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.

4. The fruits of afflictions are of power to confirme the faithfull in the assurance of their adoption.

But here we must specially vnderstand, how afflictions by their fruites and effects may and ought with ful assurance to confirme vs in our holy vocation in the Lord. For first, see∣ing the reliques of sinne remaine in this life, and that in those which are most perfect, which make vs all prompt and enclined to offend God, wee haue need of aide and releefe, to wake, to humble, and to withdraw vs from our corruptions and vices, specially to make vs carefull and wary not to fall into them againe, least they seate themselues in vs to our vtter destruction, but rather by degrees to forme and fashion vs, to a holy obedience vnto God.

To that ende are all the tribulations, wherewith God visiteth his children, and for that cause according to the doctrine of the holy Scriptures, they are called chastnings, correcti∣ons, and medicines for the soule, because they serue to withdraw our hearts from the world, to lift thē vp to heauen, to purifie our faith as gold is purified by fire, to strengthen our hope of the glory to come, to teach and illuminate vs in the waies that may leade vs thither, and to conforme vs to holinesse of life. Therefore the vtility and profite which we receiue, by this entertainement, which the flesh findeth to be of so euill a taste, ought to bee a certaine testimony vnto vs, that God in this manner plainely sheweth himselfe to be our father, and that so he hath a care of our good and saluation. Neuerthelesse, it is true, that there are but few men, (who while God visiteth, and chastneth them,) that receiue as they ought, the bitternes of this wholsom mirrh: but yet in the faithful, tribulation alwaies produceth some fruit, and finally worketh this effect in their soules, that the mercy and sweetnes of the di∣uine hand of God, is by them acknowledged, in that it leadeth the elect by the bridle of Dis∣cipline, to eternall felicity. Then as the troubles and miseries of this life, call and mooue vs to feele our sins, to awake & humble vs before God, so frō thence in men truly touched with the feare of God, proceeds resolutions & protestations, no more by his grace to fal into the like faults, but to amend and become new men. Wherunto that which the Apostle saith, may be applyed, (that no chastning for the present seemeth to be ioyous, but grieuous, but after∣ward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse vnto them which are thereby exercised,) * 1.1 and that God chastneth vs for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holines. As Dauid also to the same purpose protested, saying, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I * 1.2 keepe thy word.

Againe, as terrestriall blessings, and commodities of this life, in their true endes and vses ought to bee meanes to eleuate our hearts to the Authour of all blessings, and Lord of all things, to acknowledge that wee receiue them from him, and to praise him for the same. To the contrarie, our corruptions and disordinate affections in the world, conuert them into thornes and hinderances of our dueties towards God, and make vs presume, that they come from our selues, from our ancestors or parents, or that we haue gotten them by our owne vigilancy, care, and industry, and perswade vs, that wee our selues also can preserue and keepe them. Therefore GOD depriueth vs of such gifts, either by ta∣king them away, or by mixing them with troubles and cares, that so wee should turne vnto him, to aske him that which wee neede, confesse our ingratitude, and acknowledge that we are beholding vnto him: for all that we haue for our benefit, necessitie, and vse. As also, because that willingly wee esteeme too much of those inferior things, and make more account of them, then they deserue, louing them excessiuely, & desiring and seeking to get them with great care and affection: God therein causeth vs to meet with thornes, and brambles, which withdraw vs from the foolish loue of those false riches, and teach vs to know that they are not true, to make vs seeke for the treasures of the Spirit, and thereby

