An epistle sent by Monsievr de Vrillac, advocate in the Parliament of Paris; to Monsievr de Vrillac his father, vpon the occasion of his conuersion. Faithfully translated into English, accoriding to the French copie; By C.C.

AN EPISTLE SENT BY MONSIEVR de VRILLAC , ADVOCATE IN the Parliament of PARIS , To Monsieur de Vrillac his Fa ther , vpon the occasion of his Conuersion .

MOst deare , and my most honoured Father and Mother , I say the truth in Christ I lie not , my Conscience bearing me witnesse , that I haue continuall sorrow and griefe in my heart , that I must forsake you , as touching the world : my griefe being the more for that I know how much my estranging my selfe from you , will breed you sorrow and affliction . But this hope haue I in God , that your sorrow shall be turned into ioy , and your affliction into consolation , when your wisedomes ( void of passion , and worldly respects ) shall consider , that the voyage which separates me from you , is to bring me neerer to God , and to set my Conscience at rest and quiet .

For I may no longer conceale it from you , that by the often reading and serious meditation of the holy Scriptures , together with calling vpon the name of God , the Lord hath shewed me that mercie , to see on the one side the new corrupt errors , superstitions , and heresies of the Roman Church , and on the other side , the pure truth , taught in those Churches that are purged from the nouelty of Popery , and reformed according to the true Antiquitie of the Apostles and Prophets .

Which knowledge I confesse I haue for some time held as captiue vnder feare , suffering my selfe vnwisely to be carried away with their opinion , who thinke it safest to sway with the time , to beleeue with the Doctors , and to liue with the multitude ; to giue the heart to God , and the body to the world . I was dumbe , and sayd nothing , I kept silence , Psal. 39. 2. 3. euen from good : but my anguish increased , my heart waxed hot within me , and the fire kindled in my meditation , wherefore I speake with my tongue .

For if heretofore the sonne of King Croesus beganne to speake , seeing his Father in danger : Who will thinke it strange , to see my tongue loosed in a subiect , where it hastens to set forth the glory of God my eternall Father , and the saluation of mine owne soule ?

For , With the heart we beleeue , but with the mouth Rom. 10. ●● wee confesse to saluation : for which cause Iesus Christ saith , That whosoeuer shall confesse him before Mat. 10. 32. 33 men , he will confesse him before his Father which is in heauen ; But whosoeuer shall deny him before men , him will he deny before his Father which is in heauen . And the Apostle also saith ; Come out from amongst them 2 Cor. 6. 17. ( meaning from Idolaters ) and separate your selues , and touch no vncleane thing . And the Spirit of God Apoc. 18. Goe out of Babylon my people , left yee partake of her sins , and that yee receiue not of her plagues .

God will haue no societie with Satan , nor Communion with the world ; he will not with the harlot haue his childe diuided ; he will haue all , or 1 King . 3. 26. nothing . For what hath righteousnesse to doe with iniquitie ? And what communion hath light with 2 Cor. 6. 14. darkenesse ? Or what agreement hath Christ with Belial ? Or what portion hath the beleeuer with the Infidel ? Or the Temple of God with Idols ?

And here I called that to minde which God heretofore said vnto the Israelites , by the mouth of the Prophet Eliah , How long halt ye betweene two 1 King . 18. opinions ? If God be God follow him , but if Baal , follow him . I haue aduisedly considered of what great validitie that Maxime , of our Sauiour is ▪ That it is Mat. 6. 24. impossible to serue two masters ; and haue often called that to minde which we reade Mat. 11. That the kingdome of heauen suffers violence , and the violent take it by force .

