Coales from the altar; or Foure religious treatises to kindle deuotion in this colde age. Written in French by Mounsieur du Moulin: and translated into English by N.M.

When the sicknesse appeareth not to be mortall: For the comfort of the party, one may thus beginne.

SIR, it behooueth you first to acknowledge that this sickenesse is not fal∣len vpon you by chance, but by the wise conduct and proui∣dence of Almightie God, our Crea∣tor and Father, who so disposeth of prosperitie and aduersity, health and sicknesse vpon his children, that he neuer sendeth either the one or

the other, but to his owne glory, and the parties good and saluation. As the Apostle Saint Paul saith, Rom. 8.27. Wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God. He purposely speaketh of affli∣ctions, wherein sicknesses are ran∣ked. Those people loue God, who are first loued of him, and as the A∣postle saith, called according to his owne determinated purpose. That you are of this number, you haue occasion to take assurance by the faith which hee hath giuen you, in making you beleeue that he is your Father and Sauiour, in his Welbelo∣ued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord, by which you receiue the spirit of adop∣tion, which is that that witnesseth with our spirit, that we are the chil∣dren of God, Heires, and co-heires with Christ, Rom. 8.11.16.17.

You must also take assurance by the sanctification of his holy spirit,

by which he hath brought you into his obedience: For those that are led by the spirit of God, are the children of God.

But to those which are such, the A∣postle Saint Paul saith, that euery thing workes together for good: affli∣ctions, sicknesses, euen death it selfe: all that they haue is turned, by the grace of God to their owne profit, and great good, and for the aduance∣ment & furtherance of their saluation.

Three principall fruits, God ma∣keth vs gather of our maladies and afflictions.

The first is the amendement of [ 1] our life, which awaketh vs out of our sinnes. For both in health and prosperity, it is too ordinary to flat∣ter and cherish our selues in sinne, by reason of our great corruption in Nature, which maketh vs inclined to all euill, and vnprofitable to any

good: it is therefore necessarie to looke about vs, and become more sensible of our sinnes, to retire our selues, and to be displeased with them; which is made by the meanes of sicknesses, and other aduersities of this life, occasioned by sinne, and ve∣ry often purposely sent from God to chastise and correct vs: and in that this good Father of Heauen sheweth how much he loueth vs, hindering our vndoing, and confusion, in our inordinate life; like a good Father, that very well loueth his Children, hee chastiseth and correcteth vs, to hinder and draw vs backe againe, lest we should be lost; as Saint Paul saith, in the 1. of the Corin. 32. Verse, When we are afflicted, we are taught by the Lord, to the end, we should not be condemned with the world: and in another place he saith, Heb. 12. Ver. 6.7. and 11. That the Lord chasti∣seth him he loueth, and beateth euery

childe whom he auoweth: If you en∣dure Chastisement, God presenteth himselfe vnto vs, as to his Children; For, who is the childe that the Father correcteth not? and although that all discipline in the instant, seeme not to be of ioy, but of sadnesse; neuerthelesse it brings a peaceable fruit of righte∣ousnesse to those that thereby are ex∣ercised: It behooueth vs therefore first of all, to gather this excellent fruit of our sicknesses, to feele the in∣numerable number of our sinnes and offences, wherof we are culpable be∣fore God; to aske pardon of him in all humility and repentance, and to make a holy protestation to liue bet∣ter hereafter; and to walke in his obe∣dience and feare, by the grace of God, and the conduct of his holy Spirit: which we ought to aske with ardent prayers, and with an assured faith to be heard according to his promises. And so we may say with Dauid, that

excellent seruant of God, Psal. 119. Ver. 6••. & 92. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I haue kept thy word. It is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted, that I might learne thy statutes.

Now we may behold the sicknesses of our Bodies, how they come to be by Gods grace wholsome medicines for our soules.

[ 2] The second good which sicknes∣ses bring vs; is to vnloose, and pull away our hearts out of the earth, to lift them vp to heauen.

Experience teacheth, that our af∣fections are but too much rooted and tyed here below, whilest we are in health, and at our case, we would willingly neuer part from it, wee would be content that our soueraigne good & felicitie were here assigned, so stupid and blinde wee are: But God who hath destinated vs to a

better life, maketh vs behold and perceiue how vaine and deceitfull the present imaginary sweetnesses and prosperities are: For when hee pleaseth to visite vs with any sicke∣nesse, then we begin to consider the many miseries and incommodities that lackey our liues along euen from the cradle to the sepulchre, which maketh vs know, and cry out with Esay, 47. v. 6. That all flesh is like grasse, and all the glory of it, no better then a flower of the field; And Dauid, Psalme 90. That the flower of this short life is such, that wee are alwayes in paine and Martyrdome: And with Iob 14. That man that is borne of a woman, is but of short life, and full of care. Which is the cause wherefore God maketh vs remem∣ber, principally when we feele our selues sicke, or otherwise afflicted, to make vs contemne the world, and aspire to heauen, making this mise∣rable

life distastefull, that we may by meditation taste of the Heauenly life, to the end that where our Treasure is, there may be also our heart, and that our faith and hope being retyred from the world, and from the things of the world; wee may be lifted vp where they haue their true obiects; that is, to God, and to eternall life. For faith also is not of things visible, but inuisible, and Hope is not of present goods, but of goods to come, that is to say, of Heauenly and Eternall goods, purchased by Iesus Christ; goods so great and incomprehensible, which as Saint Paul saith, 1 Cor. 1.9. Eye hath not seene, nor eare hath vnder∣stood, nor is not come vp into the heart of man, which God hath prepa∣red for those that loue him.

