THE Exercise of the faithfull soule : That is to say , Prayers & Meditations for one to comfort himselfe in all maner of afflictions , and specially to strengthen himselfe in faith :

Set in order according to the Articles of our faith , By Daniell Toussain , Minister of the worde of God :

With a comfortable Preface of the Author , vnto the poore remnant of the Church of Orlians ; containing a short recitall of extreme and great afflictions which the said Church hath suffered .

Englished out of the French , almost word for word , by Ferdenando Filding .

Imprinted at London by Henrie Middleton for Henrie Denham . 1583.

ABout tenne yeares past , when the Church of Orlians was in her flowers , and I then hauing this honour to be one of the Ministers thereof , then I set forth certaine Prayers and Meditations vppon certaine notable places of the scripture , which I had gathered out and laid aside for mine owne priuate vse : yet notwithstanding , being requested of sundrie good and godlie men , I was content , that manie others should inioy the same . And that they might be pricked forwardes to ardent prayer , and to all holie and Christianlike Meditations , who were accustomed to waxe cold , or at least but leukewarme , in time of prosperitie : foreseeing likewise , that all the rest , wherewith the Church doeth glad her selfe in this world , was but a truse and small respit : and that it behooued them , 2. Timo. 3. ver. 12. The late M. Caluin in his preface vpon Daniel . 61. truelie aduertised the Churches , that they should haue as yet great fightes . Psal. 66.27 . Psal. 42. The said Churche was of number a seuen thowsand persons in time past . Iames 5. which were determined to serue God purelie , to make their account , that they must suffer great persecutions , during which , prayer is the verie stay and comfort to the faithfull soule . As alas long since , wee haue well prooued , when that all the billowes and stormes of the Lord , sith these x. yeares haue passed , not alonelie generallie through out all Fraunce , but particularlie vppon this poore Church of Orlians , which in times past wee haue seene a garden of great pleasure , a retraite to manie good men , and of all sortes and conditions : to bee short , it was as the repaire and fould of the Lordes sheep , in the middest of all Fraunce , Now wee doe see it turned into dust and ashes , and to become the dwelling place of Dragons and Scorpions : we I say , vnto whome God hath giuen this grace , to escape so manie blouddie Alaroms : yea so manie fearefull deathes , that we haue perceiued of what force earnest praiers be , and what satisfying & contentation , the faithfull soule hath with God , when as all other thinges doe seeme to faile him , in such sort as we haue matter to say with the Prophet Dauid in the 119. Psal . verse 92. Had it not bin that thy lawe was my delight , I had euen then perished in my afflictions . Now as the true seruantes of God haue a zeale vnto the ashes , and ruines of Sion , when it is turned into dust , Psal. 10● 9. and forsaken of all the world : So cannot I ( so long as the soule panteth within me ) cease euer with a burning desire to pray vnto God , or to haue care of this so desolate a Church of Orlians , willing truelie to say with the prophet Esaiah , in the 62. Chap. For the loue of Sion , I will not keepe silence , and as concerning Ierusalem , I will not cease vntill her righteousnesse shine out as the light , & that her saluation be kindled as a Lampe : in such sort as setting before my eies that at no time praiers were euer more necessarie than in these dayes , being on euerie side full of calamitie , neither yet the vse thereof better vnderstood of the true faithful , than when as men are in their true schoole , that is to say vnder the Crosse . And being likewise since the decease of this second Iosias & so Christian a prince , as the late my Lord Elector Palatine Federick ( vnder whom I haue had this honor to preach the word of God , more than 4. yeares ) being as it were into mine owne wildernesse a part drawen to meditate & lament the miseries of our time : I tooke againe into my handes these prayers , that heretofore I had set forth & brought to light , & dedicated to the Church of Orlians , as wel to put them together againe , & so to disgest them , by a better order , as also to seeme not to haue lost the remembrance of that Church , which of good right amongst other I haue alwayes loued and honored , hauing serued there , the space of eight yeares , and receaued verie much credit and friendship of manie good men : or , least I should seeme to haue lost all hope to see it againe reestablished , or at the least somewhat gathered together after so manie and fearefull stormes . Nowe concerning the order which I haue held in this booke , it shall be spoken hereof in the end of this Preface .

But now , I will lay out the causes which haue made me yet to hope , that this good God will not altogether forsake this poore flocke . And therefore it maketh me yet againe to direct this little booke vnto the residue as vnto a small corner of the fould : to the end to sorte out , and call back the rest of the flocke vnto a true faith , hope , and calling vppon the name of God . It is a thing certaine , that in these later daies the diuell is come downe in great anger , knowing that he hath but a small time . And in this is fulfilled all that which the Lorde foretold thereof in the 12. of the Apoc. & as the miseries foretold are fulfilled , in like maner the promised deliuerance shal be accomplished , and alwaies this goodly sentence shall remaine true that is in the 76. Psalme : That the anger of the vngodly shall returne vnto the praise of the Lorde , and that hee will restraine the rest of their furies .