I haue often considered that God will haue his children marked , not onely with an inward seale , Ephe. 1. 13. but also with the marke of an outward profession , and that is the cause why in the 1. booke of Kings , 1 King . 19. 18. Chapter 19. God saith hee had reserued to himselfe seuen thousand men ( not onely who had not beleeued in the Idolatries of Baal , but ) who had not bowed the knee to Baal , nor kissed him . And in the seuenth Chapter of th' Apocalyps , v. 3. Iohn Reu. 7. 3. beheld in a Vision an Angel , hauing the seale of the liuing God , to marke the seruants of God in their foreheads : teaching vs therein , that if wee will be reputed the seruants of Iesus Christ , wee must openly make profession of the Truth , the which himselfe teacheth vs in S. Iohn . If any one Iohn 12. 26. serueth me , let him follow me . For he that is not with me , is against me , and he that gathereth not with me , Mat. 12. 30. scattereth .

I haue also often thought with my selfe that the Deuill demanded nothing of Iesus Christ , but what the worldly wise giue vnto him . For the Deuill hauing shewed Iesus Christ all the kingdomes of the world , and the glory thereof , saith , All these Mat. 4. 8. things will I giue thee ( not if thou beleeue in me , but ) if thou shalt fall downe and worship me . Nabuchadnezar required nothing of those three worthies which were cast into the fiery Furnace , but Dan. 3. 15. outwardly to worship his Image ; and the greatest tyrants not being able to discerne the thoughts of the heart , content themselues with the bodie and the tongue .

Yea , I thought , that if it sufficed to beleeue the truth , without making profession of it , in vaine should so many Martyrs haue maintained it before their Iudges , and confessed it in the very flames , signed with their bloud , and sealed with their death .

And seeing the Church on earth , is like vnto Israel in Egypt , and Daniel in the Lyons den , and that in the eyes of the world , it is nothing but weaknesse , and as it were a few Lambes in the midst of a multitude of Wolues , if it should conforme it selfe to the times , there would neuer bee any Church . And in withdrawing our selues from the house of God , we shall not onely run into the Temples of Papists , but also into the Temples of Mahomet , saying by way of excuse , yet I beleeue it not .

Reason it selfe hath taught me , that it sufficeth not a childe to haue a good conceit of his Father , vnlesse he defend his quarrell , and that it is not enough for a souldier to loue his Captaine , if hee fight not vnder his ensigne , and that shee is but a strumpet , who vnder pretence of keeping her hart to her husband , prostitutes her body to strangers ; as also that it is the propertie of Bastard children to be afraide to call themselues by the name of their father : we are vnworthie the seruice of so great a King , if we be ashamed to weare his Liuery , for such a base seruant can neuer serue so rich a master .

In a word , I haue considered , that God punisheth no sinners more seuerely in his wrath , then Rom. 1. 18. such as withhold his truth in vnrighteousnesse , and I haue oft trembled at the hearing of these words spoken by Iesus Christ to the Church of Laodicea , Reu. 3. 15. 16. I would thou wert either cold or hot ; but because thou art neither cold nor hot , but luke-warme , I will spew thee out of my mouth . And thence it is , that I haue bin terrified with that horrible threat which God pronounceth in Apoc. 21. against such as feare man more then God , and the seruant , rather then the Maister , for not onely to vnbeleeuers , abominable , murtherers , whoremongers , sorcerers , Idolaters , and all lyars , But also vnto the fearefull , is reserued that Reu. 21. 8. lake of fire and brimstone , which is the second death . Nay , were it that God threatned vs not at all with such terrible punishments , yet ought wee to be ashamed , hauing receiued so many mercies from him , to repay him with so horrible ingratitude ; it being monstrous , that such who make Conscience to steale from other men their goods , should yet dare to defile themselues with sacriledge .

For there is not a worse sacriledge , then to rob God of his glory , and he is worthie to be branded for a double dealer , who denies vnto God that iust defence of his cause which he owes vnto him .

This is it then I haue considered with my selfe : Iesus Christ is not ashamed to call me his brother , Heb. 2. 11. and should I be ashamed to confesse my selfe to be his seruant ? He hath not spared to shed his bloud for me , and should I spare to speake for his truth ? He died for my saluation , and should I not liue to his glory ?

