21 Facts About Jacob Vernet

Jacob Vernet was a prominent theologian in Geneva, Republic of Geneva, who believed in a rationalist approach to religion.

Jacob Vernet was called "the most important and influential Genevan pastor of his day".

Jacob Vernet was taught by Jean-Alphonse Turrettini, and was consecrated as a pastor in 1722.

Jacob Vernet became the tutor of Turrentin's son, whom he took on a tour in 1732 of Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England and France.

Jacob Vernet was impressed in the four months he spent in England by the moderation in religion and freedom in government that he found in that country.

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Back in Geneva, Jacob Vernet became pastor at St Pierre and St Gervais in 1734, and rector of the academy in 1737.

Jacob Vernet was close to the highest levels of government in Geneva.

Jacob Vernet did not believe that the people needed to control the government to be free, as long as government was placed in good hands.

Jacob Vernet first met Voltaire in Paris in 1733, and entered into a correspondence in which they discussed publication of Voltaire's works in Geneva.

When D'Alembert visited Geneva to collect material for an encyclopedia article on the city, he stayed with Voltaire, but was assisted by Jacob Vernet who provided much material on the city's history and government.

In 1758 Jacob Vernet praised Rousseau for recognizing that "in a state constitution everything is connected".

Jacob Vernet played a leading role in having both these works condemned in Geneva.

Jacob Vernet was inspired by Descartes's philosophy, English moderation and Arminian theology.

Jacob Vernet followed Turretin's approach of advocating reasonable faith, and felt that no aspect of theology should be objectionable to a Deist or Atheist.

Jacob Vernet refused to speculate over mysteries such as predestination, reprobation or the nature of the Trinity.

Jacob Vernet's major work was a French edition of Turrentin's Latin theses on the Christian religion, which is designed to show that the faith is aligned with reason.

Jacob Vernet considered that a "heathen in Africa" could be saved without ever hearing of Christ if he responded to the revelation that God had given him in his nature and his conscience.

Jacob Vernet believed that God wanted man to obey the Creator and do good of his own free will, and thought that the path to virtue was open to everyone.

Jacob Vernet was against the precision of Reformed scholasticism, which he felt led to divisions.

Jacob Vernet said that the major goal of the truly religious person was to honor God as the supreme and infinitely wise master of the universe, and in the process religion would lead to personal happiness.

Jacob Vernet did not however consider that the choice of one's religion was unimportant, since he felt that only Christianity was based on reasonable standards.