And that which S. Peter speaketh in the 3. Chap. of his first Epistle , Who shall hurt you , The fauours that Orlians hath receiued at other times of the Lorde . if you followe goodnesse ? O but some man will say , in times past Orlians hath founde such fauour at Gods handes , as in the time of Atila , when all the countrey being couered ouer with rude people , the citie was kept by the praiers of good folke , or when it was in times past , ( as some say ) miraculously kept , rather than by anie helpe of man from the siege of the Englishmen : or if we must come vnto the thinges more certaine and fresh in memorie , when as in the yeare of our Lorde 1560. in the time of king Frauncis the seconde of that name , the most furious force that might be in mans remembraunce was in the citie , & the preparation most cruell against so many notable and singular men of name , who had as they say the knife set to the throte , many good and honorable citizens wandering vp and downe from one place to an other : when I say , the Lorde in a moment turned the sorrowe of his Church into gladnesse , and their captiuitie into freedome .

And againe in the yeare 1563. Orlians beseeged . at the beginning of the spring time the citie enuironed with a victorious armie consisting of Frenchmen , Swyssardes , and Spaniardes , it was at vnawares , and by a happe vnlooked for , not only deliuered of the siege , The peace of the Valins with Orlians . but honoured with a peace , which was made with the Orlians , and indured for a certaine time , leauing the citie for some yeares in a tollerable estate . Since the saide peace , certaine massacres , treasons , and conspiracies , which then were had there , both on the right hande , and on the left , as in the countrey of Mans , Orlians stripped againe . at Tours , at Blois , and in manie other places of Fraunce , it being altogether stripped , as it was in the yeare 64. and for the most part a bootie vnto tyrantes , & being in time of neede the place for those of the Church to come vnto , it was then maintained in good rest , and in the exercise of the pure religion , The second troubles . whatsoeuer contrarie gouernours were there being in garison , vntill the yeare 1567. in which time , toward Michaelmas , the seconde troubles began againe , and a strange coniuration being made , as well in Fraunce , as in the lowe countries against the faithful , notwithstanding the enimies were in great number and well armed within the citie , awayting but the watch worde , to cut the throtes of all the faithfull . The foresaid citie , together with the citidell , was by a speciall fauour of God kept and defended with a handfull of men , the most part of the Church not knowing any thing thereof , euen against so manie aduersaries and subtil deuises , and to the ende it might serue for the seconde time , The peace at Chartres . for a place of rest and retire , which out of all partes of Fraunce placed themselues there , by reason of the crueltie which was then through all exercised against the Christians .

And in this behalfe ought a man to keepe secret the fauour , which the Church of Orlians prooued by the God of hostes ? When as this miserable peace made at Chartres , being made in the yeare of our Lorde 1568. in the moneth of March , the citie was deliuered into the handes of the aduersaries , foming with rage against a citie , which at two sundrie times had made resistance and was the refuge of Princes , Lordes , and other , bearing as then armes for the common wealth : when I say with a gouernour enimie of the reformed religion , there were brought into the saide citie , The regiment of countie Brissakes . ten ensignes of the brauest and skilfull souldiers , that could be chosen , to swallowe vp as it were in a moment the saide Church : but God in the meane season did shewe this fauour to my fellowes and mee , euen there to preach in a goodlie assemblie euen in the sight of the souldiers , for the space of fiue monethes , amongest a thowsand and a thowsand dangers , mutenies , and harquebusers , and infinite distresses : the citie being in this time kept , that no citizen man or woman of the religion , could passe out of the gates , without a thowsand dangers : when our houses were dailie ouerthrowen , the gates of our assemblies enuironed by troupes of the enemies souldiers : And that for presidents , ( as a man would say ) wee had in our consistories Captaines , renouncers of God , & other such people as it pleased those gouerners to send thither : Then in trueth wee felt such an assistance of the almightie , notwithstanding that men walke in the shadow of death , & when they burned in good houre the Temple , with the streete of Illiers , and as manie may well remember there , the souldiers of the garrison , seeing the patience and constancie of the Church , as it were touched at the heart , & tamed , in part being without comparison more fauorable , and gratious vnto those of the Church , than were the citizen papists , who hauing beene at the foresaid warres for the most part assisted and hid , as it were in our bosome in their daungers , and all as it were rendering a verie ill reward to their citizens of the religion .