I concluded then , that seeing he meant to glorifie my soule and bodie in heauen , it is just and reasonable , that in soule and bodie I glorifie him on earth : according to the exhortion of the Apostle ▪ Ye are bought for a price , glorifie God then in 1 Cor. 6. 20. your bodie , and in your spirit , for they are Gods . And yet I must tell you that God hath not setled me in this resolution , but through many conflicts . For the flesh to weaken my saith , was readie to rocke Iud. 16. 15. me asleepe in her lap : and this flesh , a sworne enemie , that shee might still retaine me in her bonds , and hinder me from ascending the mountaine of saluation , caused me to looke backe towards those Gen. 19. 2● . worldly profits which I was to abandon : she told me that I should breake the necke of all my Fortunes ( as they are wont now adayes to speake ) and should imprison my selfe within the den of perpetuall ignominie , & this obiection I confesse somewhat the more daunted me , being now come to those yeares which naturally long for delights and thirst after prayses ; the progresse in my studies also hauing raised me vpon the steps which lead to honours , whereunto the fauour of my friends seemed to haue made a way open for me .

But againe I thought , that this was a sleight of the great Harlot , which to retaine me still in the filthinesse of her abominations , meant ( euen like Potiphars wife , who inticed Ioseph to commit adultery with her ) to hold me by the cloke , through the consideration of earthly commodities ; and therefore I chose rather to leaue my cloke with Ioseph , then to forsake mine innocencie , or to make any breach in my Conscience .

I considered , that all the riches and honours of this world , are turned to wormewood , to him that feares not God , and that all the pleasures of the flesh , are but like to the Bees , which haue honey in their mouth , but stings in their tayle : the beginning seemes pleasing , but the end lamentable , for after a short laughter , and a few fond delights in this life , followes eternall death , where shall be endlesse weeping and gnashing of teeth .

I also considered , that God hauing created man , to be Lord of the whole world , man should not yeeld himselfe as a vassall or slaue to such vile creatures ; That the whole world is not a portion worthy of the children of this great King : That God hath not indewed me with an immortall soule to be intangled in the things , which haue but onely the dignitie to be mortall : That my soule being of an heauenly nature , ought to mount aboue all these terrestrial things , and to aspire to those things that are aboue .

In a word , I concluded that I should make but an ill match of it , to win the whole world , if for Man . 8. 38. it I should lose my soule , and that it would proue but a meane comfort to goe to hell , laden with many Tit●es .

For this cause I gaue my selfe to meditate on the saying of Christ , Thou carest and art troubled about Luke 10. 41. many things , but one thing is needfull : I gaue heed likewise to the exhortation of our Sauiour in S. Mathew , Chap. 6. First seeke the kingdome of God , Mat. 6. 33. and his righteousnesse , and all these things shall be added vnto you . And that of S. Iohn , Labour not for Iohn 6. 27. the meate that perisheth , but for that which endureth to eternall life . I tasted also the vertue of Pauls cordiall words , 1 Tim. 6 , Godlinesse with contentment 2 Ti● . 6. 7. is great gaine . For we brought nothing into this world , and it is certaine we shall carrie nothing out . Therefore hauing food and rayment , let vs therewith be content .

And because Examples haue often the force of instructions , I set before me the Prophet Moses , Heb. 11. 24. 25. 26. Who being come to age , refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter : choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season . Esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches , then the treasures of Egypt , for he had an eye to the recompence of reward . I mused on the writings of Dauid , wherein he glorieth more , that hee was Gods seruant , then that hee was King of Israell , preferring the house of God , before his Palace Royall . As also I thought on the saying of that excellent Prince , the Emperour Theodosius , who preferred his being a Citizen in the house of God , before all the glory of his Empire . But aboue all me thought I was wonderfully rauished in considering the Apostle S. Paul , who had bin brought vp at the feete of Gamaliel , who vnderstood the secret of Sciences , and spake the language of Angels ; who had whereof to boast as concerning the flesh , hauing all the aduantages his Nation afforded , and yet he cryeth out , Phil. 3. That which was Phil. 3. 7. ● . ● . gaine vnto me , I esteemed losse for Christ ; Yea , I haue counted all things to be losse vnto me for the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ my Lord . For whose sake I haue depriued my selfe of all things , and doe iudge them to be dung , that I may winne Christ . The like is sayd of all the Apostles , who vse this speech to Christ ▪ We haue lest all , and followed thee . Mat. 19. ●● .

