James Henry Potts, D.D., in his book, “The Upward Leading,” relates
this incident:
An obscure Highland boy, whose parents had taught him to revere
God, became a marine on board a British man-of-war. When a
battle raged and the deck was swept by a tremendous broadside
from the enemy, the captain, James Haldane, a profane man,
ordered another company on deck to take the place of the dead.
At sight of the mangled remains of their comrades, the marines
became panic-stricken and ungovernable. The captain raved at
them, condemning them all to the tortures of hell.
Up stept the Highlander, and touching his hat, says, “Captain, I
believe God hears prayer; if He hears yours, what will become of
us?” When the battle was over, Captain Haldane reflected on the
words of the brave marine, became interested in the claims of
religion, surrendered his heart to God, became a preacher of the
gospel and pastor of a church in Edinburgh.
Through his instrumentality his brother, Robert Haldane, was
brought to reflection, became a decided Christian, settled in
Geneva, stirred up Protestantism there, and became the means of
leading a large number of theological students in the light,
among the number being J. H. Merle D’Aubigne, author of the
immortal “History of the Reformation,” and the father of the
Rev. Dr. D’Aubigne, whose visit to the United States served to
create new interest in the evangelical religion of France.
Dr. Potts might have added that out of that Bible class of Haldane,
at Geneva came every conspicuous evangelical leader of France in the
latter part of the century.
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