Use of affliction--preparation for the arrival of M. de Falais
at Geneva.
GENEVA, _15th August 1545_.
MADAME,--It is reasonable, that after having received four letters
from you, I should send at least one in return. But I beseech you
to treat me leniently on this occasion, as the letter carrier, who
promised to give me notice two days before his departure, has been
more hurried than he anticipated, and I have had, consequently, less
time than I expected. But I shall refrain from further apologies,
knowing that, to a person of your good sense, a word will suffice.
Your letters have been a source of double gratification to me,
which, indeed, I need scarcely tell you, since you will believe
it without a word from me to that effect. It is, because it has
pleased our gracious God to restore Monsieur to good health after
so troublesome an illness, and because he is now more robust than
he was previously to this attack. From this we should learn not to
consider it wonderful that God should bring spiritual good out of
bodily affliction, since, even for the body itself, a disease has
become a cure. We must now pray, that as He has commenced to restore
him to health, he may be pleased fully to confirm it, and give him a
body so vigorous that he may feel disposed to take recreation, and
make up for the weary imprisonment of the last three months.
I send you herewith the letters which the sister of Monsieur David
had written to him, not because they can afford you any consolation,
but because I thought it improper to suppress them. I expect,
please God, that we shall have more certain information, through
the servant of Monsieur Bernardin, of your own health and that of
Monsieur, as well as of your affairs, that we may know when to make
provision of wood: as to the new wine, we are attending to it. It is
true, that if you are very much afraid of the epidemic, that might
be some reason for delay; and yet I assure you, that you ought not
to be influenced by mere rumour, which gives a very exaggerated
account of the reality.
And now humbly commending myself to your good favour and that of
Monsieur, I will supplicate our heavenly Father to keep you both in
all prosperity, filling you with joy through his grace, and giving
you an equanimity of soul which will raise you above all earthly
troubles, making you worthy to be the means of glorifying his name
more and more.--Amen.
Ever your servant and humble brother,