And that which most comforted me , was the answere of our Sauiour , Verily I say vnto you , that whosoeuer hath forsaken houses , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother for my sake , and the Gospels , shall receiue an hundred folde as much , and shall inherite eternall life .

And therefore euen as the Apostles forsooke their Nets to follow Iesus Christ ; I also put from me these vaine cares , and the deceitfull hopes which intangled my minde , and with the royall Prophet I concluded , O Lord , thou art my portion , Psal. 119. 55. I haue determined to keepe thy law . And that as Christ saith , Those are blessed which heare the Luke 11. 28. word of God and keepe it ; As also with Mary , I haue chosen the good part , which shall not bee taken Luke 10. 42. from me . I sayd in my selfe , what though I possesse not great things here on earth , yet shall I bee rich in thee , and an inheritour of the kingdome , which God hath promised to those that loue him ; I shall possesse that pearle of inualuable price , to wit , the knowledge of the Gospell , and the graces of the Spirit , I shall be adorned with Iesus Christ , the riches of Israel , and the glory of our hope . And I shall obtaine a treasure in heauen , where the moth corrupteth nor , and where theeues neither breake Mat. 6. 20. through , nor steale ; If I lacke honor among mortall men , God will single me out as among his Mal. 3. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 9. most precious Iewels ; I shall enter into the royall Priesthood , and I may boast , that I am descended of the most auncient nobilitie that may be , seeing the titles of Gods house and familie are more auncient then heauen and earth : and if I forsake worldly pleasures , I shall haue spirituall gladnes ; I shall reioyce in God my Sauiour , with a Ioy vnspeakeable 1 Pet. 1. 8. and glorious : and as Dauid taking his flight into the Deserts , comforted himselfe in the expectation of the kingdome which God had promised him ; so , will I comfort my selfe in looking for those eternall felicities , which God hath reserued for me among the Angels . To be short , if with Iesus Christ I haue not whereon to rest my head , I will reioyce that in Iesus Christ I haue peace of Conscience : that God is the portion of Psal. 16. 5. mine heritage , and of my Cup alwayes . O Lord Psal. 84. 1. of hosts , how amiable are thy dwelling places ! my foule ceaseth not , greatly to long , yea , euen fainteth for the courts of the Lord , my heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God . For a day in thy Verse 10. Courts , is better then a thousand else-where , I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God , then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse .

Now if my flesh were loth to forsake her commodities , shee thought it yet more strange to betake her selfe vnto such an vnpleasing condition : shee thought it folly and madnesse to enter into a path all paued with thornes , and filled with afflictions : she set before me the reproch of the Gospell , but especially in these woefull times , in which pietie is heresie , and wherein it is counted a dishonour to serue Christ . But according to the Apostles example , I shooke off this Viper , without Act. 28. taking any hurt , I beleeued that I ought to contemne this contempt , according to the saying of the Apostle , I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Rom. 1. 1● . Christ , seeing it is the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue . I thought it better to share with Gods children in the words reproach , then to be had in execration before God and his Angels , and willingly to be made the ofscouring of the earth , seeing so I might be made heauens delight .

I thought it folly to imagine I should reape , before I had sowed , to ouercome without conflict , and to be crowned , before I had run my race to the end , and that it is impossible to partake of the excellencie of Christs crosse , without feeling the weight of it , seeing the paschall Lambe was to be Exod. 12. 8. eaten with soure herbs , and the bread of the Lord , like that of Boaz , must be eaten with dipping it in Ruth . 2. vineger .

