Theophilus, or Loue diuine A treatise containing fiue degrees, fiue markes, fiue aides, of the loue of God. Translated by Richard Goring, out of the third French edition: renewed, corrected and augmented by the author M. Peter Moulin, preacher the reformed Church of Paris.

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE Ladie Anne D' Allegre, wife vnto the high and mightie Lord Monsieur de Fervaques, Marshall of France, and the Kings Lieutenant in Nor∣mandie.

MAdame: The Apostle vn∣to the He∣brewes tea∣cheth vs, that within the Ark of the couenant there was a cruse full of Manna and Aarons rod.* 1.1 God thereby instru∣cting vs, that he hath not onely a care of the nou∣rishing of our soules, but

to correct vs for our sins also: and that he hath gi∣uen vs together with the bread of his word, his rod of afflictiōs. The one nou∣risheth vs, the other exer∣ciseth vs: the one instru∣cteth vs, the other refor∣meth vs: the one teacheth vs to do the will of God, the other maketh vs to re∣nounce our owne: both equally effects of his loue. For God humbleth vs by afflictions, and pricketh the swelling of our pride. He cutteth & loppeth vs, to the end we may bring forth the more fruite. He filleth vs with bitternesse in this life, to the end we might long for the life to come. For those whom

God afflicteth grieuously in this world, leaue it with lesse griefe. And indeed if the childrē of Israel, being come out of Egypt, after hauing endured there so many afflictions, did not∣withstanding grieue, and oftentimes mutined to re∣turne thither againe: how much more had they grie∣ued if they had suffered nothing? Adde hereunto, that God who hath for∣med vs to feare him, kno∣weth that our prayers are slacke and cold in prospe∣ritie, as proceeding from a spirit that is cooled by successe, and which are en∣dited by custom. The cries which our owne will pro∣duceth are feeble, in com∣parison

of those which griefe expresseth. There is nothing so strong as ne∣cessitie: nothing so ingeni∣ous to pray well as sorow, which in an instant for∣meth the slowest tongues to a holy eloquence, and furnisheth vs with sighes which cannot be expres∣sed. It is not then in anger that God afflicteth vs; but because that sinne is a kind of falling sicknesse, God striketh and afflicteth vs to awaken vs. His beatings are fatherly corrections: if he vsed vs otherwise, we should not be his childrē. For if a man seeing two children a fighting, doe chastise one for the same, without touching the o∣ther;

the standers by, with∣out further knowing him, presume that it is his fa∣ther: so God correcteth as his children those which he embraceth with a fa∣therly loue.* 1.2 He beginneth his chastisings at his owne house. Now if Iesus Christ (as saith the Apostle) hath learned obediēce by the things which he hath suffered,* 1.3 al∣though he were the Son: how much more ought wee to bow downe our neckes vnto Gods corrections, & humble our selues in his presence, rather then to kicke against the prick, or to make the afflictions which are bitter enough of themselues, to be yet more bitter by impatiēce?

None can make a white haire become blacke with all his care: but well may he make his blacke haire becom white through his vnprofitable discontent. It is euer better to follow, then to be dragged on, a∣boue all when God con∣ducteth vs: for if the way through which he leadeth vs be thornie, yet is it straight.

Now when I cast mine eye vpon all the remedies of afflictions, I find there are three things which may asswage griefe; time, reason, and the feare of God. For length of time mitigateth sorow, and clo∣seth vp the wound, yea e∣uen in the weakest spirits,

and most vncapable of consolation: but reason e∣steemeth this remedie too long, and vnworthy of a couragious man; for wea∣rinesse of weeping is a poore remedie. The feare of God doth more: for as to appease griefe, reason stayeth not for time, so the feare of God stayeth not for reason; but before that reason can bring in her consolations drawne from the ineuitable necessitie of euils, or from the vnprofi∣tablenesse of teares, that resolueth promptly vpon the loue of God, who cha∣stiseth vs for our good: so as in steed of casting forth complaints, it findeth out occasion of thanksgiuing,

and formeth not only vn∣to patience, but also vnto ioy, as acknowledging a∣mongst his afflictions cer∣taine signes of Gods loue.

These documents Ma∣dame, are so much the more familiar vnto you, as you haue had often expe∣rience of them, and who being past her apprētiship in afflictions, haue careful∣ly sought out the lenitiues which Gods word doth furnish vs withall: which, besides that sobrietie and modestie which shineth in you, and hath altogether estranged you from the vanitie which now a daies reigneth in the world, haue taught you to solace your selfe with God. But

take heed also lest you suf∣fer your selfe to be ouer∣whelmed with sorow, and make pietie the nurse of discontēt. Inueterat griefs do often turne into habit, and old wounds become fresh with too much hand∣ling; which me thinks is a∣boue all verie vnfitting your nature, whose meek∣nes and gentlenes so plea∣sing vnto all, is much more at accord with ioy. Shall it be said, that the great vi∣uacity of spirit which God hath giuē you, serueth you but to feele griefe more sensibly? or that God hath made you great, that your teares might haue the greater fall? Time which easeth the most ignorant

