TO THE DUKE DE LONGUEVILLE.
f46HE WARNS HIM OF THE DANGLERS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE COURT.
GENEVA, 22nd August, 1559.
MONSEIGNEUR: — I hope you will not find it strange that I continue to exhort you several times, not only to persevere, but also to profit and grow in the faith of the holy gospel, and show by your efforts that this very precious seed which God has sown in you has fallen upon good ground, and has taken deep root to produce fruits during your whole life.
And even should the opportunity present itself of stirring you up oftener, I trust that my diligence will not be disagreeable to you, and that you will feel sufficiently convinced of the need you will have of it in the midst of the many temptations which Satan contrives against you, which it is difficult to resist, and would be altogether impossible, if you were not armed by more than human wisdom.
It is for that reason that I do not doubt but that you desire to be fortified by good and holy admonitions to do your duty, since you are aware that we gain nothing by flattering ourselves in our weakness, if we do not render to God the service and honor which is his due. For whatever we may allege, since his glory ought to be more precious in our eyes than a hundred thousand lives, we have no excuse for not confessing the truth of his gospel when he has made us acquainted with it, as it is a sacrifice which he strictly requires of us. And it is on this subject that Jesus Christ says that no one is worthy of being his disciple unless he forsake father and mother and wife, and everything that is in the world.
Now, Monseigneur, you have a great advantage, inasmuch as your mother desires nothing more than that you should walk straightforwardly in the fear of the Lord, and she could receive no greater pleasure from you than that of seeing you virtuously profess the faith of the gospel. If on the
surmount it, and not give way in any manner that might cause you to defraud God of the right which belongs to him in order to gratify men.
There is no earthly kinsmanship that should not be trampled under foot, in order to yield and give place to the honor of our sovereign and only Father, to do homage to our Lord Jesus Christ on whom all the ties of relationship depend.
You know from experience, Monseigneur, that I do not say this without cause, inasmuch as you are constrained to bear many contradictions to which it is not lawful for you to give ear, without being disloyal to Him who has purchased you at so great a price, to the end that you should be dedicated to him. Wherefore it is necessary that you should put on such magnanimity, that neither favor nor hatred should turn you aside from glorifying him who deserves the preference over all mortal and perishable creatures. And in fact, the only means of aspiring to this spiritual
kingdom, is to despise what keeps us entangled here below. But that you may be inclined to support all these combats, I entreat you, Monseigneur, carefully to exercise yourself in reading and hearing the word of God, and the pious instructions that may guide you to the understanding thereof, that you ‘may have in your heart a lively sense of what St. Paul says, viz:
that the gospel is the doctrine of truth, and that by this means you may maintain with invincible courage the struggle which most certainly awaits you.
For, here is the cause of the coldness and cowardice which we see in many,
— it is that they do not make it their study to form their resolution upon good grounds, so that they might say according to the admonition of St.
Paul, that they know in whom they have believed, and that He who is the infallible truth, will show himself faithful in keeping what they have entrusted to him. For which reason, Monseigneur, take courage, I pray you, to do battle in order to arrive at the crown of righteousness, which is bestowed on us, it is true of free grace, but on this condition that we confess the name of Jesus Christ whom it cost so dear to purchase it for us. And in order that God may work in you, and support you by the power of his Spirit, I pray you also, Monseigneur, to beware of the allurements and delights of the world, with which it is impossible that you should not be surrounded, that you may be the more on your guard against
them, reflect that they are so many sorceries of Satan, so many mortal poisons to draw you to perdition. Now God of his infinite goodness has willed to call us to a much better condition. Though, then, many of those who call themselves believers, give themselves a license to abandon themselves to their pleasures full of corruption, be not disposed to follow their example for fear the light which God has given you should be
extinguished; but learn to bear the yoke of our Lord Jesus Christ, which you will find easy and light, if you will suffer yourself to be governed by him.
Whereupon, Monseigneur, having humbly commended me to your kind favor, I entreat our heavenly Father to enrich you more and more with his spiritual gifts, to confirm you in his obedience, to have you in his
protection and to maintain you in all prosperity.
[Ft. Copy. — Library of Geneva. Volume 107.]