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diminished, when they perceive, God is not obliged to grant his church splendid deliverance, and observe, that if he deprives his children of the external means of advancing in piety, by removing from them the light of his word, he grants them other favors by which they persevere in that fidelity which is always due to him.

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We must not look into this essay, for subtle and brilliant thoughts, or for a stile entirely correct. Our author never valued himself on such acquisitions: besides, he lived at a time when our language was not brought to its present perfection. But that which chiefly recommends this little piece, is, the solidity of the reflections, the natural manner in which they are introduced, and the plenitude of unction with which the subject is treated. Let me add, that what is here said of the doctrine of providence, is clearly expressed, in a manner easy to be understood, by persons of common capacity.

I persuade myself, there is no good person among the reformed, who will not, with pleasure, allow himself sufficient time to read this tract, when he is told, it was written by that celebrated confessor, Mr. Lewis de Marolles, whose life has already been published. Many wished it had been published sooner. Mr. Jaquelot who wrote the history of his sufferings, was solicited to publish this essay at the same time; but for some reasons, he did not think it proper. Whatever were those

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reasons, and the objections of others for keeping back this publication, they are now surmounted.

It is difficult to say, when this discourse on providence was written; but it is certain it was finished, before the great persecution in 1685. It appears, that our illustrious martyr began to write it, when he saw the approaching desolation of our churches. We may believe, that he foresaw the condition to which they would be reduced, and that he prepared himself for that event by these holy meditations.

It is not sufficient to teach men what is their -duty, and to urge them by the strongest reasons to perform it: we must practice ourselves what we teach others to regard, in order to make a greater impression on their minds and hearts. The works of those pious authors, who have regulated their own conduct by the maxims they have endeavoured to establish, have, on that account, been best received by the public. We may therefore hope, that this discourse of our confessor, will be well received, since he evidently practised himself what he has recommended to us, in his judicious meditations.

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The letters he wrote in the time of his sufferings, and which have been in part, inserted in his history, bear witness of his firmness and constancy, in all his afflictions. In them, we not only see his -great submission to the orders of providence, and

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the most entire confidence in God, but we also remark in his conduct, which was consistent unto death, with what tranquillity of mind, and with what joy, he supported the most painful and frightful extremities. This confirms what he has so well advanced, "That God never abandons the faithful in their greatest trials, but supports them in such a manner, that at last, they are triumphant over their most formidable enemies."

We see also, in Mr. Marolles, and in those of his family, to whom God gave grace to suffer, for his gospel, the confirmation of another very important truth; namely, "that it is by afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of heaven, and that prosperity is not the common lot of the children of God in this life." It is well known through what sharp and painful trials he passed. We may also add, that most who have been called by his name, have, to speak after the manner of men, been very unfortunate, even since their retreat into foreign countries. But that which is regarded as a great misfortune by the men of this world, is not so accounted by them who sincerely love God. True felicity does not at all consist in those temporal advantages, of which, even the greatest sinners, have the most ample possessions. For when the faithful are deprived of all those things, they enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding; and, which is infinitely to be preferred to the riches and honors of this world, they are penetrated with the purest pleasure, from being conscious they have. fulfilled

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fulfilled their duty. Happy, if after being tried, as our martyr was, by divers temptations, they may receive, when they have finished their course, the crown of life.

To this pleasing account of Mr. Marolles, and to the preceding memoirs of him, much, I apprehend, might be added, well worth our notice. But though I have taken some pains to procure more ample information, hitherto my labor has not been successful.

Should any literary friend be able to furnish me with additional memoirs of him, either in English, French, or Latin, he will not withhold from me such a favor.

I am aware, the more we have known of some persons that we have esteemed, the more we have been disappointed; but Mr. Marolles is not a man of that description. He was what he was by the grace of God. He knew it; and there is reason to believe, that the better those who fear God, are acquainted with him, in such perilous times as these, it will be to their real advantage.

THE

THE

ESSAY ON PROVIDENCE.

THE INTENTION OF GOD IN THE DISTRIBU-
TION OF GOOD AND EVIL.

IT

T is not strange, that those whom God has not called to the knowledge of himself, should lose their courage in dangers and distress, when they have no prospect of relief from the world; but it is not so with them whom God has called to the knowledge of himself by Jesus Christ. For, where the former find only subjects of despair, the latter always have just cause of consolation, and even of joy. It is one of the first principles of religion, that the events of this world are not under the direction of fortune and chance, but that all things are governed by him whose wisdom and power gave them their being.

The providence of God is not only displayed in the preservation of the order of nature, to maintain in it, the succession of day and night, and the revolution of the seasons, to distribute rain and drought, but, in a word, to dispose of every thing

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