During this time , some one will say the Church of Orlians hath felt , yea the great fauors of God : Psal. 120. in such sort as oftentimes it hath beene said of them : God worketh woonders vnto them : and sundrie and manie times haue they song & song againe in a godlie assemblie , whereof I cannot remember my selfe without teares , the Psal. 124. The Psalme of the Church of Orlians . For Israel may now well say &c. Which Psal. the Church of Orlians esteemed as her particular Psalme , for the aforesaid deliuerances . But alas will some aunswere , since the xv . of September , in they yeare 1568. euen vntill now , what other thing hath a man seene , but calamitie vppon calamitie distilled vpon the said Church , and so sharpe and violent affliction , as it is hard to thinke thereof without a mans haire standing & staring for feare & horror on his head ? For from that day which was vppon a Sunday : The first Massacar at Orlians in the yeare 1568. I hauing preached at vi . a clocke in the Estape , which place then onelie rested to vs , and hauing greatlie to the purpose ( alas in this last preaching , ) expounded the text of the xvi . of S. Marke vpon the historie of the passion : The last preaching made within Orlians . My God my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? For euen iust thithertow as I come in the exposition of S. Marke : Maister De Gallars , then also Minister of the said Church , hauing made his Sermon at eight of the clock in the same place , and following the order of Psalmes which they did sing , hauing song this funeral and lamentable Psalme , which fel out to the verie purpose , without anie special choise made thereof , to wit , the Psal. 88. which is the last that was sung in Orlians in the assemblie of the Church , where amongest other thinges it is said ,

I am free among the dead like vnto them that bee wounded and lie in the graue .

Also ,

Thine indignation lyeth hard vppon me , and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes .

As the second preaching was ended , and the Psalme aforenamed sung , behold certaine stones throwen against the assemblie , and a Mutenie of people , which then did accompanie a procession , that was made all for the nonce , who rushed vppon the assemblie , which was a godlie assemblie , with an extreme furie , and had knocked downe all the troupe , if so be this good God had not raised vp some of the strange souldiers , ( which did shew themselues more gentle than the Citizens , thirsting for the bloud of their fellow Citizens , ) if they I say , had not couered a great part of the assemblie , whereof notwithstanding there were seuenscore slaine and hurt . After dinner , the people not being satisfied with this crueltie , did set fire on the Church of Estape at noone day with all kind of insolencie , & disorder ▪ threatening the night following , to make a sack of all the Protestantes houses , during which stormes God did amongest other wonderfullie preserue the Ministers which were fiue in number : and namelie the two , who had preached that day as it was said before . Vntil this time the Ministers notwithstanding the dangers that they had found , couragioslie & by the aduice of the consistorie , and of all the chiefe of the Church , continued in their charge . But this furie being so kindled , and all the Church out of order , & the warres flaming throughout all Fraunce , and Anguleme besieged : Then with great difficultnesse were the Ministers of the said Church drawen out from this furnace , and conducted in safetie . The gates were straitlie kept , and ambushes laid throughout all the waies , and namelie in the crosse streetes : as in deed some of my brethren , Ministers imprisoned . and chiefe & faithfullest Ministers of the said Church , M. Robert Mason , otherwise named Fountane , M. Matthew Berold , Professor of the Hebrew tongue , and I : wee fell into the handes of our enemies , and there wee remained with most imminent daungers from the 26. day of September , vntill the 15. of October , euen vntill that some notable and well affected persons of the Church , seeing that the people were daily about to drowne or murther vs , and that we had yeelded vnto them faithfull seruice euen to the vttermost , redeemed vs out of the souldiers handes . Now synce this time , truely this poore Church of Orlians was ouerwhelmed with so manie calamities , that a man can not easilie finde the like examples of crueltie , as those which haue beene exercised against the saide Church , although that in Fraunce there hath beene a long time great persecutions , Persecutions in Fraunce vnder Antonius Verus . namely at Lyons , as from the yeare 170. vnder the Empire of Antonius Verus : as may be seene in the fifth historie of Eusebius the 1.2 . and 3. Chap. by the Epistle that the faithfull of Lyons wrote thereof vnto the brethren of Asia and Phrygia : and since these troubles of Fraunce , the saide citie of Lyons hath suffered as much as any other citie , especially from the time of these horrible massakers in the yeare of our Lorde 1572. But that which is happened vnto the faithfull of Orlians , and hath continued a long time , doth rightly followe that which was song in the last assemblie , as it was saide before in the 88. Psal . Lorde , thine indignations lie harde vpon mee . For since this first massaker , doone on the fifth of September in the yeare 1568. they haue not ceased as well in the streats , as in the houses to slay some of the faithfull , to spoyle their houses , and to drawe them with ropes through the streates , not suffering them neither to passe in the citie , nor to liue in the same citie . The burninges of houses in 4. places , and of madame de Boiblandin . Such cruelties I say , did continue euen vnto the yeare 1569. vntill the moneth of Iulie , that they did set fire on two houses at noone day , where they had imprisoned more than seuen score of all sortes of qualities and ages , which continued constant in calling vppon the name of God , and in the puritie of his seruice : they I say ( alas what spectacle ) in presence of this furious inraged people , notwithstanding that prisons ought not to haue bin forced , notwithstanding likewise the cries of their wiues , their parentes , and their children , The horrible and vnnaturall murther of certaine faithfull ones being in prison . were burned all quicke , and if so be the flame had spared any of them , then the bloudie handes of the madde people , or of the souldiers with their holbardes , partisans and kniues would not haue spared them . And as concerning an other troupe of foure score of the faithfull , the most part being citizens of the same citie , which hauing beene locked vp in a great tower of the citie , were certaine monethes afterwardes ( when as they fayned in a morning to bring them forth to iustice ) stabbed in with daggers one after an other . O that I could recite these things , without saying with the Prophet Ieremie in the 9. Chap. O , if I had my head full of water , & that mine eies were a fountaine of teares , to the end that I might lament day and night , the slaine of the daughter