, but a great joy lilled his soul even in his greatest pain. Every Sunday, in the afternoon, his friends gathered around his bed. One of them read the Scriptures, preached, and prayed
kind looks, classic style, combined with the purest pro- nunciation— his high seriousness, which impressed ev- ery hearer that his own heart was deeply touched by the feelings which he wished to awaken in them — his humility in confessing his own doubts and struggles, for the purpose of seeking together with his hearers the way of salvation and true happiness — all these (jualities were combined for the one purpose, to gain souls for his Lord Jesus Christ.
The literary works of Adolphe Monod are few, being mainly sermons. In 1830 he published three of them, which bear evidence of his great talents. In the first of these sermons he speaks with a divine power about the relation of error and sin and that of virtue and truth. In his second and third sermons he treats of the wretch- edness of sin and the great mercy of God. In 1844 he published a volume of sermons, the first of which (/.a cridulite de Vincredule), covering G8 pages, is considered the most excellent apologetic of modern days. Before, as after his death, many other sermons of his were pub- lished ; two of these about the duties of Christian wom- en {Lajhnme), and five about the apostle Paul, are es- pecially celebrated. In these ]Monod answers the ques- tion, often heard, "AVhy has the preaching of the Gospel so little success in our century in comparison with the time of the apostles?" thus: "The Word of God is as living and powerful now as then, but our sin- ful example in life is the cause of the little success of our preaching. The life of the ancient Christians was the world-coiKjuering power of their witness. Restore that life in the Church of Christ, and she will be able to perform wonders as of old." The apostle I'aul was to him witness of this truth, which he unfolded in five ser- mons, entitled The Work of Paul, His Chvistntniiij or Ms Tears, His Conrcrsion, JJis Weakness, and his Jixample for us. In the days of his sickness iMonod gathered all his writings. Three volumes of sermons were pub- lished after his death, namely, two volumes containing those preached at Lyons and at Montauban, and a third volume containing the sermons preached at Paris. See Christian Qii. Oct. 1873, p. 5G5; Neio-Knglander, July, 1873, p. 5i»4; Wcnoa, Real-Eneyklopddie, s. v.; Hase, Ch. J/isf. ]\ CO!) ; Vapereau, Diet, des Contemjiorains, s.v. (J. H.W.)