[471] To a Seigneur of the neighbouring Isle of Normandy. Without
date: 1553?
The English Isles of Jersey and Guernsey had a share in the
religious revolutions of England during the reign of Mary and
Elizabeth. Already during the reign of Edward VI. the Isle of
Guernsey possessed a French Protestant Church, of which the pastor
Denis Le Vair was tortured in 1555 in Rouen: Beza, _Hist. Eccl._
Vol. 1. p. 95. The Church of Saint Helier in Jersey has been
perpetuated to the present time.
Christian exhortations--sending of a minister.
[1553.]
DEAREST SEIGNEUR AND BROTHER,--We praise God for having inclined
your heart to try if it will be possible to erect, by your means,
a small church on the place where you reside. And indeed according
as the agents of the Devil strive by every act of violence to
abolish the true religion, extinguish the doctrine of salvation, and
exterminate the name of Jesus Christ, it is very just that we should
labour on our side to further the progress of the gospel, that, by
these means, God may be served in purity, and the poor wandering
sheep may be put under the protection of the sovereign Pastor
to whom every one should be subject. And you know that it is a
sacrifice well pleasing to God, to advance the spread of the Gospel
by which we are enlightened in the way of salvation, to dedicate
our life to the honour of him who has ransomed us at so costly a
price in order to bear rule in the midst of us. Therefore we pray
you to take courage, as we supplicate at the same time the Father
of all virtue to confirm you in your holy purpose. Meanwhile,
because we have heard that you desire to be assisted by us, and to
have a man proper for the work of edification, we have not wished to
be a wanting to our duty. We present to you then our brother, the
bearer of this letter, who has shewn us by deeds by what zeal he
was animated. He has had such a conversation among us that we doubt
not but that his life will be an excellent example. His doctrine is
pure, and as far as we can judge, those who will content themselves
with being taught by him in simplicity, and will shew themselves
docile, will be able to profit by his preaching. We do not beg you
to give him a kind welcome, being convinced of your favourable
dispositions. Only deign to let him feel by experience that his
labour among you is not in vain.
Whereupon, dearest Seigneur and brother, having affectionately
commended us to your prayers, we will supplicate the heavenly Father
to continue to have you in his holy keeping, to increase in you his
spiritual gifts, to govern you in such a manner by his Spirit, that
his name may be more and more glorified in you.
[_Fr. copy.--Library of Geneva._ Vol. 107.]
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as
printed.
The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the
transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
There was no CHAPTER CXLVI in the book, but there were two chapters
CLXVIII. These were renumbered thus matching the table of contents.
Page 89: The transcriber has inserted a dash to replace the blank
area.