to be better disposed to follow our vocation. Experience too much sheweth that we are as it were lincked to the riches and greatnes of the world, that they make vs proude and insolent, that we esteeme such vanities to be permanent, and that we thinke them happy that enioy them. We easily perswade our selues that great estates are firme, that their re∣uenewes cannot diminish, nor their honor bee defaced, that the fauour and the amitie of mighty men will not alter nor change, that our health will not weaken, nor the strength of our youth decay, and to bee short, that the flourishing time of this miserable world will neuer whither nor fall away: withall making such account of our parents and friends, as if they were not mortall. And yet God depriueth vs of them all, when wee thinke least thereof, when wee make most account of these transitorie things, and when wee are perswaded that wee haue most assurance of them, or else, seasoneth them in such manner with the sharpe salt of tribulation, that they open our eies, to behold and per∣ceiue the vanity of worldly pleasures, and to make vs confesse with Dauid. That all flesh * 1.3 is grasse; and with the Apostle, that hauing no permanent city here, we must search for one to come. I wil stop thy way with thornes (saith God by his Prophet) To teach vs, that as beasts go along through the high way, & on the sides therof see pleasant greene fields, thinking to go into them, and finding hedges full of thornes which pricke them, goe one their way, and leaue them: so when the children of God, goe out of the way of heauen, to enter into the pleasant fieldes of the world and the flesh, God makes them meet with brambles of afflicti∣ons, and scourgeth them with his paternall roddes, that by the bitter sweete prickles thereof, they should leaue and forsake the pernicious deceites of terrestriall and carnall affections, wherewith they feele themselues assayled. When a mother desirous to weane her child, should continually say vnto it, (child, it is time for thee to leaue the breast, thou art great enough, I am with child, which spoyles my milke, and thou wilt bee sicke if thou suckest longer,) it were but in vaine, the childe eares beeing incapable of such admo∣nitions, specially if it bee fond of the breast, and will not leaue it: But if the mother puts a little allume vpon it, when the childe feeles the breast bitter it will leaue it and sucke no more. So, though wee bee neuer so much warned and exhorted, to leaue the cor∣rupt milke of the world and of the flesh, yet wee are too deafe to hearken therunto, and ra∣ther desire to ly still at the infected breasts of our mother nature, vntill God, (to weane and to regenerate vs, layeth the wormewood of afflictions vpon them. He doth like the good husbandman, which cutteth his vine, that it may bring foorth more and better fruit. And as we cut birds wings, because they shall not fly away and be lost: so God cutteth * 1.4 our beautifull feathers of the flesh, that it may not grow too fat and full, and spoyle it selfe with vaine confidence and glory.

Wee see how all things that serue for the vse of man, (to make them commodious and profitable for him,) endure many and diuers violences, as if it were as many tribulations and marterdomes the ground is broken vp, plowed and harrowed, to make it bring foorth corne, which being reaped and gathered, is thrasht, fanned, ground, kneeded, and bakt: wine is prest out of the grape: wooll and flaxe endure infinite labor, and goe through many mens hands to bring them to perfection; so man to serue God well, should bee refi∣ned like gold, and made perfect in the furnace of afflictions, that he may know how to vse the gifts and graces which he receiueth from God. So we see, that whereas riches and honours of the world, make men insolent and proud: pouerty, and meane estate, imbaseth and humbleth them.

In bankets, feasts, and other assemblies of mirth and passetime, wee speake of things that are pleasing and agreeable to the flesh, but at fasts, in sickenesse, when we lie one our death beds, and at the burials of our friendes, wee speake of life eternall, and of the means to attaine thereunto. And so in humane prosperity, we go diuers waies a stray, and regard not the efficacy of spirituall instruction and admonitions: but in affliction, aduersity and griefe, we easily enter into the right way to heauen, and hearken to good counsell, verefi∣ing the sentence, which is, that where vice aboundeth, aduersity beatethit down: and where vertue raigneth, it beautifieth, and maketh it euident to the world. For by nature we rely too much vpon terrestrial meanes, and know not what it is to beleeue in God, (as Abraham * 1.5 did) beyond hope, with hope, and to trust in his prouidence without pawne in hand. Ri∣ches, estates, friendes, strength, health of body, support of men, as of the husband to the wife, of the father to the child and of the Prince to the subiect are as vayles staying our sight vpon earth and as staues therein to leaue vpon.

