[435] The dungeons in which Mathieu Dimonet still pined away,
contained several other prisoners, Denis Peloquin of Blois, Louis
de Marsac, gentleman of the Bourbonnais, and one of his cousins.
It is to the two last, recently arrived at Lyons, that the letter
of the Reformer is addressed. The prisoners maintained a pious
correspondence with those outside their prison. Peloquin wrote to
his relations,--"... My dear brothers and sisters, ... do not stay
yourselves, I beseech you, upon the judgment of the world, which
is so blinded, that it cannot find life in death, nor blessing in
cursing. Let us know that the means of being confirmed in Jesus
Christ ... is that we should carry our cross with him, for the
servant is not greater than the master...." Louis de Marsac wrote
to Calvin:--"Sir and brother, ... I cannot express to you the great
comfort I have received ... from the letter which you have sent to
my brother Denis Peloquin, who found means to deliver it to one of
our brethren who was in a vaulted cell above me, and read it to me
aloud, as I could not read it myself, being unable to see anything
in my dungeon. I entreat of you, therefore, to persevere in helping
us with similar consolation, for it invites us to weep and to
pray."--_Histoire des Martyrs_, pp. 236, 251.
He impresses on them the duty of maintaining their confession of
the truth quietly and modestly.
_This 7th of July 1553._
MY BRETHREN,--I believe you have been informed that I was absent
from town when the tidings from your prison arrived, and did not
return for eight days after. I need not, therefore, to excuse myself
for having so long delayed writing to you. Now, although these
tidings have proved sorrowful to the flesh, even in consequence of
the love we justly bear you in God, as we are bound to do, yet must
we submit ourselves to the will of this kind Father and sovereign
Lord, and not only consider his way of disposing of us just and
reasonable, but also accept it with a gentle and loving heart as
altogether right and profitable for our salvation,--patiently
waiting until he palpably show it to be so. Besides, we have whereof
to rejoice even in the midst of our sorrow, in that he has so
powerfully aided you, for need was that you should be strengthened
by his Spirit, so that the confession of his sacred truth should be
more precious to you than your own lives. We all know too well how
difficult it is for men to forget self.
Therefore it must needs be that our gracious God put forth his
strong arm; then, for the sake of glorifying him we do not fear
torments, nor shame, nor death itself. Now, since he has girded
you with his power, so as to sustain the first assault, it remains
to entreat him to strengthen you more and more according to your
further conflict. And seeing that he has promised us victory in
the end, do not doubt, that as he has imparted a measure of his
strength, so you will have more ample evidence in future, that he
does not make a beginning only to leave his work imperfect, as it
is said in the Psalm. Especially when he puts such honour upon
his people, as to employ them in maintaining his truth, and leads
them, as it were by the hand, to martyrdom, he never leaves them
unprovided with the needful weapons. Yet, meanwhile, remember to
lift up your eyes to that everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ,
and to think of whose cause it is in which you fight; for that
glance will not only make you overcome all temptations which may
spring from the infirmity of your flesh, but will also render you
invincible by all the wiles of Satan, whatever he may devise to
darken God's truth,--for I am well assured, that it is by his grace
you are so settled and grounded, that you do not walk at a venture,
but that you can say with that valiant champion of Jesus Christ, I
know on whom I have believed.
This is why I have not sent you such a confession of faith as our
good brother Peloquin asked me for, for God will render that which
he will enable you to make, according to the measure of mind which
he has allotted you, far more profitable than any that might be
suggested to you by others. Indeed, having been requested by some
of our brethren who have lately shed their blood for the glory of
God, to revise and correct the confession they had prepared, I have
felt very glad to have a sight of it for my own edification, but I
would neither add, nor take away, a single word; believing that any
change would but lessen the authority and efficacy which the wisdom
and constancy we clearly see to have proceeded from the Spirit of
God deserved. Be then assured, that God who manifests himself in
time of need, and perfects his strength in our weakness, will not
leave you unprovided with that which will powerfully magnify his
name. Only proceed therein with soberness and reverence, knowing
that God will no less accept the sacrifice which you offer him,
according to the measure of ability which you have received from
him, than if you comprehended all the revelations of angels, and
that he will make effectual that which he puts into your mouth, as
well to confirm his own, as to confound the adversaries. And as you
know that we have steadfastly to withstand the abominations of the
Papacy, unless we would renounce the Son of God, who has purchased
us to himself at so dear a rate, meditate, likewise, on that
celestial glory and immortality to which we are invited, and are
certain of reaching through the Cross--through ignominy and death.
It is strange, indeed, to human reason, that the children of God
should be so surfeited with afflictions, while the wicked disport
themselves in delights; but even more so, that the slaves of Satan
should tread us under foot, as we say, and triumph over us. However,
we have wherewith to comfort ourselves in all our miseries, looking
for that happy issue which is promised to us, that he will not only
deliver us by his angels, but will himself wipe away the tears from
our eyes. And thus we have good right to despise the pride of these
poor blinded men, who to their own ruin lift up their rage against
heaven; and although we are not at present in your condition, yet
we do not on that account leave off fighting together with you by
prayer, by anxiety and tender compassion, as fellow-members, seeing
that it has pleased our heavenly Father, of his infinite goodness,
to unite us into one body, under his Son, our head. Whereupon I
shall beseech him, that he would vouchsafe you this grace, that
being stayed upon him, you may in nowise waver, but rather grow in
strength; that he would keep you under his protection, and give you
such assurance of it, that you may be able to despise all that is of
the world. My brethren greet you very affectionately, and so do many
others.--Your brother,