[443] M. de Falais afterwards left Brabant and went to Cologne with
his family, as we see by his request addressed to Charles the Fifth:
"I went indeed first of all to reside in your city of Cologne, where
I abode so inoffensively and beyond the reach of blame from any
one, that no person could justly complain of me."... Immediately
on his arrival at Cologne, he had requested Calvin to send him a
minister. The war which then wasted the Netherlands, and rendered
communication difficult, had not allowed the Reformer at once to
meet his wishes.
Arrival of Monsieur de Falais at Cologne--the sending of a
minister--pious counsels.
_This 24th June 1544._
MONSIEUR,--I shall begin by making our excuses for having so long
delayed to let you hear from us the news. I do assure you, that
if the time has seemed long to you, it has not been otherwise than
wearisome to us, by reason that we could not discharge ourselves of
duty towards you according to your desire. Had the communications
been open, we would not have found any difficulty, but we need not
tell you what has been the time elapsed since the return of good
Seigneur David. To send a countryman of your own to you, while
matters were in such turmoil, we did not think was very suitable.
On that account we thought best to send to inquire about a person
who resides at Strasbourg, who was your neighbour, considering also
that he would be a more fit person than another by reason of his
country. But having gone upon a journey, we could not have a prompt
reply from him. In writing to us since, he refers us to the return
of Bucer, who was still at that time at Spire.[444]
[444] Bucer had gone to the Diet which was held in that town in
1544. The Emperor, pressed by two enemies at the same time, Soliman
and Francis I., made important concessions on that occasion to the
Protestant side.
In this way the time has glided away to our great regret, forasmuch
as it was not in our power to meet your wish. How, moreover, it
has happened that our expectation hath been hitherto frustrated as
concerning that matter, you can perceive by the letters, and by an
extract from Bucer's letter which I send you.
The present bearer has been sent instead of the other person,
against our mind. Not that we are offended on that account; for we
hope verily, Sire David and myself, that there will be no loss by
the exchange. He is sound and steadfast in the doctrine which is
profitable for edifying; for besides that he is pure and sound, he
is well exercised in ready reply to objections. Upon the whole,
he is modest, so as not to stir beyond his depth. Moreover, he
is not addicted to vain glory, nor to the desire of shewing off,
which is the besetting sin in many. He manifests zeal for advancing
the reign of our Lord Jesus, such as ought to be set forth in his
ministers. He has altogether a life which approves his doctrine;
as regards his manner of life, you will find him tractable. Then,
that besides I may let you know what may be defective in him, it
is true that he is not deeply versed in the knowledge of human
affairs, and is not furnished with skill in languages; even in the
Latin language he is not the most eloquent, although he is so far
instructed as he needs in the circumstances, which is sufficient.
His mother-tongue possibly shall not be very pleasant to you at
first, but I feel assured that this circumstance will not prevent
you taking pleasure in his preaching, the more so as the substance
will quite make up for that defect. He feared that he might not be
sufficiently polished in manner and behaviour, but we have told him
that you would not consider that to be a mortal crime. He has this
good quality that you can admonish him privately as to whatever
shall occur to you, without any dread of his taking offence, and
I hope that he will be compliant and guidable. In short, he will
much deceive us or he will so carry himself, that we shall have no
occasion to repent ourselves of having sent him, and that we shall
have no complaint from you.
As for his entertainment, we have said nothing about it to him,
being well aware that it is not a matter for which he has much care;
and besides, even should he provide himself, he would not better
himself much by doing so. There is no fear of discontentment on his
part; and on yours, I feel more than certain, that you will give him
no occasion. Only, I pray you, sir, to receive him as the servant of
God, to serve you in whatever the Lord has bestowed upon him for the
good of your household, so that his ministry may not be unprofitable.
Concerning the form and order of procedure in preaching and in the
administration of the sacraments, we have consulted thereupon, but
it will be for yourselves to determine together upon the spot.
He will however declare to you, what has been thought good and
desirable by us, in order that you may take counsel on that matter
together. In regard to this we have our infallible rule, that
everything ought to tend to edification. Moreover, to discern what
is suitable for edification, the Lord it is who must give us wisdom,
to whom you will have recourse.
And now, sir, in reply to your letter, I give thanks to our Lord,
that he has strengthened you in constancy, enabling you to overcome
all the temptations which might prove a hindrance to you, and hinder
you from coming to the place where you could be able to worship
purely, and has not permitted, that with the most part of those whom
he hath enlightened in the knowledge of his name, you have preferred
the world instead of honouring him, lying asleep in the mire, which
must entirely have choked you at last. Besides, if that quality of
self-forgetfulness, and of turning away your thoughts from things
around you, and serving those ties which have held you bound, has
been a special grace of our heavenly Father, since he has begun the
work of his mercy towards you, in so far, he will follow it out and
perfect it, putting it into your heart to understand, that it was
not enough for you to be drawn forth out of the defilements in which
you were, but that you should daily have his word to strengthen you
in perseverance, and to urge you always to advance farther forward.
We feel by experience our weakness to be such, that if we were not
urged forward from time to time, our zeal would forthwith cool down.
And that is the reason why there are so many, who, like the crabs,
walk backward, because being deceived by that false idea, that it is
quite enough merely to have once understood the truth, they slight
and neglect it, despising the daily exercise which is so needful
for us all. So that, being thus instructed and prepared, as well
by their example as by our own experience, how much need have we
of holy exhortation from the word of our God, as a spur to goad us
onward! Let us take good heed that we draw not back.
We see how David, when he was among the Philistines, albeit he
did not contaminate himself with idolatry, laments that he could
not have access to the temple in Jerusalem, that he might receive
instructions as well from the preaching of the law and the holy
ordinances of God, as these are confirmations to help and serve as
props to sustain our weakness. I pray then the Lord to uphold you
always in this resolution, so that you may be fully conformed to
our father Abraham, who not only forsook the country of his birth
to follow God, but on his arrival in the land of Canaan, forthwith
raised an altar, that he might exercise himself in the service and
worship of God.
As for your being afraid that I would think it strange, your change
of purpose,[445] I would be too unkind, did I not grant you the
free use of such and so good a means of grace, seeing that our Lord
has offered it you there, beyond your expectation. Not that I would
not have wished to see you, to enjoy the comfort and delight which
I might look for from your presence, or that I am not sorry to be
deprived of such a benefit. But, on the other hand, I consider,
that you would be ungrateful to God in not availing yourself of the
advantage which the Lord presents to you rather than men.
[445] M. de Falais had intended at first to retire to Geneva. He
had afterwards decided to fix his residence at Strasbourg, where he
indeed established himself the following year.
For the rest, I do give you my assurance, that were I at liberty,
and the Lord had not settled me here, or he had given me leave of
absence for a season, I would not fail to come and visit you, to
satisfy both your own wish and mine. As for seeing you, I have not,
even now, lost the hope of that, not that I perceive any great
convenience of opportunity on my part, but because I trust that
our Lord will open up some way. Howsoever that may be, the chief
point is, that we may be always conjoined together in him who is
the Father of all unity, as I feel myself assured, and not merely
for the two or three days which we have to live in the world, but
eternally in his kingdom.
To conclude, Monsieur, after having humbly commended me to your
kind favour, I pray the God of goodness to have you always in his
protection, together with your family, increasing the gifts which he
has put upon you, until he has brought you to the utmost perfection
of his children.
Your servant, humble brother, and ever assured friend,