I consider , that seeing the kingdome of Iesus Christ is not of this world , it were extreame folishnes in me , to seeke the world in his kingdome , or to thinke of rest in his kingdome , who is the enemie of our Father , or not to make profession of the Gospell til persecutions be ended , or to set before vs Iesus Christ without his Crosse , or a Gospell without reproach . To tarry till God had traced out a new way to heauen , and till the worlde and Satan should cease to bee ; for the enmitie of the old Serpent , which began in the earthly Paradice , Gen. 3. will neuer haue an ende , till wee become to the heauenly ,

I also thought that ther is no affliction for the Gospell which Iesus Christ hath not fore-told , & that such as are enrolled for seruants in his armie , must accept it vpon condition , that whosoeuer will come Luke 9. 23. after me , must deny himselfe , and take vp his Crosse , and follow me . Iesus Christ tels vs that if we will enter Mat. 7. 23. into life eternall , wee must passe through the straight gate , and this is that aduantage which in this life he tels his Apostle he must take for his patrimonie , I will shew him how many things hee must suffer for my sake . A lesson which the Apostle sets vs Act. 9. 16. al to take out , saying ; By many afflictions we must enter Act. 14. 22. into the kingdome of heauen , and 2. Tim. 3. All that 2 Tim. 3. 12. will liue godly in Christ Iesus , must suffer persecution .

I shake of delicacie , when I cast mine eyes vpon Daniel , who chose rather to be cast into the Lyons den , then to giue ouer lifting vp his hands to heauen : vpon those three worthies , who chose rather to bee exposed to the mercy of the fiery furnace , then to bow before an Idol , and vppon so many cloudes of witnesses , who were willing rather to shed their blood , then defile themselues with Idolatrie .

And aboue all I was astonied in beholding Iesus Heb. 12. 2. Christ the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse , and despised the shame : For , the seruant is not greater then his Iohn 13. 16. master , nor the Ambassader greater then hee that sent him . Seeing our head was crowned with thornes , and was offered vinegar to drinke , all streaming ouer with blood , what a vile shame is it for vs his members , to desire the enioying of all our liberties heere below in this corruptible world , or to lie sucking at the breasts of the poysonful sweets ther of yea , for as much as Iesus Christ hath suffered so much for our saluation , is it not iust & equall that wee prepare our selues to suffer for his glory , according to that exhortation of the Apostle let vs Heb. 13. 13. goe forth out of the campe , bearing his reproach ?

For I also thought , that to escape a theefe in the way , I ought not to cast my self headlong into infinite and ineuitable miseries . For what corzie is more sencible and intollerable , then that of an euill conscience ? yea , all the tortures in this life , are but light flea-bitings in respect of those eternal punishments , wherewith God will punish those , who worship the beast & his Image , and whosoeuer they Reu. 14. 9. 10. be that receiue the marke of the beast in their foreheads .

