[423] Seigneur of Picardy, no doubt one of the ancestors of that
illustrious confessor, Louis de Marolles, who expiated in the
galleys of Marseilles the crime of his resistance to the dragooning
zeal of Louis XIV. and the pressing solicitations of Bossuet. "The
hour of liberty," says M. Charles Weiss, "never struck for that
unfortunate one. He died in 1692 in the _Hôpital des Forçats_ at
Marseilles, and was interred in the Turkish cemetery, the ordinary
burial-place of the Reformed who died in the galleys, faithful to
the last in the religion for which they had suffered."--_Histoire
des Refugiés Protestantes de France_, tom. i. p. 101. See also the
book entitled _Histoire des Souffrances du bien heureux martyr, M.
Louis de Marolles_. La Haye, 1699.
Christian encouragement and consolation.
_12th April 1553._
MONSIEUR,--I doubt not that you are at present in very great
perplexity, seeing that the rage of the enemies is daily kindling,
and dangers increasing more and more. Thus you have much need to
have recourse to Him who not in vain claims the office of comforting
his people in their afflictions. Although it may be difficult to the
weakness of our flesh to continue steadfast when we see no end of
warfare; nay more, see that things grow worse; yet when girt about
with the armour which God bestows upon us, we must not fear but
that we shall overcome all the devices of Satan. I call "the armour
of God," not merely the promises and holy exhortations by which he
strengthens us, but the prayers which are to obtain the strength we
need. And therefore, sir, according to your necessity, get by heart
what Scripture sets before us, both as to the present condition of
Christians, and the miseries to which they must needs be subject,
and also as to the happy and desirable issue promised them; and how,
moreover, they shall never be forsaken in the time of their need.
I know--long continued maladies being the most harassing--that it
is extremely hard for you to languish for such a length of time.
But if the enemies of the truth are thus obstinate in their fury,
we ought to be ashamed of not being at least equally steadfast in
well-doing; and most of all when it concerns the glory of our God
and Redeemer, which, of his infinite goodness, he has bound up with
our salvation. And I have no doubt that you put in practice what
the Apostle tells you about strengthening the feeble knees, and
lifting up the hands which hang down. For it cannot be but that the
first blows dismay, unless we rouse our virtue to resist temptation.
And as I feel well persuaded that you are not slack in bestirring
yourself, I am the more brief. It is enough for me to have given
you a few words of advice, and at the same time to assure you that
you are not forgotten here, but that knowing the difficulties by
which you are beset, we have a fellow-feeling of them. I do not
mean to say that it is such as we ought to have, but it is at least
the testimony of the true brotherly love which we are bound to bear
you. Moreover, while praying God that he would strengthen your
courage and impart his protection, you will also have to request
that he would guide you with his advice, and give you a favourable
opening. However scant the means he may offer you, you are free, as
I believe, to use them, and that speedily, lest they escape you. As
for the road which would be best for you to take, I know not what to
say. Although I should be very glad to see you, and to enjoy your
good-fellowship, yet I should not repine, knowing that in order to
follow after God, and to be the more drawn to him, were you removed
to twice the distance from me. I do not know the advantages of the
other place. As for ours, I must not conceal from you that they
are so scanty I am ashamed to mention them. I wish much, and it
would be desirable, that there had been wherewithal to have drawn
you hither. But I ought not to inveigle you by vain expectations,
having no other desire than your wellbeing wherever it may be. True
it is, that what some promise themselves in retiring hither, rests,
as appears to me, on very slender grounds. However, there is this
to be said, the Christians here have liberty to worship God purely,
which is the chief point of all. For the present, you must commit
yourself to Him who has the spirit of prudence, to be guided by him.
Wherefore, in concluding, Monsieur, after having affectionately
commended me to your kind favour and prayers, I pray our good Lord
to increase you with the gifts of his Spirit, to uphold you with
his strong arm that you faint not, to bridle Satan and all his
underlings, so that they may not be able to do aught against you, to
glorify his name by you even to the end. I desire also that Madame
may have her share in these commendations. And should an occasion
offer, I especially entreat you to present the like also to Madame,
your neighbour.[424] Once more, I pray the gracious Father to have
you all under his care, not merely for the preservation of the body,
but also for the keeping the soul unpolluted. Your brother and
humble servitor,