of my people . But what ? The peace being concluded for the third time : ( O peace more cruell than any warre , ) the yeare 1570. in the moneth of August , the faithfull of the Church of Orlians thinking to inioy and vse the benefite of the saide peace , were daily threatened , beaten , robbed , and were for the most part euen for the space of one yeare let & hindered , both to inioy the greatest part of their goods , as also to gather the Church together , vntill the yeare of our Lord 1571. in the month of September , by the friendly soliciting , that the late Lord Chatillion Lord admiral , & through the great zeale & goodwill that he had vnto these vertuous and notable men , of name , the late maister Baylife of Orlians , The establishment of the Church of Orlians in the Isle . maister Ierome Groslot Lord of the Isle , with certaine other notable citizens of the saide citie , the Church began to gather together , as the peeces of a broken ship , in a great sheepwracke , vnto the saide place of the Isle a two small miles from Orlians , where I was called thither againe to exercise the ministry , and to beginne to reare vp this poore tabernacle , which was so desolate . But as our Lorde Iesus Christ , being scarce borne , and lodged in a little place at Bethelem , forthwith had such kickings and assaults , that he was constrained to retire himselfe into Egypt : euen so the saide Church of Orlians , as a man would say being but about to be borne againe , and a litle to gather it selfe together , that shee might knowe her selfe , felt right soone the encountringes and forces of the enemie , the exercise being broken off in the same place for a time through extorted commandements and wrasted proclamations , such as we reade to haue beene in the fourth of Nehemie , when for a time the building of the Temple was hindered by one Sanbulat and his complices . Nowe God graunting grace to this litle flocke , to ouerpasse such lets , and stops , & the exercise being a new agreed vpon in the saide place : the furie and the slaughter of these papisticall people was no whit appeased : in such sort , that in steede of taking pitie of v. or vi . hundred persons ( which went out ordinarily euery sunday to heare the preaching and exhortation , as women , children , young and old , and that often in vnseasonable times , Cruelty against those , which returned from the preaching in the Isle . and by verie long iourney ) they commonly receiued them with flinging of stones , with myer and durt , cast in their faces with iniuries , outrages , & all kinde of scornings and derisions , which the poore faithfull ones yea the women patiently did beare , praising God , who hadde giuen them this honour , to suffer any thing for Iesus Christs sake , The day of S. Bartholmewe . vntill that that glowning , fearfull , and blouddie day , of the 24. of August in the yeare 1572. was come , on which day I made the last Sermon in the said place of the Isley : There followed a generall deluge of Christian bloud , through out all Fraunce , and that which might stint euen one of the fairest and flourishingest Churches in all Fraunce , to wit , a 700. and more , as some say Bourgeses , Inhabitantes , Counselars , Aduocates , Doctors , and men of all qualities and conditions were cruellie slaughtered and Massacred , amongst other , there was slaine Monsieur de Champeaux : the ancientest Counseller and next in place vnto the President , one of the most courteous of all the citie , The murther done at Orleans . Doctor Taillebois , the aduocate Patas , maister Iohn Baudet , and Gilles le Boiteux , two of the most honorable and best affected citizens , and so many others , without sparing one of the most worshipful and ancient olde men of the citie , who all his life long had beene honored amongest the chiefest bourgeses , and beloued for his liberalitie , and integritie , to wit , Monsieur Framberge , Lorde of Bretache , who drawen through the fieldes where he was in a waggen , was cruelly striken downe in the suburbes of Portereau , & he who had all this yeare with great zeale , and to his great charges , lodged the Church , to wit , the Lord of the Isle , The Massacre of the Lord of the Ile being Bailife of Orlians . of whom mention was made before , and who was there at the wedding of the king of Nauarre among the most auntient seruantes of his house , this man was partlie shot in with Harquebusiers , and partlie stricken downe by Halbardes within the citie of Paris .

Now who seeth not will some man say , that yet this wound bleedeth , and that ruine droppeth downe without ceasing vpon the desolate , as was said in the destruction of Ierusalem , in the 9. Chap. of Daniel . Lord where are thy former mercies whereon wee doe waite ? Psal. 89. Where is the zeale & the strength of the Lord , and the compassion of his bowels , which are so dull , that the Churches of long time in Fraunce bee as though God ruled not in the middest of them ? Esai . 63. Lament. ● . Yea who seemeth to haue deliuered his people so into the hands of them , of them ( I say ) out of which they cannot be recouered and stand vp .