And therefore God oftentimes taketh away those obstacles, & feeble props of the flesh, to make vs feele and preceiue the vanitie of our iudgements, and of all humane and mor∣tall things: constraining vs by that meanes to cast pure eies on him, to cleaue vnto him, and wholly to depend on him. As Saint Paul saith, That he was brought into many and ex∣treame * 1.6 perplexities, euen of death, that hee might haue no confidence, but onely in him, that is risen from the dead. God knowes when we haue neede to be mortified, and tried by temptations, (as Saint Peter saith) That the triall of our faith, being much more precious then gold that perisheth (though it bee tried with fire) might bee found vnto our praise, honour, and * 1.7 glorie, at the appearing of Iesus Christ. For as it happeneth to him, who sitting still at his ease, soone falleth asleepe, and hauing some thing in his hand letteth it fall, or it is easily ta∣ken from him: So the ease of the flesh, l••ls vs asleepe in the world, and easily makes vs lose, and let fall out of our minds, the vertues and gifts of the holy Ghost. But when we are put into the furnace of tribulations, participating with the passions of Christ (as the Apostle saith) watching in faith, workes, and praier; how loud soeuer the Diuell roareth, or vseth all the meanes hee can to bereaue vs of the graces of God, the firmer and constanter wee shall bee to withstand and resist him. For from thence, that excellent fruit of faith (to call vpon the name of the Lord) specially taketh force: For when we liue at our ease, and in great prosperitie, most commonly we pray but ordinarily or for fashion sake, but be∣ing oppressed with miseries, and assailed by diuers strong and humane troubles, the lesse reliefe and ease wee finde vpon earth, the more wee pray for and desire aide and helpe from heauen, and if we perceiue and feele our selues ready to perish if God doth not strengthen, aide and deliuer vs; then with all our hearts, and thoughts we crie vnto him, and protest that he is our Father, and our Sauiour, and that all our hope and trust is in him: the feeling of our diseases makes vs goe to the Phisition. And Dauid said to the people of Israel, That when God slew them, they sought him, and they returned and sought God earnestly. And they remembred that God was their strongth, and the most high God their Redeemer. * 1.8

Againe, patience, and all other Christian vertues are prooued and augmented by affli∣ctions. For as a good Pilot of a Ship doth not shew his skill when the Sea is calme and peaceable, but when it is troublesome and tempestuous, and in time of danger; and as euery art hath rules and measures to direct, and effect the same: So the true leuell or lead to direct, sound, and examine our works, and to know how far we are gone, & haue aduan∣ced our selues in the discepline of the Gospel, is patience, and constancie which we shew in our tribulations. And then by experience of the aide and assistance of God therin, our hope and the assurance and certainety of the diuine promise, which is, (That whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall bee saued) encreaseth. And as the Prophet saith, They that trust * 1.9 in the Lord, shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be remoued, but remaineth for euer. Which ma∣keth Saint Iames exhort the faithfull to account it exceeding ioy, when they fall into temp∣tations. Knowing that the triall of their faith, bringeth foorth patience, and that if patience hath her effect, they shall be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. For when hee vseth vs according to our desires, it is an easie matter for vs to follow his will, but when hee visi∣teth vs with sickenesse, necessities, & disgrace, or with any other humane calamities, then to feele that he loueth vs, to find his corrections to bee good, to praise and thanke him, as we would doe a faithfull Phisition, and ioifully to submit our selues vnto his will, is a sacrifice of true obedience vnto him.

To conclude, the profitable fruits and effects of afflictions, are infinite to those that re∣ceiue them from the hand of God, and know how to vse them. For it is most true that tri∣bulation is like a Fan, which purgeth and clenseth Corne; like a File which taketh rust from yron; like fire, which molifieth metall; like the pot which refineth gold; like salt which preserueth meat from putrefaction; like the heauenly hammer, which enlargeth our hearts, to make them more capable of diuine loue, like water which quencheth the fire of our concupiscence; like raine which watereth our soules, to make them more fertile; like winde which kindleth our charity, and like the bitter herbe Orpin which maketh vs leaue and forsake the impoisoned breastes of nature; and to bee short, it is the liuerie of the children of God, and a certaine proofe, that wee are members of his Church. There∣fore seeing wee are his by right of creation, and redemption; Let vs remember and learne, that for as much as he is our Creator, we ought in all things (how crosse and aduerse soeuer they bee) to practise, and say, Lord I held my peace, and opened not my mouth, because it was thou * 1.10 that hast done it. And because hee is our Redeemer, to assure our selues, that according

to the loue which hee beareth vnto vs, and his infinite wisdome, hee will not dispose of vs (how bitter soeuer it seemeth vnto vs) otherwise then it shall seem good to him, for his glo∣rie, and our saluation.

