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. An exterior meanes giuen vnto vs by God to know his children.

It is true, that it is proper to God onely to know who are his, and whom he elected, and chose to be the same, before the foundation of the world was laid. And yet for one of our most singular comforts, hee hath giuen vs two principall meanes, whereby he teacheth vs * 1.1 to know who are his children, and whom it hath pleased him to chuse and adopt to be his: to be made participants of his glory. The one exterior, by visible markes to man; the other interior, by the testimonies which hee that is elect of God, feeleth in his soule and con∣science. Touching the exterior meanes which maketh vs know, and to be assured that we * 1.2 are the children of God, it consisteth herein, that we are members of the Church of our Lord Iesus Christ. For therefore in the Scriptures it is often called The Kingdome of heauen, because God withdrawing his Church from the power of the Diuel, the Prince of this world, by his Spirit raigneth in all those, that are members of the spouse of our Lord Iesus Christ his Son, more and more sanctifying and gouerning them by the Scepter of his Word, and by that meanes bringeth them to life eternall. In such manner that the Church is as it were the Suburbs, or the gate to enter therein. For which cause also it is called the House of God, that we may euidently know, that all those that dwell therein, by good right are called and reputed the seruants and children of God. As in the same respect, when in the Simbole of the Creed wee haue protested to beleeue the holy Catholike Church, wee * 1.3 adde thereunto, The communion of Saints, The remission of sinnes, The resurrection of the dead, and the life euerlasting. For all these things assure vs, that they which are of the House of God, and members of the Church, are participants of all those trea∣sures and benefits specified in the Creed: and consequently are chlidren of God, and heires of his kingdome. Againe, to the same end, in the Church wee find three markes or signes which are ioined thereunto. The first, that wee learne by that which Iesus Christ saith, My sheepe heare my voice, and follow me: that is a testimony to be the children of God, to shew our * 1.4 selues carefull to heare the Word, and to walke according to the same. The second, we ob∣serue in Baptisme, whereof the Scripture saith, that it is a certaine gage that the sins of those which receiue it, are washt away by the bloud of Christ, that they are ingraffed and incor∣porated in his death, and resurrection, and that they are regenerated and clothed with our

Sauiour Iesus Christ. For from thence it followeth, as S. Paul concludeth, That they are children of God. As likewise the same assurāce of our adoption is giuen vs in the Sacrament * 1.5 of the Eucharist. For the bread & the wine being consecrated in that sacred mystery, to be the communion of the body and blood of Iesus Christ (as the Apostle saith:) it followeth, * 1.6 that in the same banket, the members of the Church receiue spirituall and heauenly food, and life for their soules, and consequently, that as children of God, they shal receiue a happy and permanent life for euer. According to the promise made by the Lord, That he which ea∣teth his flesh, and drinketh his blood, hath life eternall. The third consisteth in that which Saint * 1.7 Luke witnesseth of all faithfull Christians, that they call vpon the name of the Lord: as to the contrary it is said of fooles and workers of iniquitie, That they call not vpon God: which inuocation the holy Ghost noteth to bee of so great consequence, that by the same hee often signifieth and comprehendeth all things which belong to the seruice of God, and which concerne the puritie of the exercise of Religion. As when hee saith, That A∣braham built an Altar to the Lord, and called vpon his name. An that when God shall doe won∣derfull * 1.8 things in heauen aboue, and signes in the earth belowe, blood and fire, and vapors of smoke, whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord, shall bee saued. Then when the members of the Church assemble together, and lift vp their prayers to God, saying as hee hath taught them, Our Father which are in heauen, &c. in that manner calling him Father, they may bee well assured, that hee acknowledgeth them to bee his children, and that hee will make them feele the fruites of their lippes, exhausing their prayers, as it is promised them by Christes owne mouth. So it appeareth by that * 1.9 which is said, how euery member of the Church, may and ought to assure them∣selues, to bee the children of God, by exterior and visible markes to men, and likewise to acknowledge all other Christians liuing in the same communion with them, to bee their breathren, and children of the same Father: leauing hypocrites and reprobates to the iudgement of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 2. 19. Ephes. 1. 4. 2. Thes 2. 13.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 24. 31. 33 & 44 47. Iohn 16. 11. Luc. 17. 21.
• * 1.3

  1. Tim. 3. 13. Heb. 3. 6. Ephes. 2. 19.
• * 1.4

  Iohn 10. 27. Acts ••2. 16. Rom. 6. 4 Tit. 3. 5.
• * 1.5

  Gal. 3. 27. Ibid. 26.
• * 1.6

  1, Cor. 10. 15
• * 1.7

  Iohn 6. 54. Act. ••9. 14. Psal. 14. 1. & 4 53. and 1. 4
• * 1.8

  Gene. 12. 8. Acts. 2. 19, 21.
• * 1.9

  Matth 69 Luke 11. 2. Math. 18. 19.