But that which did yet fortifie mee most of all , was the consolation which the Apostle giues vs , saying in his Epistle to the Romanes : That all Rom. 8. 28. thinges worke together for good to those that loue God . That by afflictions , we are made conformable to the Image Ver. 29. of the Sonne of God : and that all our sufferings Rom. 8. 18. of this present life , being well weighed , are not worthie of the glory which is to come , and shall in due time bee reuealed vnto vs , For our light affliction which is but 2 Cor. 4. 17. for a moment , works in vs a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory , whilst wee looke vpon , not the things which are seene , but on the things which are not seene , which are eternall . For those who are come out of Reu. 7. 14. great tribulation , and haue washed their long robes , and made them white in the blood of the Lambe , that stand Verse 15. before the throne of God , and serue him day and night in his Temple , shall haue no more hunger , nor thirst , 16. the sunne shall not light vpon them , nor any heat , for the Lambe which is in the midst of the throne , shall feede 17. them , and leade them to the fountaines of liuing waters , and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes . That was it which caused me to change my note , and to thinke nothing sweeter then the waters of Mara , when Christ our true Moses casts into them the wood of his Crosse , assuring vs of the m●rit of his death and passion : yea , I dare say , that afflictions for the name of Christ doe bring with them more true ioy and comfort to the faithfull soule , then the whole world furnished with all her contentments to a prophane wretch . And therefore Christ saith , Blessed are they who are persecuted for Mat. 5. 10. righteousnesse sake , for theirs is the kingdome of heauen . Blessed are ye when men reuile you , and persecute Verse 11. you and shall say all manner of euill saying against you falsely , for my names sake , reioyce and be glad , for great 12. is your reward in heauen , for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you . That is it which Saint Iames also saith in his Epistle , My brethren Iam. 1. 2. thinke it perfect ioy when you fall into diuers temptations . And that likewise of S. Peter , reioyce in as 1 Pet. 4. 13. much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings , that when his glory shall appeare , yee may be glad and reioyce : If ye be railed vpon for the name of Christ , blessed are ye , for the spirit of glory and of God resteth vpon you . Thence it is that the Apostles in the Acts went away reioycing , that they Act. 5. 41. were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesus Christ . And that the Apostle Saint Paul who had been rapt vp into the third heauen , and had heard words which are vnexpressable , which is not possible for man to vtter , chose yet rather to reioyce in his sufferings . The ioy which he for a time possessed among the Angels , being no let vnto him to reioyce in the middest of the Martyrs . I take pleasure ( saith he ) in reproches , in 2 Cor. 12. 10. necessities , in persecutions , in anguishes for Christ , for when I am weake , then I am strong . From thence it came , that out of the middest of his most inward passions , he cries out , I am filled with consolation , 2 Cor. 7. 4. I am full with ioy more and more in all our affliction , for full well he knew , that it is freely giuen vs for Phil. 1. 29. Christ , not onely to belieue in him , but also to suffer for his sake .

And therefore according to Christ his exhortation , I beleeued that I ought not to feare those Mat. 10. 28. who hauing killed the bodie , can doe no more , but to feare him rather , who can destroy both bodie and soule in hell fire , and that , if the sufferings 2 Cor. 1. 5. of Christ abound in vs , the consolations of Christ shall abound in vs also . If we die with Christ , that 2 Tim. 2. 12. we shall also liue with him . That if we suffer with him , we shall also raigne with him . And that if Mar. 8. 35. any will saue his life , he shall lose it , and whosoeuer shall lose his life for Christs sake , and the Gospels , he shall saue it .

And no maruaile if neither the threats nor promises of the world preuailed with me , to hinder me from giuing glory to God , seeing the world can promise nothing which is more excellent then the kingdome of heauen , nor threaten any thing more terrible then the paines of hell : But as with a stedsast eye I looked vpon the world , which I now forsake , and the crosse which I embrace : soon the other side , when I come to cast mine eyes vpon you ( most honoured Father and Mother ) and to set before me your tender affections , and paternall loues ; whilst I call to minde with what mildnesse you brought me vp ; what care you had of my education , sparing no cost to instruct me in the knowledge of good letters , framing my mind to the loue of vertue : and then againe , when I thought how much affliction and discomfort my departing would bring vnto you in following a Religion , the excellencie whereof you yet discerne not .

All these things I say well weighed , so wrought vpon mine affections , that it hath caused floods of teares to fall from mine eyes , and to be brought as it were to nothing , for the truth is , my loue towardes you is so ardent and respectiue , that if it were but to endure any temporall punishments , I had rather suffer a thousand torments and tortures , then to breed you the lest discontentment : yea , I ingenuously confesse , that this consideration so farre preuailed with me , that it had in a manner stayed me from proceeding on in this faire path , wherein I now walke , if God ( hauing compassion of mine infirmitie ) had not drawne me on by the hand of his grace , and strengthened my weakenesse , to hearken to the words of our Sauiour ; Who so loueth father or mother more then me , is Mat. 10. 37. not worthie of me : As also to that answere which he made him which said , I will follow thee Lord , Luke 9. 61. but first giue me leaue to take leaue of those that are at mine house ; None that putteth his hand to the plough , Verse 6● . and looketh backe , is fit for the kingdome of God .