[ 3] There is also a third fruit very ex∣cellent which God maketh vs re∣ceiue

of sickenesses which he sendeth vs; for by this meanes we come to the tryall and proofe, for to purifie and amend our faith, making it ap∣peare to his glory, and to the edifi∣cation of our neighbour. For as by this meanes, our faith is excited, and raised vp from the world to God, from earth to heauen, from this life, to the most happy and permanent for euer: So is it by such prooues examined and exercised, and euen as it were refined and purified; like gold that is tryed and purified in the fire: as Saint Peter speaketh, 1 Pet. 1.7. It is also brought in eui∣dence and to the light, with pati∣ence, constancy, and other Christi∣an vertues, which God hath put in vs, without the which wee should not be knowne of any, and so in re∣gard of our neighbours should re∣maine without all vse or profit. And certainely wee should neuer

haue knowne what the patience of Iob had beene, of Abraham, Da∣uid, and many other excellent ser∣uants of God, if God had not made them passe through the fire of proofes and temptations, and at this day we should not haue had so ma∣ny faire examples as we haue, to comfort and incourage vs to their imitation. It is the same of Christian faith and patience, as of a Souldier and his valour, who neuer seeth well but in the middle of the combat; or of the clearenesse of Stars, which are not beheld but in the night; or the odour of incense, which is not smelt till it be cast into the fire: So God maketh knowne to our brethren the courage which he hath giuen vs, when hee maketh it come to our hands, with some rude and violent sickenesse: hee manifesteth vnto them the clearenesse of our faith, when hee couereth vs with some

night of affliction: he maketh them smell the odour of our patience, when he casteth vs into any fire of aduersity: and by this meanes our brethren are not onely instructed, edified, and comforted by this our good example; but likwise led to praise and glorifie God, who streng∣theneth and sustaineth vs in the fee∣blenesse of our flesh, which demon∣strateth and accomplisheth his great vertue in our great infirmitie.

Now behold the principall and most notable spirituall fruits which God of his bounty propoundeth vnto vs, what we may gather of our corporall sickenesses.

And therefore Sir, now that God doth visite you with this maladie, and putteth you into this bed of in∣firmitie, it behoueth you to know and to acknowledge that this is his fatherly hand that handleth you af∣ter this manner, as one of his chil∣dren,

and by which he calleth you to reioyce in those excellent fruits and profits, which haue beene declared for his glory, and for your good and saluation.

You must likewise acknowledge, that he would raise you out of your sinnes and faults, and would haue you effectually feele a displeasure within your selfe, that you may seeke for true pardon in Christs mercies; renouncing withall your heart your former euill life, with a sound reso∣lution hereafter to serue him, and to walke in his feare with more zeale and affection then you haue done heretofore, wholly relying vpon his grace; Is not this that you pro∣mise?

Patient.

It is.

Also consider, it is his will by this meanes to make you feele the mise∣ries

of this life, that you may con∣temne and tread down these world∣ly vanities vnder foote, to the ende that with all your heart, you may aspire to the heauenly and eternall life, and thereby to answere the dig∣nity of that condition to which you are called, to be children of God, and not children of men, to haue your conuersation as Citizens of heauen, and not of earth, and to follow after and search, as Saint Paul saith, for Phil. 3.20. Col. 2.12. The things which are aboue, and not those things which are below. Is not this also by Gods grace, your resolution, to doe all the dayes of your life.

Patient.

It is.

Acknowledge in the end, that the good will of God is by this sicknesse to examine & proue you, to the end, that your faith and your patience

may become more perfect, and that they may be seene and manifested to your Brethren and neighbours round about you, that thereby they may be comforted and edefied, and giue glory to God, to see you so pa∣tiently and constantly to carry the violences and sorrowes of this affli∣ction, and that you esteeme your selfe to rest with a peaceable and quiet minde, to receiue whatsoeuer else it shall please God to send vnto you: Is not this the resolution which you take?

Patient.

It is.

I beseech God to giue you grace happily to accomplish your holy promises, to his glory, and your owne saluation; also you must with all your heart, often beseech him, and implore his grace, otherwise you shall neuer be capable of your selfe.

But if you earnestly and ardently desire him, with a true and a liuely faith, in the Name of his blessed Son Iesus Christ our Lord, doubt not but according to his promises hee will heare you, and at the present be with you, and fill your soule full of all ho∣ly consolation, fortifying you with patience, and in like sort comforting you as much as is fit for you, by which meanes he will binde you so much more to reioyce in his boun∣ty, and to glorifie his holy Name with all obedience. This is his owne saying, to all that are afflicted as you are; Call vpon me in the day of trouble, and I will heare thee: Is it not then your desire that here wee call vpon him with you altogether, that he will be pleased to assist you with his mercy?

Patient.

Yes.