Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

To the MINISTERS and ELDERS of the CONSISTORY which meet at Be'gle near Bourdeaux.

Gentlemen, and much Honoured Brothers,

ALthough I have undertaken this Work for the Edification of all our Churches; nevertheless I offer it to you in particular, as a testimony of my due resentments for the Honour you formerly did me in inviting me to you. I should willingly have im∣braced your offer, if my Conscience could have dispenced with it; for besides that the Employment had been ho∣nourable and profitable to me, it would have drawn me also a little nearer to my own Country, for which I still retain an Inclination. But the Providence of God; which orders our Persons and Affairs as he pleases, ha∣ving otherways dispos'd of my Ministry, bestowing it on a Church where I found a second Native Countrey, by the marks of kindness I daily receiv'd of the goodness of those whereof it is compos'd; I lose by little and little the hopes of ever seeing my Native Countrey, and by consequence, of assuring you by word of mouth, the true sentiments of my heart. But Gentlemen, if I am at a distance from you in Body, I desire you to be assured, that I am present with you in Spirit, seeing you

are always in my remembrance, and that I shall ever ardently beseech God, that he will generally and in par∣ticular bestow on you his blessings. Moreover, the Work which I present to you, will doubtless administer to you joy and comfort, in manifesting the Antiquity of the Discipline arrow_forward under whose Maxims you live; for as it scatters the false Aspersions of Novelty wherewith we are branded, and the unjust reproaches wherewith you are dayly accus'd; you will therein find such lively Marks and Characters of the arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward of the Ancient Christians, that you will bless God for seeing that your Fathers have walked so Religiously in that, as well as in the Doctrine which their Ancestors had professed, that is to say, of those which had lived in the purest and happiest Ages of Christianity. And indeed, if you please to give your selves the trouble to compare together these two Disciplines, you will soon find they are Children of one Father, productions of the same Spirit; and that drawing their Original from Heaven, it is also their scope to direct men to Heaven, in building them up in Sanctification and Holiness. After which, let men, if they please, blame your Ecclesiastical Policy; hence-for∣wards you will have sufficient ground to stop the mouth of Envy, and wherewithal to confound those which en∣deavour to censure it. To justifie it, 'twill be enough to shew the Conformity there is betwixt it and that of the Primitive Church; and this you may easily do, be∣cause

I think I have so fully evinced this resemblance, that it will be visible to all those who will read this Trea∣tise with an unbiass'd mind, and that are not prepossess'd with malice against us. As for us, Gentlemen, let us faithfully keep the holy trust our Fathers have transmit∣ted to us; let us diligently exercise this arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward , and carefully practise it; but especially let us to our power conform to the Exercise of these Precepts by the Holi∣ness of our Lives, and the purity of our Actions; this will be the ready way of baffling the many Volumes that attack your Morals; and shew to all the World, that these Instructions have no other scope but Justice and Piety. Actions are of greater demonstration than Words; and the Arguments drawn from Practice, are more convincing than those that are borrowed from Dis∣course. It was never better proved, That there was mo∣tion in Nature, than it was done by the Philosopher, that walked about to convince him that deni'd it. We can∣not better justifie the purity of the Maxims of our Mo∣rals and arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward , than in living well; seeing 'tis very difficult, if not impossible, to live well under Masters which only teach Debauchery, and that ingage persons in Extravagance. Those who please to look on your Society, will be convinced of what I say, when they shall see in your wise conduct, to shine forth the marks and effects of the innocency of your arrow_back Discipline, and the equity of its Maxims and Laws. I hope you will favourably ac∣cept

this Book which I Dedicate to you, seeing its chief∣est aim is to shew, That 'tis the same with the Disci∣pline of the Primitive Christians, for which all have so much respect and veneration. The Father of Lights, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, be pleas'd to establish you more and more in his Love, abundant∣ly bless your persons, preserve the Flock committed to your care, and cause therein all Christian Vertues to abound, to the end that you may be a pattern to others, and that your Faith and Piety may be renowned through all the Churches. These are the ardent Prayers that are made for you all, by

Gentlemen and Honoured Brethren,

Your most humble Servant and Brother in Christ Jesus, M. LA ROCQUE.

Rouen 24^o. June 1678.