Then I considered , that God called me to the same condition vnto which he called the Father of the faithfull , Goe out of the countrie , and from Gen. 12. 1. thy kindred , and from thy Fathers house , to goe into a countrie which I will shew thee .

I thought that , if I was bound to respect the father of my body , I was much more bound to respect the Father of my spirit , and that it was better to obey God then men . Act. 4. 19.

And the better to alay this bitternes , I comforted my selfe the sweetnes of the gracious promises of my good God , I will receiue you , and will be 2 Cor. 6. 18. a father vnto you , and you shal be my sonnes , and daughters , saith the Lord Almighty , 2. Cor. 6. Whence I came to conclude thus with my selfe , I forsake my fathers house , but I enter into the house of God , I estrange my selfe from my naturall parents but I enter into that high and noble alliance and spirituall kindred which is named in heauen and in earth , of which Iesus Christ is the head . When Ephes. 3. 15. Psal. 27. 10. my father and my mother forsake me , the Lord will gather me vp . Add also , that with this consolation I comforted my selfe thus , namely , that I entred not into a Church which vnder pretence of piety teacheth me to cast off the bands of naturall respects and dutie , but which commands all Christians to nourish within them the cordial affections of true Exod. 20. charitie instructing children to honour their father and mother in all things , in the Lord . The Ephes. 6. honour and loue which I owe you , are too fast engraued in my breast , to be blotted out . The bands wherwith I am knit vnto you , are too strong to be broken , and my desire to acknowledge your fauours shall neuer die in me , till I die .

Now I nothing doubt but you will witnes with me how blamelesse my conuersation was during the time I conuersed amongst you , I was also inflamed with a most ardent affection to make it appeare vnto you , that it was neither rashnes nor lightnes , which caused mee to change Religion . But I onely suffered my selfe to be vanquished by the power of truth , & the motions of Gods holy Spirit : to which purpose you know I endeuoured my selfe in your presence to maintaine this truth agaiust such Doctors as you approued of , ( which I often did in particuler conferences ( hauing learned , that God perfects his prayse by the mouth of babes Mat. 11. 25. and perfects his power in our weakenesse . For as God hides his secrets from the wise and prudent , & reueales 2 Cor. 12. 9. them vnto little ones , So hath the Truth greater Mat. 11. 25. force in the mouth of a childe , then a lye in the mouth of all the Doctors in the worlde . But the miseries of these times not permitting me to enter into such disputes , without exposing my person to manifest danger , and not minding to enter into the Church of GOD through trouble : As also that disputations now adayes are rather lowd then fruitfull : because they dispute onely to dispute , striuing rather for victory then truth , I thought it euery way better , and more to edification , to set downe my reasons of this my alteration and change by writing : to which the grace of God assisting me , I will without ceasing endeuour , now that God of his mercy hath giuen mee to arriue in such a place , where it is lawfull both to speake and write the truth . For I hold my selfe still bound to giue you an account of my proceedings , and I should thinke my selfe happy , if this little light which God hath communicated vnto me , might something enlighten your darkenesse , then should I willingly yeelde my Spirit to God that gaue it , if I might see you with my selfe walking the way to life and happinesse .

In expectation whereof I beseech the great God and father of mercies , that hee will make vs all mind one and the same thing in Christ , that he will replenish you with the ioyes and comforts of his holy Spirit , granting vs all the grace , that after wee haue glorified him a little while heere on earth , wee may be glorified with him for euer in heauen , euen with that glory which hee hath prepared for vs before the foundation of the world .

So prayeth he who craues that you will alwayes beleeue it , euen vnto the altar .

Your most humble , most affectionate , and most obedient Sonne , de VRILLAC . From SEDAN , this 3. of August , 1621.