What hope is then there , will some say , or what are these remnantes of the Church , seeing that the greatest part hath beene lead as it were vnto a butcherie or to slaughter : the remnant for the most part forced by impatience , is in such sort turned and falne away from the trueth , that it seemeth , there is no trace or path of a Church left , or that euer there had beene anie reformation had at Orlians , or in the most part of the other cities ? These are ( O alas ) the thinges that are most true , and that which hath bin recited , is not the thowsand part of the outrages , violences and miseries which haue come to the said Church . For what tongue can expresse , or what speach can vtter and set forth , so manie lamentable cries as well of women , as of children , seeing slaine cruellie before their eyes their husbandes and fathers , as well by enforcementes of their bodies , as of their consciences , and other such like outrages , that would make the posteritie euen by onelie thinking of it to quake and tremble , and now maketh vs as it were beside our selues , when we doe but by the way make anie mention thereof : as for example , this preface can not bee a full laying out , of such lamentable Tragedies : neither is it my meaning at this time , leauing those to intreate of this argument more at large , that can doe it better , & with an higher stile , and that are better informed of all the particularities , than I can be .

But this is to the end that wee may now see , and as it were put into the ballance , on the one side the afflictions and miseries of the said Church : And againe on the other part , may see the consolations wherewith the scriptures haue furnished vs , to the end we should know whether we haue occasion altogether to droupe and to lose our courage , as alas to my great sorrow , I see that manie haue done : and not rather euen to stirre vp through our prayers those mercies and bowels of compassion in the diuine Maiestie . For wee must well remember in this behalfe , the place , that is in the 14. Chap. of the Prophet Osee , Who is wise , & shall vnderstand these things ? and prudent , and shall know them ? A consolation against the extreme miseries wherewith God doeth exercise his children . For the waies of the Lord are right : and the iust also shall walke in them : But the vngodlie shall fall therein . By which wordes it is shewed vnto vs , that it is a great wisedome , rightlie to marke the proceedings of our God , and to vnderstand the end of them , as well in his promises , as in his threateninges : for they be alwayes iust and right , and there are none but Infidels and wicked men , which stumble and fall in them . But men commonlie offend , in this that they measure the thoughtes of God , according to the thoughtes of men , & doe perswade themselues , that thinges ought to goe , and to take such course , as they imagine in their vnderstanding , the which is altogether contrarie to the Scripture . For my thoughtes ( saith the Lord ) are not your thoughtes , Esai . 55.8 . neither my wayes your waies . For as the heauens are higher than the earth , so bee my wayes higher than your wayes , and my thoughtes aboue your thoughtes . Nowe wee know that the thoughtes of our God are not to destroy his Church , Mat. 16. against which the gates of hell can haue no power , and for this cause we are commaunded to beleeue the Church , howsoeuer she seeme not to appeare in the world : as faith is not of thinges which bee apparant vnto carnall eyes . Although then that sometimes , stormes , tempestes and calamities bee so extreme as it seemeth , that there is no more face neither anie tract or footing of a Church on the earth , and moreouer that GOD hath left his house , and as it were altogether forsaken his heritage , and as it might be , leauing the welbeloued of his soule , in the handes of his enemies : ( Loe the verie wordes , that the Lord vseth in the 12. of Ieremie : ) yet will hee dailie haue as it is said in the 6. Chap. of Esaiah ) a tenth part : And the Church shal bee made bare as a Birch , or as an Oke when they shall cast their leaues , and yet there shall be substance within , euen so shall bee the substance of the Church , a holie seede . So that euen then when she shall walke in the middest of aduersitie , Psal. 138. the Lorde shall quicken her , The meaning of the Lorde in sending calamities . and shall not leaue the worke of his handes : I say hee shall quicken her , no otherwise , than if of dead and drye bones , being inspired with a new soule and strength , they should bee gathered together and liue : as it is said in the 37. Chap. of the Prophet Ezechiel .

And as concerning the Lordes purpose , when hee sendeth such deluges and floudes to come among vs , it is partlie to the end to shewe forth vnto the whole world , his power , prouidence , goodnesse , and righteousnesse : partlie to the end , that wee should learne to walke by faith , to renounce our selues , and in this so fraile and miserable a life , to aspire vnto that which is euerlasting . Hee sheweth his power , when hee vpholdeth his Church , in the middest of so manie euils and diseases : when as hee shall raise it vp as it were from the dead : Psal. 68.2 . when as in a moment hee shall make his enemies to vanish as a heape of smoke . Hee testifieth his prouidence , when as hee maketh the determined season come , to deliuer his : And contrariewise , Psal. 102. when hee bringeth the appointed day vpon his aduersaries , as it is said in the lamentation of the Prophet Ieremie the 1. Chapter . Hee likewise sheweth his prouidence , in that of euill , hee can drawe forth good , Rom. 8.28 . and make all thinges to worke to the good and saluation of his : drawing out of afflictions , remedies , and profitable medicines for his Church . Hee sheweth also his goodnesse , first in that hee tempereth his corrections , and in the middest of the greatest fiers , hee comforteth and sustaineth his children , as it is said in the 94. Psalme : When I had manie thoughtes in my selfe thy comfortes haue recreated my soule . His goodnesse shineth also in that he hath appeased his owne wrath , putting an end to all calamities , as it is said in the 30. Chap of Esaiah . Therefore doth the Lorde put off , to the end that hee may haue mercie vppon you , and likewise that he may bee exalted , when hee doeth pardon vs . Hee maketh his righteousnesse appeare , when as hee spareth not , no not his owne children : making his iudgementes to beginne at his owne house : euen as S. Peter saith in his first Epistle and 4. Chap. But in asmuch as hee hath established a couenant with his Church , the which is not grounded vpon our workes or woorthinesse , but vppon his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ , in whom hee hath chosen vs , loued , and blessed vs : this couenant is euerlasting : Ephes. 1. ● And for the loue thereof he turneth himselfe towardes his people , and he maketh them this goodlie & certaine promise , that is in the 89. Psalme : I will visite their offences with a rod , and their sinne with scourges : But I will not vtterlie take my louing-kindnesse from him : nor suffer my faith to faile him . And in the 54. Chap. of Esaiah : Although the mountaines shall remoue , and the hilles shall fall downe : yet my louing kindnesse shall not moue , and the couenant of my peace shall not fall downe from thee , saith the Lord , who hath compassion of thee . Behold thou poore vexed & despised without anie consolation : I will make thy walles of pretious stones , and thy foundation of Saphires &c. Nowe the whole is that wee awaite for him , as it is said in the 30. of Esaiah : Blessed are all they that waite for him .

