[137] See the notice concerning the family of Budé, p. 90.
We believe, contrary to the opinion of M. Galiffe, _Notices
Généalogiques_, tom. iii. p. 83, that this letter is addressed
to Louis or to Francis Budé, and not to John de Budé, Sieur de
Vérace, their brother. This latter had already made a journey to
Geneva, and he was known to the Reformer, who had introduced him
in very kind terms to M. de Falais.--Letter of 4th June 1547, p.
118. It is not then to the Sieur de Vérace, that the first words of
Calvin's letter can apply, but to one of his brothers: "Although I
am personally unknown to you, I do not on that account hesitate to
write you privately, in the hope that my letter will be welcome,"
&c. The family of Budé were then preparing to leave France. Two
years afterwards, they settled at Geneva, as appears from their
registration in the list of the inhabitants, 27th June 1549, and the
following passage of a letter from Viret to Calvin, 12th June of the
same year: "_I rejoice that the Budé have arrived, along with their
mother._"--MSS. of the Library of Geneva.
He exhorts him to follow the example of the rest of his family,
and retire to Geneva.
_This 19th June 1547._
MONSIEUR,--Although I am personally unknown to you, I do not
hesitate on that account to write you privately, hoping that my
letter will be welcome, as well for the sake of the Master whom I
serve, as for the matter of which it treats; and also that those
who have induced me to do so, have credit enough with you, as I
believe they have, to secure me access. I have heard of the upright
spirit which our Lord has given you, wherefore let us all praise
him. For although you may have many temptations of a worldly kind
where you are, to impede and distract you, you nevertheless do not
cease to groan under the unhappy captivity in which you are held,
desiring to escape from it. And indeed your honest zeal has been
already partially manifested, when, in place of hindering the party
who were about to shift their quarters, you confirmed them in their
good purpose, and instead of delaying, have endeavoured to forward
their departure, only regretting that you could not follow them
immediately. Now, then, seeing that Satan has many means to damp our
zeal in well-doing, and that our nature is very apt to side with
him, you must stir up the fire which God by his Spirit has already
lighted in your heart, until the good desire be realized. You must
abandon everything as hurtful which separates you from him, in
whom lies all our happiness, and with whom if we are not united,
we forfeit life and salvation. We do not mean, however, to condemn
all those who live elsewhere, as if the kingdom of God were shut up
within our mountains, while we know it is extended over all. But it
is right, wheresoever we are, that God should be honoured by us,
and we are nowise to be excused, if we pollute the earth which he
has sanctified to our use. If we are in a place where we are not
permitted to acquit ourselves of our duty, and where the fear of
death leads us to do what is evil, we ought, knowing our grievous
infirmity, to seek the remedy: which is, to withdraw from such
bondage. Since our Lord has opened your eyes to let you see what an
evil it is to defile yourself with superstition, it only remains for
you to come forth of it. Besides, you have less excuse than another,
considering the position which you hold, for the reckoning will be
twofold, if instead of shewing the way, as you are bound to do, you
give occasion to those who see you, to step aside out of it.
As for the other difficulties which are peculiar to your present
circumstances, I refer myself to your own experience. More than all
that, you have to consider that if the good lady with just reason
dreaded to finish the remainder of her life there, you may well fear
a longer period of languishing, according to the ordinary course of
nature. There is assuredly no to-morrow that we can make ourselves
sure of. Therefore, on the other hand, you ought to make the greater
haste, for fear you should be taken unawares. You see, therefore,
that God is urging you in every way. Howsoever the matter may be
settled, I pray you, Monsieur, not to allow the grace which God
has given you to be quenched. If he has given you worldly riches,
have a care lest in place of rendering them in homage to him, you
may be hindered by them from serving him. I need not tell you, that
he has given you a help which every one has not. This is, that you
have a Sarah who will be ready to follow you, whithersoever that
kind Father shall call you; so that it depends upon yourself alone
whether or not you shall follow the example of our father Abraham.
It is quite true that you will find no spot on earth where you can
be beyond the reach of trial, as indeed it is not reasonable to
expect our faith to be exempt from these anxieties. But since the
present is a time of conflict, there is nothing better for us than
to fall back upon our standard, where we may receive courage to do
battle steadfastly even unto death. It is an advantage not to be
despised, when God gives us leisure to confirm our faith, that the
preparation may be of service to us in due time and place. For this
ought to be quite enough for us, when he arms us with his strength
for victory, before putting us to the proof. But seeing that the
very beginnings are difficult, and perseverance still more so, the
best resource is to pray God that he would stretch out his hand to
you, and give you courage to surmount all obstacles. To which end
we also would beseech him along with you, that he would please to
shew himself your protector even unto the end, upholding you not
only against the wicked, but also against Satan their chief. Having
humbly commended me to your good favour, and to that of Madame your
wife....