The French academie Fully discoursed and finished in foure bookes. 1. Institution of manners and callings of all estates. 2. Concerning the soule and body of man. 3. A notable description of the whole world, &c. 4. Christian philosophie, instructing the true and onely meanes to eternall life. This fourth part neuer before published in English. All written by the first author, Peter de la Primaudaye, Esquire, Lord of Barre, Chauncellour, and Steward of the French Kings house.

2. Generall rules out of the holy Scriptures, thereby to frame the life of a Christian, to all righteousnesse and holinesse.

Now we must enter into the consideration of certaine rules, which the holy Scriptures prescribe vnto vs concerning the meanes how wee shall frame all our actions and workes according to the modell of that perfection, which God requireth to bee in his children. In the deduction whereof, wee will first begin with a speciall discouerie of the most vicious corruptions which wee must necessarily leaue, that we may not falsifie that name of faith∣full Christians, which wee desire to keepe and preserue. For if wee be well perswaded to leaue and forsake vice, wee shall soone enter into the pathes of vertue. Wee haue alrea∣dy shewed what Saint Paul prescribeth vnto vs, touching the same, that is, To destroy and mortifie our bodies which are borne in sinne, to liue to God in Iesus Christ, and to giue * 1.1 our members as weapons of righteousnesse vnto God. And to cast off the olde man, to be renewed in the Spirit of our minde, by putting on the new man, to walke in holinesse and righteousnes: which Iesus Christ calleth forsaking of our selues, which is in truth to be vn∣derstood, when mans heart is once mooued to forsake himselfe, & to abandon pride, coue∣tousnesse, intemperance, delights, superfluities, and all other vices, which are begotten by the loue of our selues; leauing his soule free without hinderance to serue God in humilitie and all good workes. As to the contrary, in all places where this forsaking of our selues is not, man easily runnes into all iniquitie and filthinesse; or at the least, if he retaineth some small apparance of vertue, it is alwayes corrupted with some desire of vaine glory. But the Apostle giueth vs another notable and generall instruction concerning a Christian life, wherein hee beginneth with these wordes, I beseech you brethren, by the mercie of God, that * 1.2 you giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy and acceptable vnto God, &c. For there also hee go∣eth on with this exhortation, tending to this end, that the faithfull should not conforme themselues to the world, but bee changed by an interiour renewing of the minde, to hate all euill, and giue themselues to goodnesse. Which transformation or renewing of the minde, as Saint Paul saith, and which is the first entrance into a happy life; all the Phy∣losophers were ignorant of, as also of the forsaking (aforesaid) of our selues, and the mortifi∣cation of our bodies, to put on the newe man (all which things tend to one selfe same do∣ctrine) for those wise men of the world onely taught, that reason ought to rule and mode∣rate man, according to the precepts of honestie and vertue, which they could well declare and discouer, being not able to sore or mount vp higher then to expound the dignitie and naturall force of man, when it was requisite to shew him what belongeth to his duetie. But to the contrary, the Christian Phylosopher will haue all our reason withdraw it selfe, & giue place to an interior regeneration, which is the proper work of the holy Ghost; that we may wholly bee ledde by him, in such manner, that man liueth no more of himselfe, but hath Christ liuing and reigning in him. For so wee attaine to that vertue, when hauing forsa∣ken our selues, and as it were destroyed and mortified all our naturall corruptions, wee be∣come and are made new creatures, faithfully and truely to apply all our studies to follow God, and his commandements. And when the holy Scripture enioyneth vs to the forsa∣king of our selues, the intent thereof is, not onely to deface and pull out of our hearts, co∣uetousnesse, insolencie, presumptions, and such like naturall corruptions, but also to roote

vp all ambition, desite of humane glorie, and other such like poysons and pestilences which lie secretly hidden in our breastes. Which is as much to say, that a Christian man should bee so well disposed in minde, that hee should beleeue and alwayes call to minde, that all his life time hee walketh before God, and that hee must yeeld an account vnto him of all his thoughts, wordes and workes.

To that end Saint Paul in an other place more distinctly setteth downe and disciphereth all the seuerall points belonging to a Christian, to order his life here on earth according to the vocation, age, and sexe of euery one, beginning thus: That the elder men be watchfull, * 1.3 graue, temporate, sound in faith, in loue, and in patience, &c. And then proceeding in that man∣ner to instruct all sorts of persons, hee saith, For the grace of God that bringeth saluation to all men, hath appeared, and teacheth vs, that wee should denie vngodlinesse, and worldly lustes, and that wee should liue soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Whereby wee see, how the A∣postle draweth all our actions into three members or parts: whereof the first, which is Sobrietie, signifieth as well chastitie and temperance, as the pure and moderate vse of Gods gifts, and likewise patience in all aduersities. The second, which is righteousnesse, comprehendeth the vpright dealing that wee ought to vse, with, and towards our neigh∣bours, to giue vnto euery man that which belongeth vnto him. The third, which is God∣linesse, purgeth and cleanseth vs from the polutions of the world, to vnite vs vnto God, to liue holily. And to say truely, when these three vertues are ioyned together by an insepa∣rable band, they make an intire perfection. But because there is nothing more difficult in this terrestriall muddinesse or filthinesse, then to attaine to such an Angelicall life. The Apostle Saint Paul, to comfort vs in our infirmitie and weakenesse, and withall to teach vs * 1.4 to do, as much as in vs lieth, to vnburthen our soules of the bands of sinne, calleth vs to that blessed hope, which wee ought to haue of the apparition of the glory of our great God, and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ; that is, at the comming to iudge the quicke and the dead, and where the fruits of the saluation which he hath procured for vs, shall appeare and manifestly be seene. Whereby it is certaine, that the Apostle seeketh to withdraw vs from all the allurements and inticements which are accustomed to dazell our eyes in this world, and to hinder vs from aspiring (as it is requisie) to that celestiall glory, and eternall happinesse, whereunto God by his grace hath ordained vs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 6. 6. and ••1 13 Ephe 4. 22, 23 Mat 16. 24. Mark. 8 14. Luke 9. 29.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 12. 1
• * 1.3

  Tit. 22. and 11. 12.
• * 1.4

  Ibidem 13.