people of their euils, can∣not it finish the sighes of a person whom God hath so much enriched with his knowledge? Shall it not be better to ioy in future good things, which are great and certaine, then to afflict our selues for euils past, which are remediles? Herein surely God is of∣fended, if in worldly cros∣ses we find more occasion of griefe, then matter of ioy in heauēly riches. And wrongfully do we com∣plaine of our afflictions; seeing we hurt our selues, we doe vnderhand as it were confesse, that God hath not afflicted vs e∣nough. The Psalmist saith indeed, that God putteth vp

our teares into his bottels, as precious things: but he speaketh of teares bred of repentance, or of griefe, to see God blasphemed and despised amongst men. For God gathereth not vp ob∣stinate tears, which exten∣ding themselues beyond their limits, occupie the time due to consolation. How many times (giuing your selfe to reading) haue you bedewed the holie scripture with your teares, and yet this booke contai∣neth the matter of our ioy? And in the booke of Psalmes, the tunes wherof you loue, and yet much more the matter, where you see your own picture, and the anatomie of your

inward affections: Haue you not obserued that all the Psalmes which haue their beginnings troubled, and whose first lines con∣taine nothing but profoūd sighes and broken com∣plaints, do end in delight, and termes which witnes contentment and peace of conscience? Let your tears Madame, be formed vpon this example, and let them end in spirituall ioy. Let your faith raise her selfe from vnder her burthen, and let the sluces of affli∣ctions, which God hath stopped her course withal, make her to runne forth with the greater impetu∣ousnes: let her take strēgth from resistance. Hereunto

the meditation of Gods graces will much serue you: the which if you coū∣terballance with your e∣uils, they will mightily weigh them downe. The onely attention of future glorie, which you appre∣hend by faith, can it not digest all bitternesse? That faith which filled the Mar∣tyrs with ioy in the midst of their present torments, may she not in our rest comfort vs against the me∣morie of passed euils. And you who acknowledge what seruitude those peo∣ple liue in, which are drag∣ged into perdition by the inuisible chaines of opiniō and custome: can you suffi∣ciently magnifie the grace

which God hath giuen you, in honoring you with his alliance; and enlight∣ning you with his truth? Yea, and in your life time, how many of Gods assi∣stances, how many diffi∣culties happily ouergone? God hauing giuē you the grace to be alone in your family an example of con∣stancie and holy perseue∣rance in the profession of his truth, hauing made you great, that in the contra∣diction of the world, you might be an example of firmenesse and constan∣cie. And yet admit your wounds were more grie∣uous, as taking all at the worst, our liues being so short, they cānot long last:

for you are not troubled to seeke consolations a∣gainst death, seeing that death it selfe is a consola∣tion vnto vs. For God if he receiue the sighs which wee powre foorth in our praiers, much more regar∣deth he the sighes which our soules giue vp vnto him in our deaths. Which being a place of shelter, and which putteth our soules into securitie, we ought not onely looke for his coming, but euen go forth to meete him: haste∣ning his comming by our desires, by the example of S. Paul,* 1.4 who saith, that his desire tendeth to dislodge, and be with Christ. And to say with Dauid:* 1.5 O when

shall I present my selfe before Gods face? For our soules being bound vnto our bo∣dies by two bonds, wher∣of the one is naturall, and the other voluntarie: if through hatred and con∣tempt of life present, we vntie the voluntary bond, waiting the time when God shall breake the na∣turall, death then coming shall find the businesse be∣gun, and our soules prepa∣red to this dissolution.

These cogitations Ma∣dame, and such like, haue hitherto giuen you conso∣lation: the which although you be sufficiently proui∣ded of, and haue alwayes readie, many spirituall re∣medies, yet you borrow

from other the receipts; and haue thought that I could contribute some∣thing to your consolation. And to this effect hauing heard talke of some of my Sermons vpon the Loue of God, you would needs make vse of the power you haue ouer me, deman∣ding them of me in wri∣ting; knowing well, that of the discontentments of this life, there is no such gentle remouall as the loue of God, or more stronger remedy then that he loueth vs. Herefrom I drew backe a long time, partly through idlenesse accompanied with some other distractions: partly through feare, apprehen∣ding

your iudgement, which far surpassing ordi∣narie spirits, feedeth it self not vpon vulgar meates. At length, after long de∣lay, being not any longer able to striue against your instant requests, which are vnto me as so many com∣mandements, I haue let this discourse come forth in publick, vnder the pro∣tection of your name, to the end that the imperfe∣ctions thereof may like∣wise be imputed vnto you, and that you might beare also a part of the blame, for hauing assisted at the birth of that which ought not to haue seene the light: but I shall be ea∣sily excused, as hauing o∣beyed

you. For honor shal it euer be vnto me, to exe∣cute your cōmandements, and to employ my selfe to do you most humble seruice, as being your

Most humble and most obedient seruant Peter du Moulin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 9. 4.
• * 1.2

  1. Pet. 4. 17.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 5. 8.
• * 1.4

  Phil. 1. 23.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 42. 2.