To that end the Apostle saith, that God chastneth them whom he loueth, and scourgeth, euery son that he receiueth. And that if we endure chastning, God offereth himselfe vnto vs as to his sonnes, so saith Saint Iohn, and Salomon. And this doctrine is so certain, that when God will giue vs to vnderstand, that he is angry with any one, he saith, that hee will not correct him. As he saith by his Prophet, I will make my wrath towards thee to rest, and * 1.11 my Iealousie shall depart from thee, I will cease and be no more angry, because thou hast not remembred the dayes of thy youth, but hast prouoked me with all these things. And I wil not visit your daughters when they are harlots, nor your spouses when they are whores: * 1.12 as to the contrary he sayd to his people: You onely haue I knowne of all the families of the earth, therefore I will visite you for all your iniquities: Whereby wee euidently see and perceiue, that corrections, and rods of tribulation, are euident signes of the fatherly loue of God towards his children, who for their parts ought continually while they liue to say with the Prophet, Behold here I am, let God doe to me as seemeth good in his eyes, And with Iob, The Lord giueth, and * 1.13 the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord for euermore, and to comfort themselues with the protestation of their trust & confidence in God, with Dauid, saying: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet wilt thou reuine me, thou wilt stretch forth thy hand, vpon the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall saue me. But let vs note this, which is the crowne of all the fruits of tribulations, and a principall and speciall point whereunto we should referre all our actions, and our selues also: which is, that when God visiteth or correcteth vs with the one hand, he strengtheneth vs with the other, in the middle of the tempest of aduersities (and it is certaine, that it is a true effect of the comfort and consolation which hee giueth vs, and neuer denieth it to his children,) and more effectually sheweth his goodnes and power in our naturall infirmity; our miseries and troubles, beeing as it were scaffolds or open stages, whereon he maketh his glory shine, withall inlarging and encreasing ours. Therefore let vs say, that seeing afflictions are so fruitfull, that God is the author of them, and that they are laid vpon vs by his fatherly loue towards vs, and to shew the care he hath of our saluati∣on: It followeth that in afflicting vs he sheweth himselfe vndoubtedly to be our Father. And as when we see carpenters, cut and hew pieces of wood to make them square and plaine, and Masons polish stones with their hammers: we ••hereby iudge that such peeces of wood and stones, are prepared by those workemen to bee employed in their buildings: so wee must beleeue of our selues, that if God doth vse tribulation, as hatchets and hammers therewith to fashion and polish vs, a•• neede requireth, beeing naturally crooked, and full of knottes, vnfitte for good workemanshippe, it is a certaine testimony, that hee hath selected vs, to place vs in the building of his Temple, therein to bee liuing stones, edifi∣ed for a spirituall house, and consequently that wee are his well beloued and blessed chil∣dren. * 1.14

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 10. 12. 11
• * 1.2

  Psal. 119. 67.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 103. 15. Heb. 11. 14. Osea 2. 6.
• * 1.4

  Ioh. 15 1. 8.
• * 1.5

  Rom. 8. 14.
• * 1.6

  2. Cor. 8. 9.
• * 1.7

  1 Pet. 1. 6, 7.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 78. 34.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 5. 3. Ioel 2. 32. Rom. 10 13. Psal 125. 1. Iam. 1. 2.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 3••. 10.
• * 1.11

  Heb 12. Apoc. 3 19. Prou. 3. 12.
• * 1.12

  Ezec. 16. 42. 43 Osea 4. 14.
• * 1.13

  2 Sam •• Iob 2•• Psal, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.14

  1 Pet. 2. 5.