But man is of a nature , first , The imperfections of man . Lib. De patientia . Rom. 8. verie impatient , so as Tertullian hath not said without cause , that impatiencie is the cause of all euils . Secondlie man is of this nature , that he will not beleeue but that which he seeth : a thing altogether contrarie vnto faith . For that faith and hope which ground themselues vpon that which is seene , are properlie neither faith nor hope . Thirdlie , man is so corrupted , as S. Chrysostome saith verie well in his 4. Homilie vnto the people of Antioch , that he feareth that , that he ought not to feare : & feareth not that which hee ought most to feare . Men feare death and miseries that in deede bee nothing , for they cannnot separate vs from the grace of God , and they are so farre off from being able , The vse of afflictions . saith Chrysostome , to separate vs , that if thou haue manie vices , afflictions will tame them : if thou haue vertues , afflictions will make them shine , and appeare . But men feare not sinne which maketh a diuision betwixt God and vs : and the reward thereof , bee all afflictions , pouertie , and ruines , which wee doe see fall out in the compasse of the whole worlde . Men complaine enough of their losses , of their sorrowes , and pouerties : but how fewe are there that frame their complaintes against their vices , against their falshood & infidelitie , against their impatience , against their couetousnesse , against their ambition , & such like wickednesse ? To bee short , all , saith S. Augustine , complaine of the miseries of this life , and yet the most part set their heartes vppon it , and are more affected to it , than to the euerlasting and heauenlie life . How would it bee then , if this life were left vnto vs altogether quiet , sweete and delectable ? Who would remember the kingdome of heauen ? Who would euer aspire vnto Christ , and vnto the glorious and euerlasting life ? Go to then , let vs acknowledge the vanitie of our thoughtes , and in steede of vexing our selues and fainting , let vs woonder at the diuine prouidence : acknowledging that then his helpes are more neere at hand , when it seemeth that GOD is farthest off from vs . As Philo the Iewe once answered his fellow citizens , when as he had an ill answere of the Emperor Caius , towards whom hee had bin sent , to intreate for the Iewes . Eusebius 2. booke & 5. Chap. The obiection that hath beene a long time awaited . It must needes be nowe , sayth hee , that the vnfallible succours of God bee verie neere , syth that all succour from man faileth vs . Yea but some man will say , with the Iewes in the 8. Chap. of Ieremie : We haue looked for peace , and we fare not the better : The time of health , and lo , here is nothing but trouble . Answere . I answere to this : That in awayting we must take heede that we giue God leaue to appoint the time , for it is enough for vs that he will come , and that he will come to the purpose , and to the point , euen then to helpe vs , when he seeth it best for vs . But if we must speake of our goodly waiting , Alas how do we waite or howe haue we waited for him ? Surely some for the most part looke rather to men , & to the helpes of men , than to the Lord God of Hostes , of whom a man may say that which is spoken in the 4. of the lamentation of Ieremie the prophet , that their eies are consumed with waiting for a vaine helpe , & for looking after an emptie hope , for looking for a nation that neither would , nor could saue them . But it is saide in the 3. of Sophonie , I will cause a poore & an afflicted people , to remaine in the middest of thee , and they shall trust in the name of the Lorde . See him , on whom we must looke , with true faith , amending so great corruptions , that are in the midst of the Churches , by feruent & constant calling on his holy name . Moreouer others in steede of awaiting on the Lorde , and in place of taking aduersities , as a warning from the diuine maiestie , these were ( & that alas , in great number ) stronglie throwne downe into the puddle of Idolatrie with the Papistes , Reuolt or turning backe . throwen downe say I , yea and rushed in , euen as a furious horse rusheth into a battaile : so that they carie there all the sway , & in whom there is founde greater eagernesse after Idolatrie , and towardes all kinde of iniquitie , than in those old Idolaters , who all their life long haue beene nourished vp therein . I speake it with teares & in deepe sorrowe of heart , to be most true : for I did see those which were of the same troupe and band , which did goe with vs vnto the holy assemblies , to whom God had alreadie giuen fauour to ouercome manie assaultes , nowe to bee so wandering and giuen ouer to a spirit of darke vnderstanding . O what other thing then are all men liuing but vanitie ! O how true is this which is spoken in the 17. of Ieremie : That the heart of man is false and full of deceite , and as it is saide in the fifth Chap. of the same prophet : O Lorde , are not thy eies on the trueth ? Thou hast striken them , and they haue not sorrowed : Thou hast consumed them , but they haue refused to receiue thy discipline : They haue made their faces more harder than a stone , and they haue refused to returne vnto thee . Feare ye not me , ( sayth the Lorde ) ? Or will ye not be afraid at my presence ? O howe much more happie were they which passed into the foure cornerd house , and into other places , as it were true golde through the fire , constantlie calling vppon the Lorde , than those which burned them quicke , seeking after Idolatrie , and the vanitie of the worlde , taking the way to that fire , that neuer shall be quenched . But what ? As it is saide in the 8. Chapter of Ieremie , Shall he which is fallen not rise againe ? Or hee which is turned awaie , shall hee not turne againe ? Ah my brethren , I hope yet there will manie be founde , who will say : What haue we doone ? And there shall be of those of whome S. Cyprian speaketh in his treatise concerning those which are fallen , whose bodies were rather ouercome than their heart . Although that this saying of Tertullian is more true , In his book de corona militis . that is to say , that in the matter of faith , and religion , this excuse of necessitie & of force can haue no place : as if of necessitie one might be compelled to do any thing against his religion . Nonecessitie to euill . For no necessitie ought to be pretended to doe euill , forasmuch as there is ( saieth he ) but one necessity that ought to command vs , & which is simplie necessary , to wit , to obey our God . If there be any thing therfore that should feare man , or should lay any necessity by enforcement vpon him , it is the greatnesse and terrour of that which is most great and terrible , that is to say : of the liuing and euerlasting God . If there were any allurement , pleasure or commoditie , that ought to drawe a man , it is the riuer of the Lords delight , they be the promises of euerlasting treasures , and of the life to come : which if we tasted were it neuer so litle , all the world with her delight should be nothing vnto vs . And so likewise a faithfull man is greater and more excellent , than this worlde , being the childe of God and an inheritour of him & a coheire with Iesus Christ . See wherfore such a one desireth nothing of the worlde , but his whole life is a renouncing and forsaking of the world . If the question be of punishments , banishments , or other penalties : they are not miserable which dy or be in banishment for the name of Christ : but they who , howsoeuer they yet liue , and are in their pallaces in the middest of all their delightes , are iudged and condemned by the word of God , and by the lawes thereof : being guiltie and worthie of a thousand deathes , & of a thousand banishments , as for example these murtherers , ydolaters , and other such like are , who haue their handes embrued in the bloud of our brethren . A citie is not vnhappie to be vnwalled , spoyled , A city when he is vnhappie . robbed , and outwardly ruined , and sacked : but if it be depriued of the fauor of God , if it be filled full of ydolatrie , with vanitie , with theft , bloud , and with pride . Furthermore , if we doe feele our selues verie weake , to sustaine the assaults , threateninges and feares amongest cruell Idolaters : why doe we tempt God , in dwelling amongest them ? Heb. 13. Why doe wee not come out of our tentes , to beare the rebuke of Christ ? Why goe we not out of Babylon , to the ende we be not partakers of her sinnes , and that wee receiue not of her plagues ? Howe many meanes might a man haue had since this fiue yeares , to haue retired himselfe from amongest these fleshlie people , so thirstie after the bloud of the faithfull ? Who is he that would abide one night amongest Scorpions ? Who is hee which would not quickelie vnharbour himselfe , Dwelling amongest Idolaters , verie dangerous . seeing his house on a fire , how deere soeuer it were vnto him ? Who is hee which would remaine in the fairest citie of the world , in which hee could haue no bread ? What order then is there , that they shoulde soiourne amongest them so long time , Dwelling amongest Idolaters is verie daungerous . amongest whom there can be founde no true bread , and amongest whom there is neither faith , nor loue , nor yet respect of anie person ? We are in this worlde to knowe and serue God : and the time of our life being so short , ought we not to enforce our selues to the vttermost to bestowe that as well as is possible ? For as S. Cyprian hath verie well sayde in his treatise of twofoulde Martyrdome , All the life of man ought to giue witnesse to GOD : not that he hath any neede or maketh much reckoning of our Martyrdome or witnessing of him , but that it pleaseth him , that his glorie should be thus aduaunced , and declared amongest men , by men . Nowe my brethren , Whence infirmities proceede . considering that these great infirmities , which are at this day founde in many , proceede from no other thing , but onely through default of not being well grounded and rooted in the faith , and also because we pray not vnto God , Mark . 9.23 . so often and so earnestlie as were requisite : ( For all thinges are possible to the beleeuer : and the beleeuer also hath this aduauntage , that God heareth and fulfilleth his desires ) I haue thought to comfort , and to strenthen more and more those which through the grace of GOD remaine firme and constant vntill this present : Psal. 145. The purpose of the Author in this booke as also to giue courage againe vnto them which haue lost it , and suffer themselues willinglie to be borne with the tempest of Idolatrie , that there is nothing more fitte and to the purpose , than to set before your eies the Articles of our faith , with short meditations and prayers , that shall giue vnto you a briefe knowledge and vnderstanding thereof , being as it were the verie iuice and substance : to the ende also , that this may shortly put you in remembraunce of the pure doctrine which was preached vnto you . For this is our glorie , 2. Cor. 1. euen of vs all which haue beene your Pastors , the testimonie of our conscience , that in simplicitie and godlie purenesse wee haue beene conuersant amongest you , preaching vnto you the word of God . And wee are not ignorant , in meane while that this is an auntient subtiltie and craft of the Diuel , and of the wicked , The slaunders of the aduersaries . in the middest of their greatest wickednesse , to slaunder good men , and the trueth . So was Elias slaundered by Achab , as a seditious person , so was Iesus Christ charged with faultes . So did that abhominable Nero , who hauing set the citie of Rome on fire , layd all the fault vpon the poore Christians . Wee doe not doubt at all , but a man may finde some of our renegates , which to receiue the seruice to the contrarie side , and to reape the benefite of a flattering tongue , both haue and doe straine themselues to misuse vs in speach : and not onely with the like speach falselie to misuse vs , but also to make odious euen the whole doctrine of the holie Gospell . But he whome we doe serue knoweth vs , and we call none other but the conscience of those who haue hard vs , and haue seene our behauiours in witnesse of our affection towards you , & of our chearefulnesse and readines , wherewith all we haue beene alway accompanied , preaching vnto you the pure word of God , so much as was possible for vs , and that you could be suffered to heare the same . The worlde hath also seene & knowen of long time the impieties of this seat of Rome : many Emperours , yea and many kinges of Fraunce , haue prooued their insolencie , and crueltie . Fraunce , alas , seeth at this day the detestable vntrustinesse , treasons , violences , and murthers , the like not hearde , which that Apostaticall Romish seate hath bredde and brought forth vnto vs , and for the which they haue many times made bonfires , yea and great triumph : but all in vaine : wee shall weepe and the worlde shall laugh : in the meane time our heauinesse shall one way bee turned into ioy which the world shall not be able to spoile vs of . And how much better shall it bee to weepe in this world than in the other , and to reioyce in the life to come , than in this vale of miseries ? The order then that wee keepe in this booke is , The order kept in this booke , that wee drawe to the Articles of the faith , as close as is possible , certaine places of the holie scripture which serue best to explane them , and make them cleare , with prayers and meditations to that purpose , to the end that as faith and prayer ought to be ioyned together , so euerie one might bee resolued in the faith , & be pricked forward to prayer . True it is that in that which tyed me to those prayers and meditations which were before imprinted , I haue not altogether kept such order as I desired : neuerthelesse , these prayers nowe are brought into a better order , than those that were before , and are augmented with manie goodlie places . And this booke will serue as a Christian Manuel , to the end to teach euerie one to see euerie houre of the day , and euerie Moneth of the yeare , that is to say continuallie what hee ought to beleeue and meditate vpon : as also , what was the whole Catechisme or maner of instruction of youth vsed by the ancient fathers , like as Augustine witnesseth in his Enchiridion , that is to say , in his Manuel , that it contained the meaning and exposition of the Creede and the Lordes prayer . Wherefore I hope that this little treatise so reuiewed and digested into such order , will serue not onelie to direct vs , how to make our prayers , for all kinde of necessities and wantes , but also for an instruction , more and more to confirme those that are the true faithfull , in the principal pointes of our saluation , whereby the true Church of God is discerned from that false and bastard Church , which wanteth both true faith , Ephe. 3.14 & true inuocation . Now I bowe the knees of my soule to the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ , to the end that according to the riches of his glorie , The Pastors of the Church of Orlians that were preserued . M. Gallars M. Anton. Chanorrier . M. Robert Mason . M. Pet. Baron . Daniel Toussain . he will graunt vs , that wee may be strengthened by his spirit : that Christ may dwell in you through faith , through the which you may be rooted and grounded in all true knowledge of his will . And as it hath pleased him in the middest of so manie floudes miraculouslie to keepe the Pastors of your Church , whom God be praised , he employed alwayes to his seruice : that it will please him to shewe you this fauour , raysing vp your estate as from death , to haue strength to reioyce againe and that quicklie : to the end that we may altogether , as it were created anew , sing vnto him a newe song , to his honor , vnder the protection of the shadow of his winges . From S. Lambert , within the countie Palatine this 20. of Iuly . 1578.